The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[immyjay54]

I really appreciate the egg production breakdown and info with all the different lines on your site. Very interesting stuff.

Thank you BGMatt. I try to make it nice.

 

[Matt1616]

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As long as we are talking about toe punching...I have done a lot of it as I raise a bunch of birds each year but I stopped doing it this year because I always had a problem with the hole growing back. I always had to fight with that for a month or 2. Another problem I have had is when you punch it, it doesn't completely cut the circle out. About 70% of the time it leaves a flap. If you guys know something I don't know let me in on it.

 

[Jharper]

My pullet looks like she is getting better!

 

[fowlman01]

If I may, The hens are molting. thats why the variance in color plus they are older and It has been known that as they age they do lose some of the darker vibrance. These were not researched for meat but genetics. Didderent strains have different colourings and just because they have not been bred to the ultra dark red as seen in many strains doesn't necessarily mean they are not heritage. The deep red has been bred for showing. Here's some info about genetics.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200903/pdf/355.pdf

They are not good examples of a RIR in color or type.

Walt

 

[dvoice]

They are not good examples of a RIR in color or type.

Walt

Yes I agree the coloring is not a good example for a show bird.

 

[Fred's Hens]

They are not good examples of a RIR in color or type.

Walt

Yes I agree the coloring is not a good example for a show bird.

I'd be much concerned about their type then just their coloring. I don't know what a show bird is, as I don't show, but the SOP is where we set our GPS unit so we know where we're going.

 

[catdaddyfro]

If I may, The hens are molting. thats why the variance in color plus they are older and It has been known that as they age they do lose some of the darker vibrance. These were not researched for meat but genetics. Didderent strains have different colourings and just because they have not been bred to the ultra dark red as seen in many strains doesn't necessarily mean they are not heritage. The deep red has been bred for showing. Here's some info about genetics.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200903/pdf/355.pdf

Yes and there's a lot of Leghorn genetics showing through in them just as any typical (production type red) does. They look just like I have here and have had multiple years of egg farming. They just may be someones own strain of production type reds they are not good examples of Rhode Island Reds. Thumb back through the hundreds/thousands of photos in this thread and believe me very few of these are "show birds" but most are real RIRs though.

I'm not cutting in on your selected birds they are good for what they are intended/used for and these probly are some very good ones possibly better than the general hatchery types that are found at most feed stores probly getting on up there with the likes of DeKalb, Hy-line and equivalents, is all. If that's what you want then go ahead on, but on this thread most won't recognize them as anything other than typical "pro reds"

Sorry I'm not trying to stomp on toes or hurt feelings, just telling the truth and the how comes and what fors.

Jeff

 

[FOGELLY]

Yes I agree the coloring is not a good example for a show bird.

There is far more to a RIR than color. Type is the main factor. If you were to use no more than the silhouette of the birds you posted, no one would recognize them as a RIR.
Don't fall for the "Show Bird" vs "Regular Bird" myth. The Standard is the Standard.
When we look at a Zebra we know it is a Zebra. Take those stripes off their body put them on a horse or a donkey and we would know something was not exactly right about it, even though it looked pretty much like a Zebra.

Ron

 

[ronott1]

Originally Posted by dvoice

If I may, The hens are molting. thats why the variance in color plus they are older and It has been known that as they age they do lose some of the darker vibrance. These were not researched for meat but genetics. Didderent strains have different colourings and just because they have not been bred to the ultra dark red as seen in many strains doesn't necessarily mean they are not heritage. The deep red has been bred for showing. Here's some info about genetics.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200903/pdf/355.pdf

Yes and there's a lot of Leghorn genetics showing through in them just as any typical (production type red) does. They look just like I have here and have had multiple years of egg farming. They just may be someones own strain of production type reds they are not good examples of Rhode Island Reds. Thumb back through the hundreds/thousands of photos in this thread and believe me very few of these are "show birds" but most are real RIRs though.

I'm not cutting in on your selected birds they are good for what they are intended/used for and these probly are some very good ones possibly better than the general hatchery types that are found at most feed stores probly getting on up there with the likes of DeKalb, Hy-line and equivalents, is all. If that's what you want then go ahead on, but on this thread most won't recognize them as anything other than typical "pro reds"

Sorry I'm not trying to stomp on toes or hurt feelings, just telling the truth and the how comes and what fors.

Jeff

These are very good points. They are likely great egg layers and special in that area. They may very well be the product of the egg laying contests that were common 60 plus years ago.

Do not feel bad about getting them. You will love having them too.

 

[Robert Blosl]

Quote: When I saw this post Ron I just said to myself WOW.

This tread was started to promote and try to encourage people to realize there is such a breed of Old Fashion Fowl called a Rhode Island Reds and that in todays standards of the name they are very rare to the common backyard poultry owner. In fact up to about three years ago it was difficult for me to locate and get stock to the folks that wanted a true Rhode Island Red which was very famous 30 to 50 years ago. Today we have many who have just posted who are sharing their strains to beginners. I am so happy and proud of this and more will have these chicks or eggs this coming spring. In fact Jimmy in Penn is going to send my friend Anthony and I some Rose Comb started chicks I hope this spring for us to breed and raise.

There is a difference in the common hatchery production red than these fowl. They are not considered show Rhode Island Reds as many do show them but most of the Preservationist do not and that is fine. I have owned production reds and raised them next to my old Mohawk line and used them as a gage for feathering and development. They are great fowl for selling eggs to people who want brown colored eggs but they do not have the longevity in the guts to live very long. They lay eggs far to high for their dual purpose guts or insides and many end up with blow outs and die.

They have leghorn blood in them like Fred mentioned and that was to cheat in egg laying contest many years ago. Some males can be very aggressive and will attach children and adults where the darker old fashion true to breed ones are docile and are not mean to children but docile. Great discussion that comes up about every six months or so. Looking at the little chicks with their dark beaks, the birds with the dark horn color then the birds with the dark even color and brick shape shows the real Rhode Island Red that we are trying to promote and preserve.

Thanks for your posts very educational. That's what makes this tread such a great one.