why do my RIR ' S look so different?

[augiedranch]

 

[Michael OShay]

Your RIRs look so different because they are not RIRs. The solid red birds are Production Reds which are bred for heavy egg production by crossing two red gene parents. Hatcheries sometimes market their Production Reds as RIRs, but they lack the deep body and mahogany red coloring of true RIRs. The red birds with white underfluff and white feathers in the tails are Red Sex Links which are produced by crossing a red gene rooster with a silver gene hen. Not only can the offspring be sexed by color at hatching, but they are egg laying machines, outlaying either parent breed. It's one of the interesting quirks of hybridization. You should get loads of eggs from those ladies. )