N.H. Red or R.I. Red? Which is best?

[Viking84]

I have 2 of each in an order of 15 total chicks ordered for late April. Is there any advantage of Rhode Island or New Hampshire Reds over the other?

 

[nicalandia]

They are both very good dual purpose breeds, so if you like rich mahogany go for RIR, if you like rich orange go for New Hampshire

 

[Viking84]

They are both very good dual purpose breeds, so if you like rich mahogany go for RIR, if you like rich orange go for New Hampshire

Other than color, iare there any differences in laying abilities? Does one start laying sooner, lay larger/ more eggs etc...

 

[sylviethecochin]

If you got them from a hatchery, there's not much difference, no. Hatcheries tend to breed for egg production over everything else, even with dual-purpose breeds. So they're both very good layers of large brown eggs.

Technically, NHs are supposed to be slightly larger.

 

[nicalandia]

Other than color, iare there any differences in laying abilities? Does one start laying sooner, lay larger/ more eggs etc...

Today? I would say none(as for productive differences).

But take into consideration that NH was developed from the Rhode Island Red chicken breed around 1915 in New Hampshire. This chicken breed was developed initially as a commercial breed for meat production(later evolved to Delawares to produce White Skin Broilers as any other colors produced feather pins which people don't like)


You may also consider Delawares as they have a similar type and were geared for more productive traits(back in 1940's)

"Delawares, originally called “Indian Rivers,” were developed by George Ellis of Delaware in 1940 and were used for the production of broilers. The breed originated from crosses of Barred Plymouth Rock roosters and New Hampshire hens. A few off-colored sports were produced that were almost white with black barring on the hackles, primaries, secondaries, and tail. This coloration is very similar to the Colombian color pattern, but with the barring substituting for the black sections. For about twenty years the Delaware and the Delaware x New Hampshire cross were the most popular broiler chickens on the Delmarva Peninsula, because of the Delaware’s ability to produce offspring with predominately white feathering. This is an advantage for carcass appearance since white feathers don’t leave dark spots on the skin when feathers are growing in. Both the Delaware and the Delaware x New Hampshire were replaced in the late 1950's by the Cornish x Rock cross (solid white) that has come to dominate the industry."

 

[Viking84]

If you got them from a hatchery, there's not much difference, no. Hatcheries tend to breed for egg production over everything else, even with dual-purpose breeds. So they're both very good layers of large brown eggs.

Technically, NHs are supposed to be slightly larger.

Today? I would say none(as for productive differences).

But take into consideration that NH was developed from the Rhode Island Red chicken breed around 1915 in New Hampshire. This chicken breed was developed initially as a commercial breed for meat production(later evolved to Delawares to produce White Skin Broilers as any other colors produced feather pins which people don't like)


You may also consider Delawares as they have a similar type and were geared for more productive traits(back in 1940's)

"Delawares, originally called “Indian Rivers,” were developed by George Ellis of Delaware in 1940 and were used for the production of broilers. The breed originated from crosses of Barred Plymouth Rock roosters and New Hampshire hens. A few off-colored sports were produced that were almost white with black barring on the hackles, primaries, secondaries, and tail. This coloration is very similar to the Colombian color pattern, but with the barring substituting for the black sections. For about twenty years the Delaware and the Delaware x New Hampshire cross were the most popular broiler chickens on the Delmarva Peninsula, because of the Delaware’s ability to produce offspring with predominately white feathering. This is an advantage for carcass appearance since white feathers don’t leave dark spots on the skin when feathers are growing in. Both the Delaware and the Delaware x New Hampshire were replaced in the late 1950's by the Cornish x Rock cross (solid white) that has come to dominate the industry."

I actually have two Delaware female chicks in the order that is coming. Along with Austrolorp, white leghorn, Exchequer leghorn, Blue Andalusian, and an Ancona female as well as an Ancona rooster. I Tried to get a mixed bag of both brown and white egg layers. Most likely will not eat them, so I was not concerned if they were good meat birds or not. Just wanting good egg layers

 

[Dairyguy100]

In my experience. I have had both breeds, my NHR were more laid back and would lay large round eggs very consistently and my RIR were kinda aggressive and always picking a fight, that said, they were older and laid larger darker eggs than my NHR. My personal preference is NHR but, that’s only cuz I prefer more docile birds. But every birds different. Maybe I just got a mean batch of RIR.?.?