The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[Asmorilda]

Hi,
Who raises high quality Rhode Island Whites?
Thanks,
Karen

Check with cmom, Hilltop Farm. She is here on this board.

 

[cmom]

Hi,
Who raises high quality Rhode Island Whites?
Thanks,
Karen

Where do you live. I raise both Rhode Island Whites and Rhode Island Reds.

Patty is getting old but has won Best of Breed.

Patty, my husbands buddy.

This was Shemp. He won Best of Breed.

 

[3riverschick]

Hi cmom,
I am in western PA. How are your birds combs doing in this bitter winter weather?

 

[cmom]

Hi cmom,
I am in western PA. How are your birds combs doing in this bitter winter weather?

No problems but I am in Florida. It has been cold and we have been having freezes at night but they are all in their coops at night.

 

[3riverschick]

No problems but I am in Florida. It has been cold and we have been having freezes at night but they are all in their coops at night.

The reason I am asking is because the winters here in western PA have changed the last 2 years. In January we have weather that is as low as minus 8 below real temp. Plus wind chill, if any. I need a breed which can get thru that without disfiguring their combs due to frostbite. I do keep my birds cooped during such cold weather. However , there is no heating I can afford which will dent the cold which has been freezing my single comb cocks. So it looks like I need a rosecomb or cushion comb breed. Is the White a color variety of the Red or is it a separate breed? Can one breed Whites using breed type info for Reds ( aside from color, of course). I see that the Whites are Silver -based, a real plus for me.
Thanks,
Karen

 

[waddles99]

The reason I am asking is because the winters here in western PA have changed the last 2 years. In January we have weather that is as low as minus 8 below real temp. Plus wind chill, if any. I need a breed which can get thru that without disfiguring their combs due to frostbite. I do keep my birds cooped during such cold weather. However , there is no heating I can afford which will dent the cold which has been freezing my single comb cocks. So it looks like I need a rosecomb or cushion comb breed. Is the White a color variety of the Red or is it a separate breed? Can one breed Whites using breed type info for Reds ( aside from color, of course). I see that the Whites are Silver -based, a real plus for me.
Thanks,
Karen

Well, i have the same problem. There are basically two options:
Option one is to ensure proper ventilation to your coop. Frostbite is caused mostly by moisture. If the coop is properly ventilated then that wont be an option. Remember, chickens were once living in the wild during the cold weathers. They had to cope with the harsh winters. They could deal with the cold, but with humans stuffing them in humid coops during the winter, that is where the problem arises. They can't deal with both cold and moisture. So, you can add vents at the top of the coop, make sure it is above roost height. Here is a great article about ventilation: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop . I have made a thread about frostbite before and the consensus was even in cold climates such as PA and NJ, if you have adequate ventilation you shouldn't have to worry about frostbite.
Option two is to apply vaseline on their combs every couple of days. If putting vents into your coop isn't exactly feasible, then applying vaseline is your best option. I do it to my birds, because i got a coop with horribly placed vents before i knew about the effects of improper ventilation. I can't really install any on my coop, since i am not really a DIYer, and i would rather not pay someone to do it either. Vaseline is non polar, whereas water is polar, so vaseline acts as a barrier for water. With a coating of vaseline on the comb, the water that would normally collect on the comb through moisture or drinking cannot get on the comb. The vaseline wears off after about 3 days so i would try to put it on at least every 3 days.
I know that both of these options are not ideal, but they will work for battling frostbite in your birds. It is a shame to get rid of such a wonderful breed of birds just because of frostbite. For me, 2 months of vaseline is worth it. If you are really finished with SC birds, here is a list of birds that don't really have much of a comb:
-Wyandotte
-Ameraucana
-Easter Eggers
-Russian Orloff

 

[Beekissed]

White Rocks. Big, single comb breed and I have about the same weather, just lower, and my WRs are just fine. No dubbing of combs here with good ventilation and once each year, during the really subzero stuff, I put some castor oil on the rooster's comb. Nothing is needed for the hens.

 

[Fentress]

The reds have some established lines of rose combs, but I don't know about the whites. My guess on the standard is that it is the same for both Red & White, just like it is for the different types of Plymouth Rocks. I have an open front coop and have not had any frost bite on the combs (BR) in the last two years. I'm not as cold as you, I'm in Va. but have been down in the single digits a few times. If you really like your breed and frostbite is the only issue, I would not drop them, just yet. Knock out the south facing wall of your coop, make sure the coop is at least 8 foot deep, and that you have ventilation up top as well. I also think having a pitch or higher roof helps. It creates a pocket of air above their heads that helps to let the moisture move/rise away from them. I also keep a flock of chickens, which produce their own warmth, combined with good ventilation. Good luck.

 

[cmom]

Quote: I have gotten Best of Breed with my Rhode Island Whites at some of the shows but of course no one else is showing them but I guess the judges can judge them as they see them. The Whites are pretty much to the same standards as the Reds.

Some of my youngsters.

Shemp

Shemp

Shemp's son Lucky.

This was the birds I started with but sadly between an owl and coyote all but 1 male and 2 females were killed. A couple were severely injured and died within a couple of days.

Shemp my survivor and 2 of the girls. I had to rebuild my RIW flock.

 

[Beekissed]

I really like the looks of Shemp!