Rhode Island Red chicken
The Rhode Island Red is a dark red American chicken kept for both eggs and meat, and probably the best layer among the dual-purpose breeds. Hens weigh about 6½ lb and roosters 8½ lb. Published laying figures run from 150 to 300 large brown eggs a year, depending on the strain. Reds are hardy and keep laying in rough conditions, though some roosters can be aggressive.
- Temperament
- Calm, Hardy, Assertive
- Cold tolerance
- Coop space per bird
- 3 sq ft
Is the Rhode Island Red right for you?
Good fit if
- You want plenty of brown eggs from a bird you can also eat
- You're starting a small flock
- Your setup is basic. Reds keep laying on marginal feed and housing better than other breeds
- You have cold winters
Poor fit if
- You want a gentle rooster. Some Red males can be quite aggressive
- You want white or coloured eggs. Reds lay brown
- You want a hen to hatch chicks and are buying a production strain. Broodiness has been partly bred out of those
Appearance and varieties
A Rhode Island Red has a rectangular, relatively long body and is typically dark red. Black in the main tail and wing feathers is normal. The shanks and skin are yellow, and the feathers are relatively hard. The red fades after long exposure to the sun.
There are two varieties, named for their combs: Single Comb and Rose Comb. Oklahoma State says Rose Comb birds tend to be smaller, though the standard asks for the same size.
Not all Reds look alike. The Livestock Conservancy says that since the 1940s the breed has been selected for egg production and has become smaller and lighter in colour as a result. The old-type birds are larger and darker.217
Temperament and handling
The Livestock Conservancy lists the temperament as calm and says most hens are peaceful. Utah State University Extension describes the breed as hardy and assertive.
Roosters are the caution. The Livestock Conservancy says some may be aggressive at times, and Oklahoma State University says some Red males may be quite aggressive.
The Livestock Conservancy also notes that Reds like to range.125
Animals vary within a breed. Treat this as what to expect, not a promise, and meet the animal before you buy if you can.
Production numbers
What our sources report for the breed. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eggs | 150–300 large brown eggs a year, depending on the source and the strain23145 | Oklahoma State and the Rhode Island Red Club give 150–200; The Livestock Conservancy 200–300; University of New Hampshire Extension 250–280; Utah State University Extension 250–300. |
| Start of lay | As early as 6 months1 |
Housing, feed and health
Housing
University of Minnesota Extension gives a minimum of 3 to 5 sq ft of indoor space per bird, one nest box for every 4 to 5 hens, and a place to roost. That is for chickens in general. Oklahoma State says Reds handle poor housing conditions better than other breeds and still keep laying, which is a margin for error rather than a target.
Utah State University Extension lists the Rhode Island Red among its recommended cold-weather breeds. For chickens in general, University of Minnesota Extension advises supplemental heat when the coop falls below 35 °F, and good airflow, because damp air and cold together cause frostbite on combs, wattles and feet.
We found no heat figure specific to Rhode Island Reds. For poultry in general, birds start to pant and eat less as the air nears 85 °F, and need shade, ventilation and cool water.1091325
Feed
Feed a prepared ration balanced for vitamins, minerals and protein. Laying hens also need crushed oyster shell for eggshells and grit for digestion. Feed intake can rise by up to 25 percent in cold weather.
Keep clean, fresh water available all the time. Kitchen scraps and scratch grains are fine as treats in moderation.109
Health
Our sources describe the Rhode Island Red as hardy, and we found no health problems they tie to the breed in particular. University of Minnesota Extension describes a healthy chicken as active and alert with bright eyes, and says the easiest way to spot disease is to know what normal looks like for each bird. Clean the coop and run weekly, and clean feeders and waterers regularly.
This is a starting point, not veterinary advice. If a bird stops eating, wheezes or seems unwell, call a vet who treats poultry, or your county extension office.1210
Price and where to buy
| Quality | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Day-old pullet | $4.12–$7.151112 |
| Day-old chick, unsexed | $2.92–$4.951112 |
| Day-old cockerel | $2.27–$3.891112 |
Prices are per Rhode Island Red chick, read from two hatchery pages on 9 October 2026. Cackle's page carries customer reviews dated up to 31 October 2025; McMurray's carries a site notice about a change beginning 19 November 2026. Both listed the chicks as unavailable or sold out on the day we looked. The top of each range is for the smallest orders and the bottom for the largest.
Where to look
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cackle Hatchery | Hatchery | Pullets $4.12–5.99, unsexed $3.09–4.49, males $2.50–3.89; ships February to October |
| Murray McMurray Hatchery | Hatchery | Pullets $4.22–7.15, unsexed $2.92–4.95, males $2.27–3.85 |
Similar breeds
| Breed | Hen weight | Eggs per year | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Red (this breed) | 6–6.5 lb | 150–300 | $2.27–$7.15 | |
| Plymouth Rock | 7.5 lb | 200–280 | $2.27–$7.15 |
History
The Rhode Island Red was developed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the 1880s and 1890s. Its ancestors include Malay, Shanghai, Java and Brown Leghorn chickens. The Malay gave it the deep colour, a strong constitution and relatively hard feathers, and the black-red Java most likely gave it the rose comb. Early flocks had both single and rose combs.
Its breeders wanted a bird that laid a good number of eggs and still dressed out well for the table. The colour and the production helped it spread quickly. The Livestock Conservancy calls it America's best known breed and perhaps the world's best known fowl.
The APA admitted the Single Comb in 1904. The Rose Comb followed in 1905 or 1906; our sources differ.
Since the 1940s the breed has been selected for more efficient egg production, which made it smaller, lighter in colour and less broody. The Livestock Conservancy says the old-type birds are becoming rare. The breed graduated from its priority list in 2023.12
Common questions
How big do Rhode Island Reds get?
The APA standard weights are 8½ lb for a cock and 6½ lb for a hen. Young birds are lighter: 7½ lb for a cockerel and 5½ lb for a pullet.23
How many eggs do Rhode Island Reds lay?
It depends on who you ask and on the strain. Oklahoma State University says around 150–200 a year, The Livestock Conservancy says 200–300, and two extension services estimate 250–300. Birds from lines selected for egg production lay the most.2145
What colour eggs do Rhode Island Reds lay?
Brown, and large.1
When do Rhode Island Reds start laying?
As early as six months of age, according to The Livestock Conservancy.1
Are Rhode Island Reds aggressive?
Most hens are peaceful. Some roosters can be aggressive: both The Livestock Conservancy and Oklahoma State University say so.12
Are Rhode Island Reds good for beginners?
Oklahoma State University calls them a good choice for the small flock owner. They are hardy and keep laying on marginal diets and in poor housing better than other breeds. Some Red males can be quite aggressive.2
Where do Rhode Island Reds come from?
From Rhode Island and Massachusetts, where the breed was developed in the 1880s and 1890s from Malay, Shanghai, Java and Brown Leghorn chickens.1
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- The Livestock Conservancy, Rhode Island Red – Non Industrial Chicken.
- Oklahoma State University, Breeds of Livestock: Rhode Island Red Chickens (archived copy).
- Rhode Island Red Club, Breed Information.
- University of New Hampshire Extension, Producing Your Own Eggs.
- Utah State University Extension, Managing Chickens From Chicks to Peak Egg Production.
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- American Poultry Association, Accepted Breeds & Varieties.
- American Bantam Association, Active Breed and Variety List, March 2021 (PDF).
- University of Minnesota Extension, Caring for chickens in cold weather.
- University of Minnesota Extension, Raising chickens for eggs.
- Cackle Hatchery, Rhode Island Red Baby Chicks.
- Murray McMurray Hatchery, Rhode Island Red.
- University of Minnesota Extension, Preventing heat stress in poultry.
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