The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[immyjay54]

Fred is correct. From the base of the hackle to the base of the tail should be level. There should be no downward slope to the back.

Matt

Hey Matt & Fred, I had a couple like that and I gave them umbrella's and they straightened right up. ha,ha,ha

 

[BGMatt]

Hey there BGMatt, Please don't think that I am being picky on this. I do know for fact that Bob showed this picture many many times and am sure not going against him, I just wondered if he or someone else just put these measurements on them. I know that of all my birds especially the different bloodlines that I have are all different sizes. Some are longer bodied then others, some are a little taller etc. I can say for sure that my Nelson birds are longer then my Reese birds and my RC Underwood's are longer bodied then my SC Underwood's. lol   I saw the SOP as your avatar, that's why I quoted your post. lol   I guess this is sort of our private thing. ha,ha,ha.   Don't you get upset with me. 
I just butchered 2 Nelson boys yesterday and one was probably 2 inches or more longer and taller then the other. lol Who would have thunk it?  
Jim 

Y'all know better than me. I'm just a chicken farmer, Not even a Red man yet (please don't hold that against me). Maybe after gluing some feathers on their legs. Just playin of course. I'm a big fan of Reds and really love the devotion displayed by you guys. Last word on graphic from me was Chris posted it on page one (at least on mobile) not sure where he got it and my google skills are pretty weak today apparently.

Edit: P.S. I'm hoping someday I can find a way to get some of those RC Underwood birds out here to the NorthWest!

 

[immyjay54]

I never really thought that much about the RC but since having them I really like them. I only have a few right now but growing some out in my basement so hope to have a few more hens to work with next year. lol
I really do like the RIR's. I have a few mixed birds in a layer pen but they are slowly leaving. I'll have nothing but the reds in the next couple of years.
Wishing you the best.
Jim

 

[BGMatt]

I never really thought that much about the RC but since having them I really like them. I only have a few right now but growing some out in my basement so hope to have a few more hens to work with next year. lol  
I really do like the RIR's. I have a few mixed birds in a layer pen but they are slowly leaving. I'll have nothing but the reds in the next couple of years. 
Wishing you the best. 
Jim 

Growing up out here in Washington you always saw really nice RC Reds being exhibited by Vern Sorenson, but when he passed the birds were lost.

Been following your progress closely. Really like seeing the egg production comparison, can't forget those qualities, and so many don't pay attention to that. Interesting stuff!

 

[Fred's Hens]

A lot of really good birds have that rainy day look to them. It is just something to "see" and not ignore, in my estimation. Those of us who love Rocks see it all the time. Really great birds with a downward back. If you go a bit barn blind, you'll tend to overlook it, if you're not on top of it. The Buckeye can have that downward tilt of 10%, the Reds and Rocks cannot.

 

[FOGELLY]

By the pictures they do look a little downward in the back. I wonder if it is just the pose or the cold weather. I have 15 cockerels from the same pens hers came from. I see no rain day look in them.

Mumsy they sure look well cared for. Good luck on your coming breeding season.

Ron

 

[MumsyII]

By the pictures they do look a little downward in the back. I wonder if it is just the pose or the cold weather. I have 15 cockerels from the same pens hers came from. I see no rain day look in them.

Mumsy they sure look well cared for. Good luck on your coming breeding season.

Ron

Thank you Ron. They are stunning in brilliant shine and good health. I have a new plan for getting better pictures of them confined in cages. Got them out there relaxing in them now. I hardly have ever seen any of these birds stand still. I'm glad I held back my favorite four males. There are still seven females. The pullet that came in the over land shipment from you is laying a nice big egg regularly. The other six I hatched from your eggs are just barely starting to redden up in the face. They are a month apart.

I'll have new pictures on here this afternoon.

 

[Fentress]

These were posted way back at the beginning of the thread, but think a repost might be in order. I've saved them so I have a measuring stick when you Red guys finally get the best of me. LOL

I got my first copy of the SOP a few weeks ago and was surprised that there were no numerical standards, like above, just verbal. For someone who lacks experience, you also lack the context to know what the words mean. If I was to join APA do they have more detailed info on how to interpret and apply the SOP?

I have always liked these pictures. Several times I have heard 27 inches quoted for the desired length of body, instead of the 24 shown above. In some of the RIR photos I have seen, the body is so long it looks exagerated and the neck looks short. Maybe if I was to see the birds live and observe how they carry themselves I would have a differenct opinion.

Mark

 

[BGMatt]

I got my first copy of the SOP a few weeks ago and was surprised that there were no numerical standards, like above, just verbal. For someone who lacks experience, you also lack the context to know what the words mean. If I was to join APA do they have more detailed info on how to interpret and apply the SOP?

I have always liked these pictures. Several times I have heard 27 inches quoted for the desired length of body, instead of the 24 shown above. In some of the RIR photos I have seen, the body is so long it looks exagerated and the neck looks short. Maybe if I was to see the birds live and observe how they carry themselves I would have a differenct opinion.

Mark

Every bird or line is going to be different, Vern Sorenson once told me that a good Large Fowl Red shouldn't be able to fit lengthwise in a single large fowl show cage, which are 24" wide.

 

[immyjay54]

I got my first copy of the SOP a few weeks ago and was surprised that there were no numerical standards, like above, just verbal. For someone who lacks experience, you also lack the context to know what the words mean. If I was to join APA do they have more detailed info on how to interpret and apply the SOP?

I have always liked these pictures. Several times I have heard 27 inches quoted for the desired length of body, instead of the 24 shown above. In some of the RIR photos I have seen, the body is so long it looks exagerated and the neck looks short. Maybe if I was to see the birds live and observe how they carry themselves I would have a differenct opinion.

Mark

Mark,
I think anyone that has a lick of common sense would not want a 24 or 27 inch bird in length that is only 10 inches tall. lol You have to look at the overall bird and see if it is proportioned right. My parents had 12 children and not one of us is the same height or width. Some are quite a bit wider then others and some are taller then the rest. When you think how many young that one pair of birds can produce, I doubt very much if you are going to get very many of them be the exact same size.
In horses, they measure by hands. A hand is equal to 4 inches. I just forget how many inches they are to be for a pony then they go to a horse. Sort of like the bantams, they can only be so heavy and so tall. You won't see a 20 inch bantam that weighs 7 pounds. It just don't happen. We and the judges have to use common sense of what moderate is. This is my take on all of this stuff. We may not all agree but I think that most of the time we will be in the same ball park. I'd bet that you could find a lot of birds that are 23 inches long look just as good as a bird that is 25 inches long if they are in proportion. Let's enjoy what we have and strive to get the birds that are as near to the standard as we can get them. We all know that they aren't to be as small as a leghorn or as large as a turkey.
Have a wonderful day.
Jim