The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[catdaddyfro]

Here is what I am thinking with my RIR's. I've had hatchery RIR and I've had the sex link that some say are a cross of RIR and X. Yes, these hens were really top notch layers of eggs that sometimes would not even fit in a jumbo egg carton. When I started reading a couple of years ago about the true RIR's and other breeds, I decided that I would rather have twice as many birds if that is what it takes to get the eggs that I need and know that I have some absolutely gorgeous red birds. I have not one thing wrong to say about anyone that wants the production birds, I've been there, but for my own personal satisfaction I decided to go with the real thing. I've never shown a chicken of any kind BUT I like to look at pretty. lol I'm doing what I decided to do on my own, no one talked me into it. I saw pictures of Chris 09 birds, NYREDS birds and many many others and that is the kind of chickens that I want to raise. If I have to raise more to supply my egg customers with eggs then so be it. And if these lay really well and produce enough without keeping to many then that will just be a plus. I've read that the heritage chickens lay longer then the hatchery birds, I personally don't know the answer to this, so whatever happens I'll deal with it but I will have the pure birds from now on. I just like the looks of them so much better.
I picked up 20 chicks from Dick Horstman yesterday RC RIR and Monday night I put 10 Don Nelson line eggs in lock down and all 10 of them hatched today. I am very excited about my RIR lines that I'll have for next year. Now is the hard part. Getting all the pens set up the way I want them to keep them separated and studying them and maybe even asking for some help from some of you folks to help me with the ones I should or should not keep.
I sincerely hope that I'm not coming across as a smart acting person or know it all. I am just someone that is a total newbie in the pure strains of our poultry lines and trying to start with some good lines that others have already done a lot of work on and I thank you all for that.
Jim

Sounds like you gotta plan there Jim. I am/will be in the same boat right with ya there on fixing up all the pens and such for all my aspirations too, boy I've sure created me-self alot of work, fosho. LOL

Jeff

 

[Robert Blosl]

Jim welcome to the rhode island red fraternity.There are many who will be happy to help you. You first just need to raise them all up and when they get about five months old and start thinking about putting on their final feathers you start looking for the final good looking bird. If you are not sure you hold them over so you dont make a mistake on maybe a good bird. You need to order you some adult leg bands with numbers and place them on their legs so when they grow you can make comments on a not book pad of their rate of growth, style looks, color when they first crow when they their first eggs as pullets. Try to think about good growing type birds and dont keep a bird that is sickly or lacks vigor. You will have a few chicks that will jump out and get a head of the pack in type, color or over all you just like them. Those are most of the time your good breeders. Do not cross any strains as if you have Don Nelson keep the line pure and if you only have two males or two good females that is fine. Build from these better birds. In Rose Combs the same thing. Dont also get caught in the idea you may see a bird at the show that is not from the same strain and you have the urge to cross them. Don't do it unless you can prove they came from the strain. You need to take pictures to show us their type or even a two minute video and send it to U tube for us to look at. bob

 

[immyjay54]

Jeff and Bob, thanks so much for your response I appreciate this more then you could ever know. I do already have the numbered leg bands. I order a couple hundred ( lol ) last fall when I decided that this was what I was going to do. I have two different colors of the numbered and 4 colors of just the spiral ones. I am a camera buff, no expert, but love taking pictures.
Jeff, that is what I've been thinking for the past couple of months or so about all the work.
You guys will be hearing from me over the next few months I'm sure. I'm praying that I can do all I've planned.

 

[immyjay54]

Here is my little Don Nelson chicks that I just hatched out yesterday. Received 13 eggs, 3 were clear, 10 went into lock down and all 10 hatched. WOW, was I tickled. They really are darker then these pictures show. I guess it is the flash and all the white background. They are real deep red/brown.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Here is my little Don Nelson chicks that I just hatched out yesterday. Received 13 eggs, 3 were clear, 10 went into lock down and all 10 hatched. WOW, was I tickled. They really are darker then these pictures show. I guess it is the flash and all the white background. They are real deep red/brown.

COOL beans

I like em' red baby biddies are so precious

 

[Robert Blosl]

The last picture the check with his back to us look how dark he is. This is what Heritage Standard large fowl birds should look like the darker the better. bob

 

[Kate1]

It has taken three days to read this thread from the start with notetaking. I cannot find contact information for Pine Grove- William Bennett in Lakeland, GA. I have searched on BYC and with Google and not found any info. Can someone please give me contact info- phone, website or email. I have gotten quite an education from this thread. Thank you for starting and contributing to this wealth of information.

 

[Robert Blosl]

Mr. Bennett does not have a web site so you will not find anything. I have no idea how to contact him.

There is equal if not better Rhode Island Red large fowl just 25 miles from you in Eleberta Alabama.

There will be at least two pairs or two trios you could pick up for next years breeding there. These are my old Mohawk line which is 100 years old.

They where at the Pensacola Poultry Show a few weeks ago they are excellent layers and very dark in color. bob

 

[Kate1]

Thank you. I have been in touch with your friend since my last post on this thread and I saw his birds at the show. That was my first poultry show and the eye opener that sent me to the internet to research the "Real Rhode Island Red". Those were fine looking RIRs at the show and mine look nothing like them. I will be getting some of his birds to restart my flock. What a great thread this has been. Thank you for setting it off.

 

[Robert Blosl]

You are welcome and I am glad you enjoyed it.However,the credit goes to all those who posted asked questions showed us pictures and still want to know what the old fashion Rhode Island Red looks like and and can be use full on a back yard poultry lot.

I hope we can get ten new people with large Reds this year. Next year will be a better year as we will have more suppliers . bob