64 



RHODE ISLAND REDS 



eggs AS the Plymouth Rocks and larger than most Wyan- 

 dottes. I have on several occasions had eggs from them 

 that weighed from one pound ten ounces to one pound three 

 quarters to the dozen. It is not an uncommon thing for a 

 Rhode Island Red female to lay continuously for four or 

 five months without becomirg broody. Here is a field in 

 which if any other breed can do better work, I have never 

 had proof of it. Many of our large Plymouth Rocks are too 

 heavy to be used successfully in the hatching and rearing of 

 chicks. The lighter and more active Red is nearly ideal for 

 this purpose. She is large enough to cover a good nestful of 

 eggs, but not so heavy as to smash every one she gets her 

 feet on. She is quiet and when once broody is a persistent 

 sitter and she is a careful mother. One hen that hatched 

 eleven chickens for us last season raised them all and still 

 continued to care for them until she had laid nearly two 

 dozen eggs. She did not hesitate to attack any dog, cat or 

 other animal that molested the brood. 



As the R. I. Reds are more active and energetic than 

 some of the larger fowls, hens of this breed with broods of 

 chickens are exceptionally good foragers and teach the chick- 

 ens to roam over large areas in search of insects. A Red hen 

 with a dozen chicks to scratch for can and will dig over the 

 surface of a large garden in a surprisingly short time. 

 f- l»* Growth ol Chickens 



During the last twenty years the writer has raised more 

 than twenty of the standard varieties that are now consid- 

 ered the most popular ones. After carefully observing the 

 growth of chickens of these different breeds I wish to state 

 that I believe that R. I. Red chickens make more rapid 

 growth and will weigh more at the end of three or four months 

 than will chicks of any other American variety. This season 

 we put mixed lots of eggs under several hens. These con- 

 sisted of Black Orpingtons, Barred Rocks and Rhode Island 

 Reds. Each hen hatched several chickens of each of the 

 three varieties. The hens were allowed their freedom after 

 the first week and hens and chicks were fed for the purpose of 



IDEAL RHODE ISLAND RED MALE 

 The purpose of these two illuatrations (ideal male and female) ie 

 show upon what lines standard R. I. Reds are built. It T\il bo noticci 

 that is Doth the male and female the line of the back runs nearly ho 

 zontal and is blended into the base of the neck and into the tail by a 

 very slight curve. The main part of the body can be enclosed in an 

 obloi^. Wheij the bird stands in a natural position, it should be in- 

 clinea to hold its head up and forward, giving the fowl an alert anper- 

 ance. — A. O. Schilling. 



securing as rapid growth in the chicks as possible. At the end 

 of the first month the Red chickens were better feathered 

 than either the Orpingtons or Rocks. We had lost six Rocks 

 one Red and one Orpington. There had been no particular 





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IDEAL RHODE ISLAND RED FEMALE 

 In an ideal specimen it will be found that the base of the beak 

 IS nearly in line with the the extreme front line of the breast (see dotted 

 lines on sketohep). The wing at the lower edge should form a horizontal 

 hue to obtam which the fowl must carry the flights well up and folded 

 closely. One might say that the ideal R. I. Red is -built upon straight 

 lines which are modified and blended into each other by sliglit or grad- 

 ual curves, according to the section of the fowl. — A. 0. Schilling. 



ailment, but the chicks that died did not have sufficient 

 stamina to follow the hens. At the end of two months the 

 Reds were still in the lead in point of size and were all well 

 feathered, while the cockerels and some of the pullets of the 

 other two varieties were only partially feathered. At the 

 end of three months the Red cockerels averaged three pounds 

 each, the Orpingtons two pounds and fourteen ounces and 

 the Rocks two pounds and nine ounces. 



I have heard the statement made that the Rhode Island 

 Red did not make a good broiler or roaster on account of a 

 deficiency of breast meat. Nothing could be further from 

 the true facts in the case. At all stages of development from 

 one month to three the Reds were more plump and had less 

 pin feathers than either of the other. Two cockerels killed 

 at three months were noticeably well developed in breast and 

 presented an unusually plump and attractive appearance for 

 chicks of that age. After having been accustomed to eating 

 well fattened Plymouth Rocks for many years, I wish to say 

 that I have never eaten chickens of more deHcate flavor or 

 of yx, finer and more tender texture of flesh than the two 

 Rhode Island Reds just mentioned. 



On account of the surprisingly quick growth of feathers 

 on the young Reds, only surpassed by the Leghorns, they are 

 very free from pin feathers at all stages of development. 

 They have rich yellow skin and fatten easily at any age after 

 reaching a suitable size for killing. They are very plump 

 and symmetrical and although the adult fowls are not as 

 large as the Plymouth Rocks, I know of no market where the 

 Red does not bring top prices if properly conditioned. One 

 very important point in favor of the Red for utility purposes 

 is this, although, as has just been stated, they fatten easily, 

 yet I have never seen a female of this breed break down from 

 overfeeding or become too fat to lay. In some of the larger 

 varieties great care must be exercised to prevent the older 



