I have aRhode Island Red . Is it true they are one of the nicestchicken breeds ? And would the rooster belike terminate up hurting the other hens or infant chicks ? — Jansen Fuller
The Livestock Conservancy — formerly the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy — list non - industrial Rhode Island Red chickens as a Recovering breed on its Conservation Priority List and it call the Rhode Island Red America ’s best have sex strain and most successful treble - use wimp . That ’s moderately high kudos from those in the know !
The Rhode Island Red is an old , all - American strain developed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts during the 1880s when chicken fanciers crossedMalay , Shanghai , JavaandBrown Leghornbreeding stock to make a meaty , mahogany - brown chicken that laid a mickle of eggs . One of the foundation sires of the breed was a black - breasted red Malay rooster imported from England . He ’s stuffed now and on display in the Smithsonian Institute as the Church Father of the Rhode Island Red .
Single - combed Rhode Island Reds were accepted into the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection in 1904 and rose - combed Rhode Island Reds in 1905 . Rhode Island Reds became immensely popular for their ability to lay five or six large or surplus - large , average - dark-brown egg per hebdomad , year - pear-shaped . And because cock weigh about 8½ pounds and hens about 6½ pounds , they are large and meaty enough to make tasty feeding , as well .
Rhode Island Reds are oestrus and cold hardy ( rose - combed Rhode Island Red rooster get along better than rooster with gravid single cockscomb where it ’s bitter cold-blooded because big combs are prostrate to frostbite ) , and they do equally well in lying-in or as free - kitchen stove chicken . They ’re active but generally tranquil and teachable doll . Some chicken keeper , however , say Rhode Island Reds are more fast-growing than many other volaille breeds , especially Rhode Island Red roosters .
rooster rarely harm hens or chicks , though they often crusade with other cock in the mass . In fact , roosters that are aggressive toward humansusually behave badly because they cogitate they ’re defend their feather families .
A cool thing about chicken is that there are so many breeds to choose from and there are breed just right for every need . need lots of bollock ? Layer stock cede . juicy meat ? There are many breeds and cross developed for meat production , too . take both ? Dual - function strain like Rhode Island Reds fill up the vizor . older - fashionedheritage breeds ? Ornamental strain ? breed just right to take to poultry show ? Check out thisChicken Breed Referencespage for ideas . The breed visibility here atHobbyFarms.comand Henderson ’s Chicken Breeds Chart are especially useful resources , too .
If you think Rhode Island Reds might be for you , check out the video below . mama and I both love it !
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