The Rhode Island Red is one of the most famous breeds of chickens, popular for making hybrids like the Amberlink. They are great chickens, being rather pretty, but like every breed they aren’t perfect. Here’s a look at the ups and downs of these pretty chickens.
Pros
- They lay lots of eggs
250-300 is average. So this is pretty good, placing at 5-6 eggs a week. It isn’t Amberlink but it’s pretty darn good. They are often placed as second only to hybrids in egg laying.
2. They lay during the winter
Unlike many chickens, the Rhode Island Red actually lays almost as much during winter as during summer. A year long supply should be easy with a flock of these.
3. They are good for meat
An egg-laying breed is often pretty bad meat, but I’ve heard that Rhode Island Reds are often considered dual purpose. With that in mind, you may want to be careful who you sell your chicks to if you get attached to them. Or if you support vegetarianism.
4. They are pretty
These are considered widely one of the most beautiful chicken breeds. The roosters are amazing!
5. They are tough
These chickens are predator resistant and are known to fight back. The roosters are fearless. This makes them a good choice for free-ranging.
6. They are nice
My Dad loved his Rhode Island Red Henny-Penny more than any other animal. In fact, he entered her into the Brookville Pet Parade and won. Any way, they went through thick and thin together. Rhode Island Reds are great for cuddles when raised well. They are a great choice for families with children or adults who really like chickens.
7. They are generally healthy
Many, many breeds of chickens are prone to something. Amberlinks to egg difficulties, Silkies to feather soiling, leghorns to bone fractures etc.
Rhode Island Reds are pretty solid.
8. They are fun to hybridize
Whether this is a pro or con, the Rhode Island Red is a great hybridizer creating breeds like Amberlink (Red x White Plymouth Rock or the unrelated Rhode Island White), Rhode Island Blue (Red x Australorp), the Speckledy (Red x Marans), and the Standard Brown (Rhode Island Red crossed with a bunch of different things). The problem is that this causes pure strands to die out.
CONS
- They are kind of bossy
My Rhode Island Reds Roxy and Roux live in a mixed flock, and they are indisputably the top of the pecking order. Introducing older Rhode Island Reds into other flocks can go badly because they are bossy. The roosters probably shouldn’t be kept with other roosters.
2. They do not live as long as other chickens
Although they live much longer than hybrids, the Rhode Island Red average lifespan is 5-8 years (though many people including me have had longer lived fellows). This is smaller than the average 8-10 held by many chicken breeds, like Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, and Easter Eggers.
3. They are hard to find… sometimes
Many people claim this breed is increasingly rare compared to many breeds like the Leghorn and Plymouth Rock. That being said, I personally have never had trouble finding Reds when I wanted them.
4. They are louder than average chickens
That goes for males and females. Urban Rhode Island Reds are not a great idea, but in suburbia they really aren’t too bad.
5. Commercial ones don’t go broody
While heritage strands retain this trait, it has been bred out of commercial strands because broody hens don’t lay. This means mama Rhode Island isn’t gonna happen. Sorry about that.
CONCLUSION
Well, there you go. The Rhode Island Red is a great chicken with major advantages and some little draw backs. I personally prefer a mixed flock, retaining a balance of different chickens who can do different jobs. I love my Rhode Island Reds, and I think you’ll love yours too.
From the smallest state to a great chicken !
I need to read it again !
Good stuff!
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Riddle, “what does the chicken have that reminds you of Jurassic Park ( the ride in the movie) explanation of how they brought back extinct dinosaurs ?”
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I mean, I guess they have DNA…
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Yes, but the play on words is even better ! Ready ???
Amberlink!
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Remember the mosquito in amber ? John had a walking caned with an amber knob and a mosquito supposedly trapped inside from Jurassic times – it supposedly bite a Dino and had traces of Dino blood from which the Dino DNA was recovered! That was the link! Amberlink!
Ha ha! Great fun – chicken word play for you, Hiram !
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FIVE TO SIX NOT ENOUUUUGGGHHHH I NEEED FIVE PER DAYYYYY GOBBLEDOO
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Looks like you will have to get 6 RIRs then
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Mr. Gooblely doo…..
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makeysensey
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i see JOHANN SEBASTIA-CARROT BUNNY
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.3 hissssss raree- iagu[ punch punch
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Yes I have noticed that you are a veggie. But it’s better to eat home grown chickens with a happy life, then oppressed squashed chickens in a factory
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point 4… not sure about that one but nicee!!! point 5 BASED point 6 nice backstoyyyy
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Look up a Rhode Island rooster and you will understand 4. As for point 5, I’m pretty sure I’ve witnessed Rhode Islands using dumb bells
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Don’t quote me on that.
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were they doing proper form
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They were doing pretty good for not even having arms
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I noticed some errors on the OG version, but looks like you fixed them.
Also they’re hard to find? That’s surprising.
‘mama Rhode Island’ awww
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In my experience, they aren’t hard to find, but apparently in some places they are.
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chickens constantly fascinate me! I used to have a pair of RIR and I am longing to have another one but looking for wide space where I can let them walk around freely, I hate cage
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