The Rhode Island Red is the iconic American dual-purpose chicken. Hardy, friendly, an exceptional brown egg layer, and the official state bird of Rhode Island. If you can keep one breed, this is the safe bet. FastPoultry takes free quote requests for Rhode Island Red as hatching eggs, day-old chicks, started pullets, and adult birds and matches each one with NPIP-certified breeders within 1 business day.
| Origin | Rhode Island & Massachusetts, USA - developed in the late 1840s |
|---|---|
| APA recognized | 1904 |
| Conservation status | Recovering (heritage strain) / Common (production strain) |
| Also called | RIR, Reds |
| Adult weight | Roosters 8-8.5 lb, Hens 6.5 lb |
| Size class | Standard |
| Eggs per year | ~250 |
| Egg color | Brown |
| Egg size | Large |
| Broodiness | Low |
| Cold hardiness | Excellent |
| Heat tolerance | Good |
| Noise level | Average |
| Flight tendency | Light flight |
| Beginner friendly | Yes |
Developed in the late 1840s by Rhode Island and Massachusetts farmers crossing red Malay, Brown Leghorn, Cochin, and Java stock. The goal: a hardy, dual-purpose bird that laid prolifically AND finished well for the table. APA-recognized 1904 (Single Comb) and 1905 (Rose Comb). By 1950 it dominated American commercial brown-egg production until being displaced by sex-linked production hybrids. The heritage strain (slower-growing, mahogany-dark) is now on Recovering status; the production strain (lighter red, faster-laying) is the supermarket norm.
Best for: eggs, meat, dual-purpose, beginner
Some hens lay 300+ in their pullet year; egg color darkens with age.
| Indoor coop space | 4 sq ft per bird |
|---|---|
| Run space | 10 sq ft per bird |
| Roost bar | 10 in per bird |
Space: Active foragers - free-range or large run preferred but they tolerate confinement.
Feeding: 16-18% protein layer feed once laying; medicated chick starter (22%) for first 8 weeks.
Health: Generally hardy. Watch for bullying from cockerels - keep ratio at 1 rooster per 8+ hens.
Climate: Thrives zones 3-9. Single comb is mildly frost-vulnerable; petroleum jelly in deep winter.
You can request Rhode Island Red through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 4 request pages for hatching eggs, day-old chicks, started pullets, and adult birds, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Rhode Island Red are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
A Rhode Island Red hen lays roughly 250 eggs a year, and the eggs are large and brown. Some hens lay 300+ in their pullet year; egg color darkens with age. Broodiness is rated low. Real production depends on strain, hen age, season, and daylight, so ask breeders about the laying record of their parent stock.
Yes. The Rhode Island Red is rated beginner friendly. Temperament: hardy, friendly, confident, foraging; cold hardiness: excellent; heat tolerance: good; noise level: average. It is best for eggs, meat, dual-purpose, and beginner. Check local rules on roosters and flock size before you buy.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
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