TWO RIR's? Pullets and/or Cockereals????

[aoxa]

I have had 18years experience with poultry - with most of these years owning, breeding and showing RIR. Yes they SHOULD be darker but that doesn't mean there aren't bloodlines out there that aren't show quality. I am just pointing out that you can't expect for every single bird to look exactly the same from every bloodline. So while there is a possibility of them not being RIR you have to add in the fact that there is a possibility of them being RIR.

I find it strange that having 18 years of experience you would say this.. Just my two cents..

 

[Countrymanfowl]

So, would the determination be on if there darker or lighter when they are adults?

 

[aoxa]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407294/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site/1190

To the OP: Check out this forum. You can ask them here if you have questions.

 

[Countrymanfowl]

So, Kyoht are you saying that there is a differnce in the color of a show quailtiy RIR and a regular RIR?

 

[crchickens]

I have two who were sold to me as RIR, and they are lighter, too. They do not have any white in their feathers, they have black mixed in. I also have one who was also sold as a RIR and is the dark mahogany color. They are all pretty, and the two lighter ones actually have better personalities. I think they are probably red sex links, actually, even though they were sold as RIRs. As long as they give me eggs, it does not matter to me, as I am not looking to breed. I was a little ticked off when I found out that there was something amiss, though.

 

[gabrielle1976]

To the OP , Im have no idea if there RIR or Not or if they are boys or girls I just wanted to say that in the futer if you want a specific type of bird , maybe come here first and talk to people about where to get them. I have read thread after thread after thread after thread about people that got eggs or chicks or even full grown chickens that they were told were one thing when they were something else from other places like hatcheries and feed stores and ebay or what not , here everyone seems reallly happy with what they get from other people on BYC as we are a close community and someone saleing things that arnt what they are sapose to be woudnt go over very well. Just my two cents.

 

[aoxa]

I have two who were sold to me as RIR, and they are lighter, too.   They do not have any white in their feathers, they have black mixed in.   I also have one who was also sold as a RIR and is the dark mahogany color.  They are all pretty, and the two lighter ones actually have better personalities.   I think they are probably red sex links, actually, even though they were sold as RIRs.   As long as they give me eggs, it does not matter to me, as I am not looking to breed.  I was a little ticked off when I found out that there was something amiss, though.  

 

yes, I agree. Those RSL lay like machines, and are very sweet natured. I've got 3 double yolkers in the past 6 weeks from the same hen. They were HUGE. Her eggs are already Jumbo sized. These are goose sized )

 

[Kyoht]

I find it strange that having 18 years of experience you would say this.. Just my two cents..

Well I wasn't attacking anyone I was just giving my opinion, from what I've encountered,to the OP. But since you are being so agressive - how many years have you raised chickens? Has it been more than a few years?

Back to OP what I mean is that for every breed there is a breed standard. Most chickens from that breed will fit the standard very closely or close enough. Some will be below the standards for various reasons that can include color. This does not mean that the chickens are not good chickens. You just might not want to breed them if you are wanting chickens that represent the current breed standard. Also I am not claiming that these must be 100% RIR, I am just stating that you cannot rule them out 100% either and below is why:

Here is a scientific article that I read a while back for a Bio class, it states
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.23...id=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=56199893613

Quote:
Also as mentioned before, the lighter ones are usually sold as production grade (that doesn't mean they aren't RIR). It means that they are bred for production(eggs) and not so much for color or looks. The darker ones of (heritage)exhibition quality are RIR's too but are bred to adhere more closely to the breed standard.(these might not be as productive but prettier/fuller bodied).

So even though there are different "strains" of RIR, they are still all RIRs.

hope this helps OP ! They are cute!