The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[daxigait]

What is a good resource to learn more about breeding successive generations with small families? I know a bit about line breeding from my horses, and I know that has to be carefully managed.

 

[Fred's Hens]

What is a good resource to learn more about breeding successive generations with small families? I know a bit about line breeding from my horses, and I know that has to be carefully managed.

The late Robert "Bob" Blosl was the starter of this thread. His life's work in writings are still up on his site. There are tab links on the left which take you Bob's articles, many of which were published in the Red's Chronicle.

http://bloslspoutlryfarm.tripod.com

 

[daxigait]

I have read the beginning of the thread, but I am mobile and I don't see everything. I will look. Thanks

 

[Fred's Hens]

Boarding Out Your Birds

This happens more often than you might think. Here's an old story, though.


My daddy had a friend, William Robert, way back when who kept and bred chickens. He was well known in his area of So Kentucky for having pretty nice males and they fetched a pretty price on those rare occasions when Billy Bob would let one or two go.

One day, the Mrs said to her husband, "William Robert, we've worked hard scrabble all our lives and we've done OK for ourselves." "But, before the good Lord takes me home, I'd like to go to Europe and see where our folks came from". Taken aback a bit, Billy Bob thought it over and agreed. "Well, we'd be gone for over a month, so I'll sell off 90% of the stock so as to raise the money and lessen the burden, but I'll board our good milk cow next door at the Smith's place and the main breeding group of chickens I'll have to take up to Cousin Sebastian in the Refro valley. So, that's what Willian Robert set out to do.

Upon arriving at Cousin Sebastian's small farm, greetings were exchanged and Sebastian professed as he was glad to be of help. No problem. "I don't need your money for doing a good deed," he said, "of course, if a fella was to find a few bags of extra mash in sacks by the barn, that'd be alright."

"Oh, and also you should be aware" Cousin Sebastian continued , "as you know my pen's don't have very high fences like your'n, so there's no telling if that fancy cock bird you brought might just get a mind to fly the fence and get into those pullets and hens". "Now, if a fella was to not get around to getting him out of there, and if that same fella was to collect those eggs off those birds, would any offense be caused?" he asked.

"No." said Billy Bob with a wry smile. "and if that fella were to set those eggs in his kerosene incubator and hatch out chicks from those eggs, that'd be just fine too."

So, William Robert and the Mrs went off to Europe and Cousin Sebastian hatched some pretty nice chicks, 'cause sure enough. That old cock bird would not stay in his pen.

 

[cmom]

I have had a few get into other pens and for the life of me can't figure out how they did it. All of my pens were made with chicken wire but I have since replaced it with welded wire. I have had some jump the 5' fence lately so far and they are the Leghorns.They must have found a spot to go over because there is no way they can get under the welded wire and all of the pens are covered too. I have had a hawk scoping out the birds lately. I have seen it most every day. I haven't been letting the birds out unless I'm out too. They have large pens. 20ft to 30ft x 60ft. for each coop. Total area is approximately 250ft x 60ft. A couple of years ago I had let the birds out and a hawk came down and killed one of my females not more than 10' from me. It killed her but I scared it. Must have young to feed and looking for an easy meal. Some of my neighbors who have chickens have lost most of their flocks to hawks so I'm very careful when I let them out lately. Don't know why I changed the subject except the thought of the birds getting out.

 

[Wyatt0224]

Hello! This is my first year having chickens and a breed that has really caught my eye was the Rhode Island Red. Unfortunately I didn't know the distinct difference of hatchery and heritage birds and thus I only have hatchery birds. I found this thread a couple months back and was very intrigued. I know for certain I would like to own heritage Rhode Island reds however it doesn't seem there are any breeders of them remotely close to my area. The closest person I have found is Dick Horstman. I haven't contacted him at all since I wanted to ask on here. Do you guys know if his quality of birds is good? I would also want to possibly enter them in shows somewhere in the future. One more thing is that I must have a non-aggressive rooster. I follow a breeder on here who breeds Stukel line barred rocks and they were bred specifically for good rooster temperament. Are there any Rhode Island Red lines that are known for having good roosters?

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

What is a good resource to learn more about breeding successive generations with small families? I know a bit about line breeding from my horses, and I know that has to be carefully managed.

I've read all of Bob Blosl's articles, and found lots of useful info. A book I really like is Blue Ribbon Reds: What They Are And How To Produce Them. It's an old book that can be read free online. It's very informative and most (if not all) of it can be applied to today's breeding selection.

 

[waddles99]

I learned a lot from his articles as well. I actually have a permanent tab up on my iPad for his site...lol. So much knowledge to be found on that site, and not just for LF RIR either. Very in-depth and comprehensive articles.

 

[Ur-ur-ur-urrr]

Hello! This is my first year having chickens and a breed that has really caught my eye was the Rhode Island Red. Unfortunately I didn't know the distinct difference of hatchery and heritage birds and thus I only have hatchery birds. I found this thread a couple months back and was very intrigued. I know for certain I would like to own heritage Rhode Island reds however it doesn't seem there are any breeders of them remotely close to my area. The closest person I have found is Dick Horstman. I haven't contacted him at all since I wanted to ask on here. Do you guys know if his quality of birds is good? I would also want to possibly enter them in shows somewhere in the future. One more thing is that I must have a non-aggressive rooster. I follow a breeder on here who breeds Stukel line barred rocks and they were bred specifically for good rooster temperament. Are there any Rhode Island Red lines that are known for having good roosters?

If I'm not mistaken, daxigait has Horstman birds. Could drop her a PM to see what she says. As far as temerament, there is no comparison between production and purebred rir (I have both). I only have 5 purebred cockerels, but they are very friendly. A couple are lap pets...

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hello! This is my first year having chickens and a breed that has really caught my eye was the Rhode Island Red. Unfortunately I didn't know the distinct difference of hatchery and heritage birds and thus I only have hatchery birds. I found this thread a couple months back and was very intrigued. I know for certain I would like to own heritage Rhode Island reds however it doesn't seem there are any breeders of them remotely close to my area. The closest person I have found is Dick Horstman. I haven't contacted him at all since I wanted to ask on here. Do you guys know if his quality of birds is good? I would also want to possibly enter them in shows somewhere in the future. One more thing is that I must have a non-aggressive rooster. I follow a breeder on here who breeds Stukel line barred rocks and they were bred specifically for good rooster temperament. Are there any Rhode Island Red lines that are known for having good roosters?

There are many breeders of the true bred, Standard bred Rhode Island Reds in your area. Just as you could never get Barred Rocks such as a Stukel from any hatchery, you aren't going to get a true bred, Standard Red from a hatchery or feedstore either. They don't have them. All such places have is mass produced, flock bred stuff that is way, way off of the breed's true look and true temperament.and true size.

The DelMarVa show would have many good Reds and they would have good sales pens too. Christine Kitsch is in the York/Lancaster PA area. Look up Frozen Acre Farm and you'll be able to reach out to her.

So many great breeders are found through the respective breed club or through the American Poultry Association. They aren't typically here (as this is a pet or backyard site primarily) and many don't do any social media at all and don't even use a computer. Horstman birds are pretty OK birds, but there are many better, as Dick would be the first to tell you.

Males are generally thought of as temperamental consistent with their line, but individuals always are individuals. I've known some Stukel males to be mean as snakes, even the line is generally pretty docile, so be advised that no one, no one, can predict with 100% accuracy if a male will become over zealous about protecting "his" females he's penned with. Some just go over the top in that regard but are fine otherwise. Some are docile all the times. Some are invited to dinner and are forced to accept the invitation.