Description and characteristics of Rhode Island chickens, breeding features

This type of chicken began to be bred 200 years ago in Massachusetts by crossing several species. The main producer was the red Malay rooster, from which the new breed acquired dense plumage and a reddish color. At the beginning of the last century, Rhode Island chickens began to be imported to the European continent and quickly spread throughout it, and in 1926 they reached Russia.

Description and characteristics of Rhode Island chickens

Due to their high vitality, resistance to infections, and rapid growth, individuals of this breed are ideally suited for keeping on private farms. Rhode Island chickens are not picky about their housing and food, and in addition, they are peaceful, which allows them to be kept close to other living creatures.

Appearance

Chickens of this breed are characterized by dark, reddish-brown plumage, with a bright reddish feather shaft. There are chickens with a lighter color.

The head is small, with a red or pink erect crest, brown eyes and a yellow-brown beak. The body is elongated, with a wide back. The neck is small and fluffy.

In hens the tail is almost horizontal to the body, in roosters it is at an angle, short and bushy. The plumage on the tail is blackish with a greenish tint.

Representatives of Rhode Island are characterized by a convex chest, small, tightly pressed wings, and strong yellow legs.

Chicken productivity

Chickens of this breed are both meat and egg-laying.

Due to these qualities, Rhode Island birds are used by breeders to breed other breeds. The productivity indicator depends on the quality of the feed and the conditions of detention.

Meat indicators (weight of chickens and roosters)

The weight of a one to two year old Rhode Island rooster ranges from 2.4 to 3.4 kg, and there are individuals weighing up to 4 kg. Chickens weigh 2-3 kg. Chicken meat is tasty and tender, with a pleasant appearance.

Egg production indicators (egg weight)

Chickens begin to lay eggs at 6-7 months of age and are capable of laying up to 170-180, and sometimes about two hundred, eggs per year.

In the cold season, egg production practically does not decrease.

The eggs have a brown shell and weigh 50-65 grams.

Character of birds

Rhode Island chickens have a calm disposition; roosters are not aggressive, although they are quite active. Relatives rarely fight among themselves and fuss little in the chicken coop. The hens quickly get used to their owner and allow him near the eggs.

Breed varieties

There are two more subspecies of this breed, bred at different times. They differ from each other in external characteristics, although they have similar characteristics of body structure and productivity.

One of the varieties is chickens that have white plumage. This breed was developed much later, and in fact is somewhat different, although it is taken for crossing with brown individuals to obtain more productive hybrids.

The Germans bred dwarf Rhode Island chickens of both colors. They are distinguished by lighter plumage and egg coloring. Mini-chickens weigh half as much as their large relatives, and lay eggs weighing 40-45 grams.

Advantages and disadvantages

The positive qualities of Rhode Island include:

• tolerance to conditions of detention;
• versatility (meat and egg production at the same time);
• delicious meat;
• high survival rate of chickens;
• early sexual maturity of chickens.

The disadvantages are:

• average egg production;
• reluctance to sit on eggs.

Rhode Island chickens are recommended to be raised by private farms, while this breed is not bred for commercial purposes.

The subtleties of keeping Rhode Island chickens

Chickens of this breed are considered not suitable for keeping in cages, although in practice this rule is often violated. Thanks to their dense plumage, they are not afraid of cold weather and can stay outside until it drops to minus 10 C, finding food for themselves on their own.

Chicken coop requirements

The chicken coop should be insulated, equipped with perches (desirable height about 80 cm from the floor), places for nests, as well as additional lighting in the dark season.

It is recommended to lay a bedding of sawdust on the floor, which will only be added in winter and completely cleaned out in summer. Regular cleaning and periodic disinfection of the chicken coop is important.

The chicks are kept at a temperature of about 30C, decreasing it by 2 degrees weekly for rapid adaptation. At the age of 1.5 months they are moved to adult birds.

Requirements for the enclosure

Birds feel good on the range; chickens of this breed simply need it. However, they are able to quickly eat all the greenery they encounter along the way. To prevent damage to seedlings growing in the garden, the chicken enclosure must be fenced with a net.

It is recommended to place bowls with sand and ash in the enclosure where the chickens will bathe, protecting themselves from parasites.

Slaughter age

Until 1.5 years of age, egg production in Rhode Island chickens increases, and then begins to decrease. At the age of 2 years they can be sent for slaughter.

What to feed?

Representatives of this breed are not picky about food. When walking, Rhode Island chickens are able to obtain their own food, adding greens to their diet.

Chickens

It is recommended to feed young cockerels with higher-calorie feeds than future laying hens, therefore, slightly older chickens are usually separated.

The first foods are chicken feed or millet porridge mixed with eggs and finely chopped herbs, cottage cheese, and boiled fish. Then new products are gradually introduced. Children eat dandelions and finely chopped nettles well.

The chicks are given water only with warm water.

Adults

Rhode Island chickens are not picky about feed. Adults are fed cereals, mash, grain, vegetables or special feed. The diet of birds should contain enough barley, rye, wheat, oats, and corn.It is recommended to add cake, grated chalk and meal.

Ready-made industrial feeds usually contain all the necessary components.

In summer, half of the diet should be greens (carrot and radish tops, nettles, cabbage leaves), you can give the chickens pumpkin or zucchini, as well as sunflower seeds.

Water is poured into drinking bowls to prevent tipping over. Vitamins are added to the diet periodically.

How to breed the breed correctly?

To breed a breed, a group of ten chickens needs one rooster. However, not every Rhode Island hen wants to become a hen; half of them do not sit on eggs at all. Therefore, to hatch chickens, you need to purchase an incubator, or lay eggs under other chickens.

You need to select eggs by carefully inspecting the shell - there should be no cracks or other defects on it. The eggs are placed in an incubator at a temperature of 37.6 C. Chickens will hatch from ¾ of the clutch. The chicks have a reddish color; future hens have a characteristic spot on their head already at one day of age.

The survival rate of chickens reaches 70-95%. The chicks grow quickly, but they do not immediately grow feathers, so at an early age they are sensitive to cold weather. They become sexually mature by 7 months.

Frequent illnesses

From an early age, chickens are vaccinated against infectious diseases. However, this does not provide a 100% guarantee against the disease, although it seriously reduces the risk of infection. Birds can get sick from poor quality care or unbalanced nutrition.

Signs of the onset of the disease are lack of appetite, lethargy, dull eyes and shabby plumage. It is recommended to isolate the sick individual from others.

The most common diseases in chickens of this breed are:

1. Cholera.The chicken does not eat anything, becomes weak, its comb turns blue, and diarrhea occurs.
2. Paralysis. Chickens begin to limp, the tail becomes motionless, the eyes become gray, the neck area looks constrained.
3. Smallpox. As a rule, birds become infected in winter; the infection can penetrate through cuts. Symptoms of the disease are white spots on the skin, tongue, and oral mucosa. The chicken becomes lethargic and loses its appetite. If one individual gets sick, it is urgently removed from the poultry house and the rest of the chickens are disinfected.
4. Lice. Chickens lose their feathers, become restless, and stop eating.
5. Ticks. The legs become covered with scales, swell, and growths appear on them. The beak and skin become red, flaky, and itchy.
6. Inflammation of the cloaca (cloacitis). Laying hens get sick more often. The reason is an incorrectly selected diet. Signs of cloacitis are discharge that contaminates the feathers near the anus.
7. Intestinal diseases. Chickens suffer from constipation and become depressed. Sick individuals require a diet containing sunflower oil.
8. Coccidiosis (eimeriosis). An infectious disease transmitted from newly arrived livestock. It occurs only once, but the recovered individual remains a carrier. The first symptom is diarrhea with clots of mucus or blood, dulling of feathers and comb.

Pullorosis. It can occur in one of two forms - acute and permanent. Is an infectious disease. Symptoms: exhaustion, heavy breathing, pale scallops.