THE IDEAL RHODE ISLAND RED 



EX-SECRETARY OF THE RHODE ISLAND RED CLUB OF AMERICA GIVES A SHORT HISTORY OF THE 

 EVOLUTION OF THE STANDARD FOR THIS BREED-UTILITY HAS BEEN THE FIRST CONSIDERATION 

 OF THE BEST BREEDERS-THE CLUB IDEALS-PROPER COLOR CAN BE TAUGHT BEST BY OBJECT 

 LESSONS— DOUBLE MATING UNNECESSARY BECAUSE THE HIGHEST SCORING BIRDS CAN BE PRO- 

 DUCED BY SINGLE MATING— IN STRIVING FOR PERFECTION OF SHAPE AND COLOR THE VIT- 

 AL QUALITIES WHICH ARE HARDINESS, VIGOR AND PROLIFICACY, MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN 



GEO. P. COFFIN 



IN THE production of birds of high quality, the true 

 fancier must ever have in mind the ideal of perfection 

 toward which he should continually direct his efforts 

 as a breeder. 

 Ever since the Rhode Island Red began to attract the 

 attention of fanciers the question of the correct or "standard" 

 type and color has Jbeen under discussion. The earlier 

 Standards for the breed did not give the detailed description 

 of color for each section that the American Standard of 

 Perfection does. 



In December, 1898, the "Rhode Island Red Club of 

 America'' held their first meeting. The members then 

 agreed that utility should be the first consideration and that 

 brilliancy of color and length of keel indicate vigor and prac- 

 tical value as well as 'beauty. 



In January, 1900, at the club meeting in Boston there 



was a, full and free discussion regarding a standard, and a 

 great diversity of opinion was found to exist as to what was 

 the most desirable color. The "all red bird," the male with 

 ticking in hackle, the chocolate male with smutty under-color, 

 the female without ticking and the female with dark cape 

 and light breast all had their advocates; but no standard 

 was accepted. ' 



At the club meeting in 1901 a number of changes in the 

 description of color were decided upon. In this, as in the dis- 

 cussions in the preceding meetings, it was conceded that 

 utility was of prime importance. The following quotation 

 from the Standard adopted at that time shows the sentiment 

 of the meeting: 



"The special aim of the promoters of this breed being to 

 conserve vigor and prolificacy rather than immaculate per- 

 fection of color, black may find its place in sections enumer- 

 ated and the gradual fading of the red portions of the mature 



RHODE ISLAND RED CLUB OF AMERICA— Standard Cut 

 The ideal cut of the Rhode Island Red Club of America. Ex-Secretary Geo. P. 

 Coffin recommends all Red breeders and judges to study these club Ideals carefully. 



16 



The head of the Ideal Rose Comb 

 male, adopted by the Rhode Island 

 Red Club of America. The two vari- 

 eties should be alike in shape and 

 color, differing only in combs. 



hen's plumage, which naturally follows upon 

 prolific laying, shall not be discriminated against 

 in the placing of awards." 



At the 1903 meeting the Standard was 

 carefully revised and it was voted to apply to 

 the American Poultry Association for admission 

 to the American Standard of Perfection. In 

 the 1903 club Standard we find the following; 

 "Apparent vigor is to be regarded with the 

 consideration of shape." This Standard was 

 slightly modified by the A. P. A. to conform to 

 that of other breeds, although in its essentials it 

 has remained the same as when adopted by the 

 club. 



During the year 1909 an interesting contro- 

 versy regarding some of the Standard descrip- 

 tions was waged, and it became necessary for 

 the club to show the American Poultry Associa- 

 tion what the breeders desired. This was done 

 in a way that left no doubt in the minds of 



