The Rhode Island Red is one of the most famous and popular chicken breeds. These truly American chickens are great brown egg layers and one of our best-selling breeds of day-old baby chicks.
Developed in the early part of the last century in the state of Rhode Island as a dual purpose breed, they have led the charts for brown egg layers time after time. No other heavy breed lays more or better eggs than the Rhode Island Reds.
Rhode Island Red day-old baby chicks are a rusty red color, and mature birds are a variety of mahogany red.
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QUICK STATS
Type:
standard
Class:
Production
Heritage Breed:
no
Rare Breed / ALBC Priority:
watch
Egg Color:
brown
Egg Size:
large
Egg Production:
best
Disposition:
better
Broody (Likely to Sit):
not at all likely
Free Range:
good
Heat Tolerance:
better
Cold Tolerance:
excellent
Comb Type:
single
Leg Style:
clean
Leg Color:
yellow
Skin Color:
yellow
Bird Size:
extra large
Meat Production:
better
Weeks to Maturity:
19
Male Mature Weight:
8.5 lbs
Female Mature Weight:
6.5 lbs
AVAILABILITY
This breed may be available for future dates.
The table below shows availability for the next several weeks.Click here to show all hatch dates for this season.
Please note you will select a ship date during the checkout process.
Q&A
Will they breed true?
Our Rhode Island Reds are a production strain. They are bred for their egg production. We cannot guarantee the next generation with have the same characteristics.
How many eggs a year do they lay?
They will lay 280-365 eggs a year.
Can I order chicks in October
We do carry about 20 or so different breeds of chicks through the end of October, Rhode Island Reds being one of them.
Can you mix ducks with Rhode Island Reds?
We do not advise keeping ducks with chickens, as the chickens do not thrive well in wet/damp conditions.
We are in Florida how do they handle heat
Rhode Island Reds are quite heat tolerant.
Can I order chickens 12 -16 weeks old and what's the cost of them
We have the 15-20 week old started pullets. Please see our website for pricing and information.
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/rhode_island_red_started_pullets.html
when to remove the heat light
They no longer need the heat when the chicks are 6 weeks old or mostly feathered.
Can i get older females?? Thank u i have hens almost 20 weeks so they need to be older chicks..
We have 15-20 week old birds for sale.
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/rhode_island_red_started_pullets.html
What chickens are the best double yoke layers
The Red Star are most likely to lay a double yolk egg.
How old are they when I get them ?
Newly hatched chicks. They would be a couple days old when you receive them.
Can I get some 5-6 month year old?
We sell the 15-22 week old birds. They are the oldest available.
https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/rhode_island_red_started_pullets.html
What color are the RI red eggs?
The RI Reds lay a larger brown egg.
Can the chicks start out on wire or do they require a solid surface?
We recommend to keep them on a solid surface. Wire can be hard on their feet.
How do you sex the babies?
We hire professional sexers that come each hatch day and sex the babies.
I'm new to this what is Straight Run
St run means the chicks are not sexed. They would be sent as hatched so no idea how many males or females you will receive.
i cant find where to specify vaccinations for chicks??
As you proceed through the check-out, you will be prompted to select vaccinations.
How old are they when they come from hatchery
These are newly hatched baby chicks. You will receive them within 72 hours after they have hatched.
Is it possible to ship baby chicks? I have a co-worker I'm trying to surprise right now. baby chicks near me but no one is selling
We are not hatching any chicks until the end of January.
Are the birds vaccinated before shipping?
The vaccinations are optional for baby chicks. We offer Marek's and Coccidiosis. They will not be vaccinated unless specified on your order.
Do I have to order a rooster for the hens to lay? If not, how do I ensure I only get females and no mails. I've seen what damage roosters can cause on hens by clawing and plucking their feathers
You do not need a rooster for the hens to lay eggs. Only if you want fertilized eggs for hatching. We have a 90% sexing guarantee on the birds.
At what age do Rhode Island reds start to lay and when do we need to start feeding laying pellets ?
Rhode Island Reds typically begin laying around 18-24 weeks of age. It is suggested to begin providing layer feed and oyster shell by 16 weeks of age.
What does production strain mean?
They are not a purebred but are developed for their increased egg production - production strain.
Do you sell crossbred layers?
Our Rhode Island Reds are a production strain.
Are these Pure breed RIR's ?
They are a production strain of Rhode Island Reds.
Do Rhode Island Reds set on their eggs?
Rhode Island Reds are not setters.
do you sell egg laying ready Rhode Island reds? Adult chickens? If not, do you have any suggesting a where I may locate some. We are looking for about 20 adult chickens. I'm in the Daytona Beach Florida area. Thanks.
The oldest birds we offer are between 15-20 weeks called started pullets. They have not started laying yet but will begin within a few weeks after delivery. You can find information under the header "Juvenile birds" then click on started pullets.
what does straight run mean
Straight Run means as hatched. Breed is not sexed so a gamble as to what sex you would end up with.
Calm and productiveAs a chick, our RIR was calm and quiet, but not that friendly. She started laying at 18 weeks, the second of our hens to start laying, after the WTG and before the Black Sex-link. She had a small problem with soft shells and laying at night, but she has since gotten over that. She is a hardy hen, and laid very well during her first winter. She has become friendlier with handling, even asking sometimes to be held. Once when she had a foot wound, she cooperated beautifully while we washed it out and treated it, barely struggling with us, and being very longsuffering about it. She is calm and sweet-natured. If you are trying to decide which breed to get, you should definitely consider getting this hardy and productive heritage breed!
ALEXIS
:(I have ordered many times before but the last RIR I ordered were not near as healthy as usual. I lost several in the first couple weeks. The only ones I lost before was from energy. Now they have grown up they do not lay every day and eggs are not near as big as my other ones were. I am not happy with this batch. Before I got these I would have rated them 5 stars. Will not recommend them any more unless they agree to make this right. The bad part I raised some of these for a friend that loved mine before and she is not happy either. All of my conditions are exactly the same so I can't blame this poor performance on conditions
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