MAKE-UP OF THE RHODE ISLAND REDS 



OBSERVATIONS OF AN EXPERIENCED BREEDER WHO COMBINES PRACTICAL 

 EGG FARM VALUES WITH SHOW ROOM QUALITY IN THE POPULAR REDS 



WILLIAM S. HARRIS 



ABOUT 1893 when it began to get noised about that 

 a certain new-old breed of fowls, the Rhode Island 

 Red, had features that were worthy of investiga- 

 tion owing to their heavy laying qualities, large 

 brown eggs, hardiness, etc., I became sufficiently interested 

 to investigate. 



Up to that time I had been trying first one and another 

 of the so-called "all around" practical breeds and not being 

 rooted in any old ruts I immediately began to study into the 

 merits of the Reds then common on farms in my part of 

 Massachusetts and in nearby Rhode Island, and I bred them 





FIRST prize: rcred hen 



BRE.5 Ahb OWNED BY 

 F-L- POULTRY FARM 



PITTSBURG 



VERONA PA 



side by side with the other breeds I was then keeping. The 

 result was that I abandoned my other varieties and for the 

 last twelve years have been breeding Rhode Island Reds 

 exclusively, establishing a substantial egg farm with 1500 

 Reds and catering to the best hotel trade in Boston. 



In regard to the make-up of the Rhode Island Reds, it 

 seems to me that there is very little to add to what has already 

 been said on this subject but as my experience has been 

 asked I will give it for what it is worth and will try to tell 

 what I know of the ever-interesting Rhode Island Reds. 



A breeder who has bred thousands of Rhode Island 

 Reds each year for a dozen years or more has little, if any, 

 doubt of their origin, for during the first few years of breed- 

 ing them it was a common occurence for the different breed 

 types to crop out. Occasionally one would come that would 

 be a perfect specimen of the Dorking in shape, with flesh- 

 colored legs, (English breed); then again one of the Ham- 

 burg type, (Dutch breed). The Leghorn shape often ap- 

 peared (Mediterranean breed), again the Games' shape would 

 frequently show as also the Cochin (Asiatic breed) and last 

 of all the f()rm of the Plymouth Rook appeared. (American 

 Class). 



During all these years I have never noticed any evidence 

 of Polish or French blood in the Reds. Shape is what 

 determines the breed. So it is a comparatively easy matter 

 for an observing breeder to find out what is back of a breed. 

 From a breeder's view-point the evidence goes to show that 

 the R. I. Reds are made up of a happy combination of blood 

 and mingling of types from the following breeds : Plymouth 

 Rooks, Dorkings, Hamburgs, Leghorns, Games and Cochins. 

 This combination has given the Reds a rugged constitution. 

 The best of what is in the breeds named has been retained, 

 the objectionable features have been nearly eradicated. It 

 is seldom now, after all these years of systematic and careful 

 breeding that any of the different breed types appear. Cross- 

 ing widely different strains or the introduction of new blood 

 from a very strong strain would probably result in throwing 

 a few with characteristics of the early ancestors of the- 

 variety. 



Selection in breeding, and understanding and applica- 

 tion of the Standard to the Reds have given us a fowl that is 

 not exceeded by any in beauty and profitability and have 

 given us birds of ideal shape. 



I am opposed to any change in the Standard for Reds 

 except to have ticking in .hackle of both male and female. 

 I would also prefer a 5J pound pullet. Other changes would 

 cause too many show-room birds. For instance if the 

 Standard allowed smut in under-color the show-room would 

 be flooded, with show birds, and the interest in Reds would 

 soon die out. 



The difficulty in getting good ones is what keeps up the 

 interest in^any variety and scarcity is what makes the high 

 prices. Any breed that throws any great percentage of 

 really good Jones is short-lived. 



12 



