The Monmouth inquirer., 1924-08-28
ABOUT RHODE ISLAND REDS.


AS the name indicates Rhode Island
Reds were originated In the state OF
Rhode Island They are Of a rather
rich brilliant red color, hence the
name; the first part from the state
and the second part from the color. In
the district of Little Compton, Rhode
Island, poultry raising was and is
practiced universally. About the year
1874 people In that district became
very much interested in farmers
fowl of red plumage. They bred a
fowl noted for both eggs and meat
production; this fowl was the Rhode
Island Red Its exact origin is and al
ways will be rather obscure. 1t is
definitely known that farmers of
certain neighborhood were breeding
a red fowl and had been breeding it
for several years. 1t was at the time
considered one of the most vigorous
and hardy chickens. In fact this Is
one of the prime reasons it was so
universally bred in that section.
The Rhode Island Red can correctly
be termed a mongrel fowl developed
on the farms by promiscuous cross
breeding. 1t, however, was found to
be such a meritorious type that sew
eral breeders later took up and bred
1t year after year with the idea of es-
tablishing its peculiar qualities in
such way as to be able to call it
pure breed. It was almongrel so well
bred as to be able to reproduce its
characteristics with such certainty as
to warrant the American Standard of
Perfection CHASING it as distinct
breed. On account of its obscure orr
gin and its being farmers fowl, this
breed had more or less of hard time
though they were exhibited under
their present name as early as 1880,
1t was not until 1901 that they were
admitted to the Standard. If they had
been originated by fancler with
traceable origin they would no doubt
have been admitted much sooner
though In reality been no more eligi-
bic.
As stated before their exact origin
Is not known, but the following is
generally accepted as the most plaus-
ible theory: The offspring of mat
ing of Rose Comb Brown Leghorns
ard Red Malays were mated with the
offspring of mating of Buff Cochins
and Red Chattagongs. The resulting
offspring were mated with Buff Wyan-
dottes, and the offspring from this
mating produced red fowl OF oblong
Snaps, compact form and smooth sur
face plumage. They were later
named Rhode Island Reds by Mr..
Isaac Wilbur. Some contend that the
Red Shanghai, Cochin Chinas, Red
Chittagongs, Black Breasted Red Ma
lays, Red Malays, Brown Leghorns
and Buff Wyandottes were used. Prob
ably part or all of these breeds were
used in later years.
In the breeding of Rhode Island
Reds the ideal is to produce rich
brilliant red plumage with black in
the tails and wings. The under color
should be red or salmon, but not white
OF black. The most difficult part in
the breeding of Rhode Island Reds ap-
pears to be In the producing Of uni
form surface color. proper blending Of
black with the red. and a uniformly
deep under color. What is most de
sirable Is very uniform brilliant red
surface color, excepting where black
is specified, with medium shade of
uniformly red under color. The red
in the different sections of the bird
should match or harmonic. The black
should possess a greenish sheen In
stead of purplish. White in any part
of the plumage is a disqualification.
Plumage should be free from the char
acteristic smoky, mealy, shafting. ash
gray or black stripping.
In shape the Rhode Island Reds are
classed as rather oblong, fitting into
a rectangIe better than into square.
The body is rather long In compari-
son with most other breeds OF the
American class. They have compar-
atively large and full breast. The tail
is rather short and carried equally
low. The skin should be rich yell
low as also the shanks. In the latter.
however, it is allowable. in fact desir-
able, to have line or red pigment
follow down the shank on the inside.
They should be mounted on two strong
legs, set well apart and rather long.
at least trifie more 30 than in Rocks
or Wyandottes.
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