The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[desertmarcy]

Hi Bob and anybody else who cares to comment. I got 12 RIR chicks from Matt1616 earlier this spring, they are now about 8 months old. I only ended up with 2 cockerels. Would like opinions on them. Nos. 94 and 95. No. 94 beat out 8 other cockerels at the recent Tucson show, people thought he looked good. But he bites! He seems to have an attitude which hasn't been fully tested with a flock of pullets yet since I took him out in preference to the non-biter. No. 95 is just a tad heavier, doesn't look to have the feather quality of the other one, but he was second in line when they were both together plus maybe the pullets are picking at his feathers? I like his comb better, yes I know that doesn't count for much. I would like one of these as my main breeder and keep the other as a spare. Or with 10 pullets, I could breed some to both and see how that turns out. I just don't want mean birds, so leery of No. 94. I just started reading this thread from the beginning. So much to learn...thank you, Bob, for starting it.

Here is No. 94, the biter:

Is this the correct amount of black on the wing feathers, or should they have more?

Here is No. 95, the easy-going guy who doesn't growl and challenge me when I go in the pen. Does he look brick-shaped enough, or too Vee-shaped?

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

bantam RIR's.   Do not like them. Some birds should not come in bantam size. 

 

Why do you say that? I know that the Reds have got a bad reputation because of the production reds. I know a few people who have Bantam Reds who are very sweet, even the cockerels.

 

[nicalandia]

Hi Bob and anybody else who cares to comment.

I´m not a RIR breeder but I know beauty when I see one.. Nice Deep Rich Mahogany color, many genes at work here(Mh, Dk1, and many unknown recessive ones)

 

[Robert Blosl]

Hi Bob and anybody else who cares to comment. I got 12 RIR chicks from Matt1616 earlier this spring, they are now about 8 months old. I only ended up with 2 cockerels. Would like opinions on them. Nos. 94 and 95. No. 94 beat out 8 other cockerels at the recent Tucson show, people thought he looked good. But he bites! He seems to have an attitude which hasn't been fully tested with a flock of pullets yet since I took him out in preference to the non-biter. No. 95 is just a tad heavier, doesn't look to have the feather quality of the other one, but he was second in line when they were both together plus maybe the pullets are picking at his feathers? I like his comb better, yes I know that doesn't count for much. I would like one of these as my main breeder and keep the other as a spare. Or with 10 pullets, I could breed some to both and see how that turns out. I just don't want mean birds, so leery of No. 94. I just started reading this thread from the beginning. So much to learn...thank you, Bob, for starting it.

Here is No. 94, the biter:

Matt has two males won I called War Eagle after my old male from 30 years ago. He turned out to be the long big bodied bird and he bits when I put my hand in the cage. That dont bother me as Was Eagle number one was a warrior, if a hawk came down to get his hens he was so vigorous he would try to kill the hawk. The other male looks like this male shorter in body but still a nice male maybe came from a hen that Matt used and not the pullet that I think produced War Eagle. I called that male High Steeper years ago. He would stand on one leg for five to ten minutes in his coop or show cage. That took unbelievable strength to stand on one leg and he walked with a high lift in his gate. This male looks allot like him.

Is this the correct amount of black on the wing feathers, or should they have more?


Here is No. 95, the easy-going guy who doesn't growl and challenge me when I go in the pen. Does he look brick-shaped enough, or too Vee-shaped?

 

[NYREDS]

Hi Bob and anybody else who cares to comment. I got 12 RIR chicks from Matt1616 earlier this spring, they are now about 8 months old. I only ended up with 2 cockerels. Would like opinions on them. Nos. 94 and 95. No. 94 beat out 8 other cockerels at the recent Tucson show, people thought he looked good. But he bites! He seems to have an attitude which hasn't been fully tested with a flock of pullets yet since I took him out in preference to the non-biter. No. 95 is just a tad heavier, doesn't look to have the feather quality of the other one, but he was second in line when they were both together plus maybe the pullets are picking at his feathers? I like his comb better, yes I know that doesn't count for much. I would like one of these as my main breeder and keep the other as a spare. Or with 10 pullets, I could breed some to both and see how that turns out. I just don't want mean birds, so leery of No. 94. I just started reading this thread from the beginning. So much to learn...thank you, Bob, for starting it.
Here is No. 94, the biter:




Is this the correct amount of black on the wing feathers, or should they have more?

Here is No. 95, the easy-going guy who doesn't growl and challenge me when I go in the pen. Does he look brick-shaped enough, or too Vee-shaped?

94 would be useful as a breeder, 95 would make good soup!

 

[desertmarcy]

I love the history of some of these breeds. Your post did confuse me though, could you explain in this statement "These are my old line with the twist of Mohawk genes coming to the surface. This is a old trait I pulled out of this line by putting breeding pressure on egg production and feather quality 30 years ago." what trait are you referring to?

And in this statement, "Also this male has a very nice head a great comb and blade be happy for that.", which male are you talking about, my biter No. 94 (the first one pictured)?

Which of my males do you like better? And is that the correct amount of black in the wing, or should there be more? Matt said the same thing, he doesn't worry about a little bit of nipping. My birds don't free range, too many predators, so unfortunately I can't benefit from a male that is a good flock protector. Thank you!

 

[desertmarcy]

94 would be useful as a breeder, 95 would make good soup!

What about him don't you like? I'm trying to fine tune my eye looking at these birds.

 

[desertmarcy]

I would love to get your opinion on the pullets. I just don't have that eye yet to see which are the better ones. They all look good to me after having only had hatchery Production Reds in the past!
Probably won't get pics until tomorrow. At the show in Tucson, there were 16 RIR pullets entered, including 2 of mine. I think all of them seemed to have a raised rump, what Matt called a "cushion", which detracted from them looking like they had a level back. I asked one of the judges about it; he said he didn't know why they all looked like that, just to try to breed against it. But don't you have to have at least one pullet with level back to do that, or can a good male throw you some nice pullets?

 

[nicalandia]

What about him don't you like? I'm trying to fine tune my eye looking at these birds.

not dark enough? but that just me

 

[Fred's Hens]

not dark enough? but that just me

X2, plus the stubby body type. Square, not a rectangle.