Quote:
okdfarms: I think you have missed the purpose of maintaining the Heritage RIR. The purpose of the standard is to ensure that the RIR has the qualities, physically, in order to be a great egg and meat chicken. There is a universal law called "Wolf's Law" that states, "Structure determines function". This is not only our rule but a common understanding of psysiology and even in basic Engineering as well. Don't look on the surface of the RIR as just "feather quality, combs, leg color". What we are trying to do here is protect what we already know to be true with respect to structure determining function. Feather quality and rate of feathering pertains to calorie usage and body protection. The RIR need this to protect its back for the cocks breeding the hens and not scratching the hens skin up and causing infection, hence the need for proper feathering. The RIR's need proper curvature of their beak in order to eat and forage properly as well as protection. Many have noticed that the color of the horn material relates to pigmentation that is a quality we are looking for in the dark feathering, which is stronger not stringier/weaker. If the bird can maintain its temperature efficiently, it can use calories for better things such as building muscle/breast/thigh meat/egg production/hatching chicks. The RIR needs a extended keel bone in order to build a larger breast for the BBQ. The RIR needs a wide back and tail/saddle which related to ability to digest food efficiently so it can make more meat and larger eggs. The RIR need colored ear lobes so we know it, and other breeds, will produce colored eggs. The RIR should have a horizontal wing set and therefore will have balance of wing for meat production as well as protection from predators, like flying up to a higher branch. Ever been wacked by a hens wing? The RIR should have a good width between the tail bones for a big egg to get through. Want big eggs right? The RIR tail conformation is not just beauty but function. And yup black spurs do look good. We all want to look at a cool looking RIR that is smart and we have also noticed that the head size pertains to smarts as well as temperature, or ability to take the heat or cold. Rosecombs do better in the cold and Standard combs do well in the heat but they each can survive both places. The RIR survived well with the American pioneers for these qualities. A Father could feed his Family as well as easily transport the RIR as a viable source of nutrition for their survival going west. Have you heard of the medicinal benefits of Cock combs for Arthritis pain? We dont want to loose that either. We have a common knowledge, and Heritage, of how much our RIR cocks and hens weigh as well as dress out for the table use. Many have discovered the balancing point with respect to breeding all these structures of the RIR in order to preserve the valuble functions. This is why we breed for what we have had to recently call "Heritage Rhode Island Red's". We realize what RIR's can do and select the structures in order to ensure their function. Once these structures of the RIR are lost in the genes we realize we cannot put it back. We want to keep every one of them to the highest Standard possible. We have alot of fun seeing just how good they can be.
I for one would love to go to see the National show, eat an egg sandwhich for breakfast, BBQ some smoked chicken for lunch, learn more about how the breed looks at its best, and see some good chickens!
So, If I do not concern myself with any standard then how the heck could I ever have success with any kind of chicken? I'm guessing that getting a production mixed bag of egg chickens and meat chickens every spring may just be the only route available for ease of "doing it myself". However, I do not want to crack three of those eggs for the sandwhich and worry about the breasts falling between the BBQ grill.
I think we are pointed in the right direction, following standards here.
okdfarms: I think you have missed the purpose of maintaining the Heritage RIR. The purpose of the standard is to ensure that the RIR has the qualities, physically, in order to be a great egg and meat chicken. There is a universal law called "Wolf's Law" that states, "Structure determines function". This is not only our rule but a common understanding of psysiology and even in basic Engineering as well. Don't look on the surface of the RIR as just "feather quality, combs, leg color". What we are trying to do here is protect what we already know to be true with respect to structure determining function. Feather quality and rate of feathering pertains to calorie usage and body protection. The RIR need this to protect its back for the cocks breeding the hens and not scratching the hens skin up and causing infection, hence the need for proper feathering. The RIR's need proper curvature of their beak in order to eat and forage properly as well as protection. Many have noticed that the color of the horn material relates to pigmentation that is a quality we are looking for in the dark feathering, which is stronger not stringier/weaker. If the bird can maintain its temperature efficiently, it can use calories for better things such as building muscle/breast/thigh meat/egg production/hatching chicks. The RIR needs a extended keel bone in order to build a larger breast for the BBQ. The RIR needs a wide back and tail/saddle which related to ability to digest food efficiently so it can make more meat and larger eggs. The RIR need colored ear lobes so we know it, and other breeds, will produce colored eggs. The RIR should have a horizontal wing set and therefore will have balance of wing for meat production as well as protection from predators, like flying up to a higher branch. Ever been wacked by a hens wing? The RIR should have a good width between the tail bones for a big egg to get through. Want big eggs right? The RIR tail conformation is not just beauty but function. And yup black spurs do look good. We all want to look at a cool looking RIR that is smart and we have also noticed that the head size pertains to smarts as well as temperature, or ability to take the heat or cold. Rosecombs do better in the cold and Standard combs do well in the heat but they each can survive both places. The RIR survived well with the American pioneers for these qualities. A Father could feed his Family as well as easily transport the RIR as a viable source of nutrition for their survival going west. Have you heard of the medicinal benefits of Cock combs for Arthritis pain? We dont want to loose that either. We have a common knowledge, and Heritage, of how much our RIR cocks and hens weigh as well as dress out for the table use. Many have discovered the balancing point with respect to breeding all these structures of the RIR in order to preserve the valuble functions. This is why we breed for what we have had to recently call "Heritage Rhode Island Red's". We realize what RIR's can do and select the structures in order to ensure their function. Once these structures of the RIR are lost in the genes we realize we cannot put it back. We want to keep every one of them to the highest Standard possible. We have alot of fun seeing just how good they can be.
I for one would love to go to see the National show, eat an egg sandwhich for breakfast, BBQ some smoked chicken for lunch, learn more about how the breed looks at its best, and see some good chickens!
So, If I do not concern myself with any standard then how the heck could I ever have success with any kind of chicken? I'm guessing that getting a production mixed bag of egg chickens and meat chickens every spring may just be the only route available for ease of "doing it myself". However, I do not want to crack three of those eggs for the sandwhich and worry about the breasts falling between the BBQ grill.
I think we are pointed in the right direction, following standards here.
Last edited:
