Rhode Island Reds

Description

The Rhode Island Red has long been one of the most popular American breeds. It was developed by poultry farmers in Little Compton, Rhode Island beginning about 1830, wrote Janet Dohner in The Encyclopedia of Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds.

Early breeders sought to develop it as a utility fowl. They were very successful and ended up making one of the most well-known and well-loved utility birds in the country.

In 1904 the single-combed variety was recognized by the APA Standard, followed in 1905 by the rose-combed variety. A chicken’s comb plays a vital role in its ability to stay cool in hot weather, and single comb varieties are better suited for warm or hot climates.

The Rhode Island Red hen is the prototypical “little red hen.” In the book Standard-bred Rhode Island Reds, Rose and Single Comb (1911), M.S. Gardner declared:

As I write, the [Rhode Island] Red chickens are pursuing the grasshoppers over the oat stubble and through the corn fifty or sixty rods from the house. They are the picture of health, vigor and energy. Someone has said: “Doubtless God could have made a better berry than the strawberry, but doubtless He never did.” So we may well say of the Rhode Island Red, “Unquestionably the Creator could have made a better utility fowl, but unquestionably He never did”.

Gardner depicts the hen as the perfect mother. She is “large enough to cover a good nestful of eggs but not so heavy as to smash every one she gets her feet on.” Mother Rhode Island Red hens with their chicks, he goes on to say, are “exceptionally good foragers and teach the chicks to roam over large areas in search of insects.”

Our Rhode Island Reds

Our Rhode Island Reds come primarily from McMurray and Hoovers hatchery. They are a mix of heritage and production.

If you’re looking for good all-around utility birds for your homestead or small farm, these Reds won’t disappoint you.

When Do Rhode Island Reds Start to Lay

There are lots of variables that affect when hens will start to lay, including feed, climate, temperature, stress and day length, so we don’t make any guarantee as to when our Rhode Island Red pullets will lay. But generally, we see Rhode Island Reds starting to lay when they are 5 to 7 months old, about the same time as the other heritage breeds.

Are Rhode Island Reds Good Layers? What Color Eggs Do they Lay?

Rhode Island Reds are excellent layers of brown eggs.

How Long Do Rhode Island Reds Live?

They can live and be productive at 5 to 7 years of age and could live longer. There are lots of factors involved. I’ve heard of hens living as long as 13 years, though I don’t remember the breed. I recommend replacing about 1/3 of your flock every year so that your hens don’t get older than about 3 years old on average. This helps keep them laying well so that you will get plenty of eggs.

Are Your Rhode Island Reds Show Quality?

No. We do not carry any show quality Rhode Island Reds.