Rhode Island Red facts for kids
Rhode Island Red rooster
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| Conservation status | Livestock Conservancy: watch |
|---|---|
| Other names | Rhode Islands |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Use | dual-purpose |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
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| Skin color | yellow |
| Egg color | brown |
| Comb type | single or rose |
| Classification | |
| APA | American |
| EE | yes |
| PCGB | soft feather: heavy |
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The Rhode Island Red is a popular American chicken breed. It is the official state bird of Rhode Island. This chicken was first developed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the late 1800s. It was created by mixing different chicken breeds, like the Malay and brown Leghorn chickens.
Originally, Rhode Island Reds were raised for two main reasons: for their meat and for their eggs. Today, most Rhode Island Reds are specially bred to be excellent egg layers. The older, traditional types of Rhode Island Reds are considered "watch" status by The Livestock Conservancy. This means they need some attention to make sure their numbers stay healthy. The Rhode Island Red is a different breed from the Rhode Island White chicken.
The History of Rhode Island Reds
The Rhode Island Red chicken was developed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts during the second half of the 1800s. Breeders carefully selected chickens with good traits. They mixed birds from Asia, such as the Cochin, Java, and Malay, with brown Leghorn chickens from Italy. The beautiful deep red color of their feathers came from the Malay chickens.
In 1954, the state of Rhode Island celebrated 100 years of the breed. They even built a special monument, the Rhode Island Red Monument, at the William Tripp farm in Little Compton, Rhode Island.
The name "Rhode Island Red" became official over time. Some say Isaac Champlin Wilbour first used the name. Others say a Mr. Jenny from a poultry association used it around 1879 or 1880. Before that, they were sometimes called "John Macomber fowls" or "Tripp fowls."
The first official description of the breed was made in 1898. It was approved by the American Rhode Island Red Club in 1901. The type of Rhode Island Red with a single comb (the fleshy growth on top of their head) was officially recognized in 1904. The type with a rose comb was recognized in 1906.
What Do Rhode Island Reds Look Like?
The feathers of a traditional Rhode Island Red chicken are a shiny, deep red color. Their tails are mostly black, but can also have a deep green shine. They can have either a single comb or a rose comb. Both their comb, earlobes, and wattles (the fleshy parts under their beak) are a bright red.
These chickens have red-orange eyes and reddish-brown beaks. Their feet and legs are yellow, sometimes with some red on their toes and the sides of their legs. Modern chickens bred for industrial farms might be smaller and lighter in color than the older, traditional type of Rhode Island Red.
How Are Rhode Island Reds Used?
The Rhode Island Red was first created to be a "dual-purpose" chicken. This means they were good for both producing meat and laying eggs. However, since about 1940, they have been mostly bred to be excellent egg layers. Today's industrial Rhode Island Reds are known for laying many eggs.
Rhode Island Reds have also been used to create many new types of hybrid chickens. The traditional "old-type" Rhode Island Red can lay between 200 and 300 brown eggs each year. They also provide tasty meat. This traditional breed is part of the Ark of Taste by the Slow Food Foundation. This means it's a special food heritage that should be protected.
