Rhode Island Red Chickens: Breed Guide

History of the breed

The Livestock Conservancy records that Rhode Island Reds were developed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the 1880s and 1890s from crosses that included Malay, Shanghai, Java and Brown Leghorn birds, with the Malay contributing the deep mahogany color. Farmers wanted a bird that laid well and also dressed out well for the table, and the breed spread quickly on the strength of both.

The single-comb variety entered the American Poultry Association's standard in 1904 and the rose-comb variety in 1905. The Conservancy calls the Rhode Island Red America's best-known breed and perhaps the world's best-known fowl. It is also the state bird of Rhode Island, and the extension service notes it is still widely used in the sex-link crosses sold as backyard layers. For a Rhode Island Red flock, our backyard chicken supplies and chicken coop guide cover housing, feeding and nesting.

Heritage vs production Rhode Island Reds

Since the 1940s, breeding for egg numbers has made many Rhode Island Reds smaller, lighter in color and less broody. Most hatchery birds are this production type: medium-sized, rusty red hens that start laying early and lay hard. The Livestock Conservancy lists heritage weights of over 6 pounds for hens and over 8 pounds for roosters.

Old-type or heritage Rhode Island Reds are larger, a much darker mahogany, and more likely to go broody. They are becoming rare and are of the greatest conservation interest. If you want the historic bird for showing or breeding, look for a breeder who works with standard-bred stock rather than a production hatchery strain.

Eggs

Egg laying is the breed's big selling point. The Conservancy reports 200 to 300 large brown eggs a year, starting as early as six months old, and describes the Rhode Island Red as perhaps the best layer among the dual-purpose breeds. The extension service notes that brown-egg layers are typically descended from American breeds like this one, and their red earlobes are the usual clue to a brown egg.

Production strains tend to lay most heavily in their first two years and then taper. Heritage strains lay somewhat fewer eggs but often keep going longer. Like all hens, Reds slow down in the short days of winter and stop during the molt, and a complete layer feed with oyster shell on the side keeps shells strong.

Temperament

Rhode Island Red hens are generally calm and peaceful, curious and easy to keep, and many become friendly with regular handling. They like to range and forage, so they make good use of a large yard or supervised free-range time, but they adapt to confinement if the run is roomy.

The Livestock Conservancy notes that some roosters can be aggressive at times, and Rhode Island Red roosters have a reputation for being protective. If you have young children, a backyard chicken flock of hens only is the simplest choice. In a mixed flock, Reds are often near the top of the pecking order, so watch for bullying of gentler breeds such as Silkies.

Hardiness and care

The breed's toughness is legendary: the Conservancy says Reds are known for keeping up egg production in marginal conditions. They handle both cold and heat well. Single-comb birds can get frostbite in harsh winters, so a dry, draft-free, well-ventilated coop is essential, and the rose-comb variety is a good choice in the far north.

Give them at least 4 square feet per bird inside the coop, 10 square feet in the run, a nest box for every four or five hens and roosts a little higher than the nest boxes. Call a vet who treats poultry if a hen stops eating, sits hunched and fluffed, limps, or has discharge from the eyes or nostrils.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace advice from a veterinarian who treats poultry.