Orpington · Buff
Kent, England
$7.10
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Breed · 01
— Heritage Bird
— New England, USA
Rhode Island Red
The American heritage layer. Hardy, prolific, mahogany-feathered.
- Price
- $6.40/ chick
- Lay rate
- 280 eggs / yr
- Origin
- New England, USA
- Ship as
- Day-old chicks
Hatched in Vermont · NPIP certified · ships to 48 states
— Field notes
Origin
Bred in Adamsville, Rhode Island in the 1850s from Malay, Java, and Brown Leghorn stock. Inducted as the Rhode Island state bird in 1954. The single-comb Rhode Island Red is now the most-kept heritage breed in North America.
Temperament
Active, curious, hardy. Roosters can be assertive; hens are calm and confident. Excellent foragers — they will work a pasture.
Production
~280 large brown eggs per year, peaking in years one and two with sustained output through year four. Persistent layers in winter when given supplemental light. Dual-purpose carcass at 6.5 lb (hens) / 8.5 lb (roosters).
Climate
One of the most cold-hardy heritage breeds. Tolerates -20°F with a dry, draft-free coop. Comb is small enough to resist frostbite. Equally tolerant of summer heat with shade and fresh water.
Brooder
Brood at 95°F for week one, dropping 5°F per week. Feed 20% protein chick starter. Robust, rarely sick — among the easiest brooder chicks for first-time keepers.
Best for
Homesteaders, four-season climates, anyone wanting one breed that does everything reasonably well.