The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[Irishhenman]

Yes, that is where the problem lies I suppose.

I hope you can get yours in Ireland on the road to improvement. Do you have a partner or two over there to help you? A Breeding work group seems to really help. You could work on the Barn while others can work on the paint and trim then share chicks every so often.

Work with the same line though.

Yes I have a small breeding group of four breeders. We all got a breeding quad from a breeder in England and we are going to breed on our own for he first few years (still helping each other pick birds etc) and then swop in and out birds to add extra "blood" even though they will still be the same line

 

[ronott1]

Yes I have a small breeding group of four breeders. We all got a breeding quad from a breeder in England and we are going to breed on our own for he first few years (still helping each other pick birds etc) and then swop in and out birds to add extra "blood" even though they will still be the same line

That is great news!

I will be watching to see your progress over there.

 

[Aamanda]

I am pretty much lurking on this thread now but I must say I have really learned a lot already! Nice to know I will have a site with such knowledge when my birds get here!! Cant wait lol.

 

[Aamanda]

LOL ok. So I got into a bit of a "discussion" with the Breeder of my birds. And this is what I was told. (Im just repeating don't beat me!!) I was told that they are NOT Production Reds because they have not been out crossed with other breeds.. My birds are classified as "Production Heritage RIR's (classified?? lol) Because at some point 20 or more years ago the flock was started with Breed standard show quality breeding stock. Then they began to breed for egg production. No other breed was introduced they were just not breed for the right standard. Ok whatever. lol But yes I do still love my birds!!
Just a few pics of a few of them.

Mr Rooster man all fluffed up




















I only have the one rooster and yes I know some pics are of the same bird. Its just what I could find on the computer lol. I will try to get some more tomorrow when its nicer out.

 

[Aamanda]

The hen in 4 and 5 is my fave for "looks" out of em all but she sure is bossy!

 

[immyjay54]

Could someone please answer this question for me. How many serrations does the sop ask for in a single comb Rhode Island Red. The British standard says five but I am finding it impossible to find any birds with only five serrations in the comb here and I am withering if it is from American stock being introduced

Would this or would it not be considered a 5 point comb? The SOP says the first and last point smaller. If I'm not mistaken, there are 5 points here. ??????? This is my young Nelson line boy that I raised this year. I have two that are almost identical. Both have nice combs. My biggest thing that I was shooting for this year was the length and width in the backs. It seemed to work out pretty well. What do you all think???????

 

[har]

I would say five points. Nice looking boy Jim!!!

Scott

 

[lualshannon]

Would this or would it not be considered a 5 point comb? The SOP says the first and last point smaller. If I'm not mistaken, there are 5 points here. ??????? This is my young Nelson line boy that I raised this year. I have two that are almost identical. Both have nice combs. My biggest thing that I was shooting for this year was the length and width in the backs. It seemed to work out pretty well. What do you all think??????? [COLOR=B42000] [/COLOR]

He is a very handsome rooster! I really like him. Lual

 

[sahmhomesteader]

Hi all. I am new to backyard chickens, and have a couple breed specific questions.

We just moved, and I am looking to start raising chickens in Spring. I really thought the Rhode Island Red would fit our needs well, but now I am leaning more toward the Buckeye. We eat at least 6 eggs a day, and I would like extra to store for winter months as well. We need a cold hardy and heat tolerant breed as we are in southwest Ohio where multiple winter months stay below freezing and summer months can be hot (90's) and humid. The breed needs to double as a good meat bird. I would like to have approximately 10 layers and 20 meat birds. A plus would be a breed that occasionally goes broody. Also I plan to free range the birds as much as possible and use very little supplemental feed (grow my own) so they need to be good foragers.

Here is my concern with RIRs. I have read a lot that they can be aggressive especially the roosters. In the spring, my sons will be 3 years and 1 year old and they will be very active in raising the chickens. My toddler loves to feed, pet, and hold chickens so I really need a loving breed. Can someone set me straight? Is the aggressiveness I have read about really true? Or would the RIRs most likely be loving? Also, do I have to worry about frostbite with their combs or are they pretty hardy?

Any help is greatly appreciated, and I think the RIRs fit our egg needs better than the Buckeye so if I am wrong about the aggressiveness, I would love to be informed. Or, another random question, would the RIRs be a good supplemental breed to add to a flock of Buckeyes?

TIA!

 

[ronott1]

Hi all. I am new to backyard chickens, and have a couple breed specific questions.

We just moved, and I am looking to start raising chickens in Spring. I really thought the Rhode Island Red would fit our needs well, but now I am leaning more toward the Buckeye. We eat at least 6 eggs a day, and I would like extra to store for winter months as well. We need a cold hardy and heat tolerant breed as we are in southwest Ohio where multiple winter months stay below freezing and summer months can be hot (90's) and humid. The breed needs to double as a good meat bird. I would like to have approximately 10 layers and 20 meat birds. A plus would be a breed that occasionally goes broody. Also I plan to free range the birds as much as possible and use very little supplemental feed (grow my own) so they need to be good foragers.

Here is my concern with RIRs. I have read a lot that they can be aggressive especially the roosters. In the spring, my sons will be 3 years and 1 year old and they will be very active in raising the chickens. My toddler loves to feed, pet, and hold chickens so I really need a loving breed. Can someone set me straight? Is the aggressiveness I have read about really true? Or would the RIRs most likely be loving? Also, do I have to worry about frostbite with their combs or are they pretty hardy?

Any help is greatly appreciated, and I think the RIRs fit our egg needs better than the Buckeye so if I am wrong about the aggressiveness, I would love to be informed. Or, another random question, would the RIRs be a good supplemental breed to add to a flock of Buckeyes?

TIA!

Welcome!

Your have come to the place to learn. The RIRs people have on this thread are not like the ones from the Hatcheries. It is good that you are checking here before getting your flock.

A rule of thumb for layers is to have two Hens per egg eater in your family.

I have RIRs from Horstman and @FOGELLY . Both lines are not aggressive at all. RIRs from hatcheries are the ones most people are describing as being aggressive.

If someone close to you is on this site and you can get chicks from them, they will be wonderful for you as a first flock. Do a lot of reading and preparation first. We are here to help you!