The Pros and Cons of the Rhode Island Red

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

1. 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

1. 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.