Rhode Island Reds Bantams

No breed made such world progress in so short a time as this American breed. It was developed from Asiatic black-red fowls of Shanghai, Malay and Java types, bred on the farms of Rhode Island Province. Red Javas were known there in 1860, and the original Rhode Island Red had a rose comb, although birds with single combs, probably from brown Leghorn crossings, were bred. They were first exhibited as Rhode Island Reds in 1880 in South Massachusetts. In December 1898, the Rhode Island Red Club of America held its first meeting. In 1904, the single comb variety was admitted to the American Poultry Association of Perfection, followed in 1906 by the rose combs. The formation of the British Rhode Island Red Club took place in August 1909 and the breed has been one of the most popular in this country for all purposes. Being a gold, males of the breed are utilised extensively in gold–silver sex-linked matings.
 
Uses: Utility – eggs. Sex-linked hybrids
Origin: Rhode Island State, USA. 
Eggs: 250+ light brown eggs per year in good utility strains.
Weight: Cock: 3.85 Kg. Hen: 2.95 Kg.
Bantam Cock: 790 – 910 g. Hen: 680 – 790g.

Useful to Know: Rhode Island Reds are a prolific layer of light brown eggs. Males of some strains can be aggressive during the breeding season. The Rhode Island Red has been used extensively over the years to create many of the commercial hybrid layers we see today.