The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

The first male looks very much like my old line. They are good birds did these birds come from Georgia? He sure has a good green tail and surface color.

How many males and females do you have?
 
These are nice males are these the Nelson Line? I have noticed over the years as cock birds they are just a little short in body for me and I would put more breeding pressure on length of body and maybe look hard on the female side for this length. You may one day next year see a female that after her molt may look just a little more Brick shaped than her sisters. Mate her and look for a long back male kind of like what Bobby produced this year. Then mate him back to his mother and see if his sons and daughters are longer in body. Takes about five years to do. I found when I did I kept my extended keels, the great brick shape but the tail angle drooped down to almost flat as ckls. It seems you always have a battle of something or you may get a perfect male in length ect and has a crappy comb and his brother will have a perfect comb and be short in body. Excellent birds and one of the top strains in the USA and a great one for the North and New England area. bob
 
These are nice males are these the Nelson Line? I have noticed over the years as cock birds they are just a little short in body for me and I would put more breeding pressure on length of body and maybe look hard on the female side for this length. You may one day next year see a female that after her molt may look just a little more Brick shaped than her sisters. Mate her and look for a long back male kind of like what Bobby produced this year. Then mate him back to his mother and see if his sons and daughters are longer in body. Takes about five years to do. I found when I did I kept my extended keels, the great brick shape but the tail angle drooped down to almost flat as ckls. It seems you always have a battle of something or you may get a perfect male in length ect and has a crappy comb and his brother will have a perfect comb and be short in body. Excellent birds and one of the top strains in the USA and a great one for the North and New England area. bob
Yes Bob, these are the Nelson line birds.
 
The first male looks very much like my old line. They are good birds did these birds come from Georgia? He sure has a good green tail and surface color.

How many males and females do you have?
Thanks very much!The first male came indirectly from Matt1616 so yes he is your old line.I got a trio that Matt sold to someone else this spring as chicks.If I understood correctly he is the brother to the bird Matt won with recently but I could be off.I also have 4 young cockrals (roo in 2nd picture) and 6 young pullets that came from Paul Gingerich.Oh I also have 2 cockrals and 4 pullets that are from Dick Hortsman that are rose combs.I got completely out chickens when I went through a terrible divorce a few years ago but got back started this year and I am going to stick with RIR's and Barred rocks.I have some really nice barred rocks that came from Marvin Stukel.I hope with everyones help within a couple of years I will have some birds I could show.
Thanks,
James
 
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Marvin has a good strain of Barred Rock large fowl going back 30 years for him and at least 20 for Glen Holgelson the breeder who had them before him. Glad you have the old Reese line of Rhode Island Reds. You need to get you some of Matt's new improved half and half Reese birds some day to cross into them. They are half Illinois line which you have and half Simmons line from Florida. Both of these lines I helped get started about 15 years ago. Matt crossed them this past year for fresh blood. The Florida line has a great color in the wing bows and the quill color on most of them is almost jet black. The Illinois Reds have good quill color but not pure black which is what I had when I shipped these two breeders chicks 15 or so years ago. The Illinois line has very good type and the Florida birds do as well but maybe a little bigger. The Florida line has been inbreed so badly that the hatch rate last year was very poor. The Illinois line hatched very well. Now with this cross back to each line this will be new blood that others who have the Paul line from Colorado and the Illinois line from Greg Chamness can cross onto thier line and be set for at least ten more years.

You have a second choice and most people make this one and fail. Cross a Radamaker or a Urch line or Underwood line onto my old line.

You get Rhode Island Reds of course but you get maybe five faults that haunt you for at least five years. Most people get so frustrated they give up in three years. The secret is if you pick a good strain like the Don Nelson line don't cross them with someone elses line find a person who has the Nelson line and cross their line on to your bird in the near future. Their is at least five people I know who have this fine line of Reds and by this next year I am sure there will be ten more.

That is the tip of the day as I tell you what you have. I will help you with your breeding for color if you want so you can be one of the chosen few who keep this old line going on. Have you read the history of this old line and how it got started?

If not I will send you the link.

For you who have Rhode Island Red Large Fowl keep them pure. I am going to write down the lines that I know of and you can add a line if my memory fails me. They are: The E W Reese- Mrs Donald Donaldson line 100 years old and pure some call the Mohawk Line. Matt 1616 has hit the jackpot this year with two super super excellent birds a male and a pullet his sister. I mean dead on killer birds. Chicks available this spring.

Ricky Bates line. This is a new line from Arkansas which could be my old line and maybe a new bird crossed in about ten years ago but a fine line indeed. Mr. Foogerty has it and should be called the Forgerty line of the future. He is doing a good job with them.

Underwood line. Gary Underwood Crossed production Reds onto his dads old line about 45 years ago and brought them back to Standard Color. They should be good egg laying producers.



Chris 09 line. Chris has a fine line of Single Comb and I think Rose Comb large fowl. He has been breeding them for a few years. Will have to get more latter when he comes on this thread.


John Robert of South Flordia. He has a line of nice large fowl which I think are Mr. Reeses old line but we can not pull it out of him where he got them. Matt 1616 has some of these birds along with my old Mohawk line. Many times I get confused and think this or that bird is my old line and Matt has to correct me its the Roberts line.

Lloyd Flanagan of Texas. He has been breeding his line for over 30 years. His birds look better than ever. If you live in the heat of Texas or Oklahoma these birds will be ready to go with your climate. He is a very nice fellow and I nominated him into the Rhode Island Red Club Hall of Fame when I was President over 10 years ago. Thats how much of a great breeder he is in my view.

Choctaw line from Arkansas. This is a line I dont know much about. Many have asked me about these birds as they are advertised on many web site. He also has about 20 other rare breeds of Large Fowl, Javas Orpingtons ect and would be a good source for a 4H club to order a bunch of chicks for the kids to raie and show. I have talked to him on the phone a few times a nice man and has had chickens for many years.

Bill Bennett Line: A line that is over 20 years old raised in Georgia and looks like the old Reese line to me. He has shared his birds with many in the past five or so years. Excellent line of large fowl Reds.
Don Nelson Line: Don has had them for over 20 years and one of the top two lines in the USA. He has farmed them out but New York Reds should pick up the feed bucket and maintain them to a good sound level with his breeding skills and there are about five people who have them and doing a good job.

Adrian Radamaker line from Minnesota is about 35 years old one of the top lines of Single Combs and I think the top line in Rose Combs in the USA. He sells chicks to people day olds in lots of 25. There are a few who have his line but not many keep them for some reason.

Duane Urch Line: He has had them for over 30 years the Rose Comb line came from Kansas many years ago. Have no clue on the Single Comb line I am sure its part of the Franklin J Young or Rev John Melchert line of the 1960s who were from Minnesota.

That's the Rhode Island Red scoop of the day. Plan to get your orders in this spring. Many will have eggs or started chicks available this spring.
 
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[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]Marvin has a good strain of Barred Rock large fowl going back 30 years for him and at least 20 for Glen Holgelson the breeder who had them before him. Glad you have the old Reese line of Rhode Island Reds. You need to get you some of Matt's new improved half and half Reese birds some day to cross into them. They are half Illinois line which you have and half Simmons line from Florida. Both of these lines I helped get started about 15 years ago. Matt crossed them this past year for fresh blood. The Florida line has a great color in the wing bows and the quill color on most of them is almost jet black. The Illinois Reds have good quill color but not pure black which is what I had when I shipped these two breeders chicks 15 or so years ago. The Illinois line has very good type and the Florida birds do as well but maybe a little bigger. The Florida line has been inbreed so badly that the hatch rate last year was very poor. The Illinois line hatched very well. Now with this cross back to each line this will be new blood that others who have the Paul line from Colorado and the Illinois line from Greg Chamness can cross onto thier line and be set for at least ten more years.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]You have a second choice and most people make this one and fail. Cross a Radamaker or a Urch line or Underwood line onto my old line.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]You get Rhode Island Reds of course but you get maybe five faults that haunt you for at least five years. Most people get so frustrated they give up in three years. The secret is if you pick a good strain like the Don Nelson line don't cross them with someone elses line find a person who has the Nelson line and cross their line on to your bird in the near future. Their is at least five people I know who have this fine line of Reds and by this next year I am sure there will be ten more.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]That is the tip of the day as I tell you what you have. I will help you with your breeding for color if you want so you can be one of the chosen few who keep this old line going on. Have you read the history of this old line and how it got started?[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]If not I will send you the link.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]For you who have Rhode Island Red Large Fowl keep them pure. I am going to write down the lines that I know of and you can add a line if my memory fails me. They are: The E W Reese- Mrs Donald Donaldson line 100 years old and pure some call the Mohawk Line. Matt 1616 has hit the jackpot this year with two super super excellent birds a male and a pullet his sister. I mean dead on killer birds. Chicks available this spring.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]Ricky Bates line. This is a new line from Arkansas which could be my old line and maybe a new bird crossed in about ten years ago but a fine line indeed. Mr. Foogerty has it and should be called the Forgerty line of the future. He is doing a good job with them.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]Underwood line. Gary Underwood Crossed production Reds onto his dads old line about 45 years ago and brought them back to Standard Color. They should be good egg laying producers.[/COLOR][/SIZE]



[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]Bill Bennett Line: A line that is over 20 years old raised in Georgia and looks like the old Reese line to me. He has shared his birds with many in the past five or so years. Excellent line of large fowl Reds.[/COLOR]
[/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]Don Nelson Line: Don has had them for over 20 years and one of the top two lines in the USA. He has farmed them out but New York Reds should pick up the feed bucket and maintain them to a good sound level with his breeding skills and there are about five people who have them and doing a good job.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]Adrian Radamaker line from Minnesota is about 35 years old one of the top lines of Single Combs and I think the top line in Rose Combs in the USA. He sells chicks to people day olds in lots of 25. There are a few who have his line but not many keep them for some reason.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]Duane Urch Line: He has had them for over 30 years the Rose Comb line came from Kansas many years ago. Have no clue on the Single Comb line I am sure its part of the Franklin J Young or Rev John Melchert line of the 1960s who were from Minnesota.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[SIZE=8pt][COLOR=000000]That's the Rhode Island Red scoop of the day. Plan to get your orders in this spring. Many will have eggs or started chicks available this spring.[/COLOR][/SIZE]
Thank you for that info. It's nice to know some other breeders.
 
Marvin has a good strain of Barred Rock large fowl going back 30 years for him and at least 20 for Glen Holgelson the breeder who had them before him. Glad you have the old Reese line of Rhode Island Reds. You need to get you some of Matt's new improved half and half Reese birds some day to cross into them. They are half Illinois line which you have and half Simmons line from Florida. Both of these lines I helped get started about 15 years ago. Matt crossed them this past year for fresh blood. The Florida line has a great color in the wing bows and the quill color on most of them is almost jet black. The Illinois Reds have good quill color but not pure black which is what I had when I shipped these two breeders chicks 15 or so years ago. The Illinois line has very good type and the Florida birds do as well but maybe a little bigger. The Florida line has been inbreed so badly that the hatch rate last year was very poor. The Illinois line hatched very well. Now with this cross back to each line this will be new blood that others who have the Paul line from Colorado and the Illinois line from Greg Chamness can cross onto thier line and be set for at least ten more years.

You have a second choice and most people make this one and fail. Cross a Radamaker or a Urch line or Underwood line onto my old line.

You get Rhode Island Reds of course but you get maybe five faults that haunt you for at least five years. Most people get so frustrated they give up in three years. The secret is if you pick a good strain like the Don Nelson line don't cross them with someone elses line find a person who has the Nelson line and cross their line on to your bird in the near future. Their is at least five people I know who have this fine line of Reds and by this next year I am sure there will be ten more.

That is the tip of the day as I tell you what you have. I will help you with your breeding for color if you want so you can be one of the chosen few who keep this old line going on. Have you read the history of this old line and how it got started?

If not I will send you the link.

For you who have Rhode Island Red Large Fowl keep them pure. I am going to write down the lines that I know of and you can add a line if my memory fails me. They are: The E W Reese- Mrs Donald Donaldson line 100 years old and pure some call the Mohawk Line. Matt 1616 has hit the jackpot this year with two super super excellent birds a male and a pullet his sister. I mean dead on killer birds. Chicks available this spring.

Ricky Bates line. This is a new line from Arkansas which could be my old line and maybe a new bird crossed in about ten years ago but a fine line indeed. Mr. Foogerty has it and should be called the Forgerty line of the future. He is doing a good job with them.

Underwood line. Gary Underwood Crossed production Reds onto his dads old line about 45 years ago and brought them back to Standard Color. They should be good egg laying producers.



Bill Bennett Line: A line that is over 20 years old raised in Georgia and looks like the old Reese line to me. He has shared his birds with many in the past five or so years. Excellent line of large fowl Reds.

Don Nelson Line: Don has had them for over 20 years and one of the top two lines in the USA. He has farmed them out but New York Reds should pick up the feed bucket and maintain them to a good sound level with his breeding skills and there are about five people who have them and doing a good job.

Adrian Radamaker line from Minnesota is about 35 years old one of the top lines of Single Combs and I think the top line in Rose Combs in the USA. He sells chicks to people day olds in lots of 25. There are a few who have his line but not many keep them for some reason.

Duane Urch Line: He has had them for over 30 years the Rose Comb line came from Kansas many years ago. Have no clue on the Single Comb line I am sure its part of the Franklin J Young or Rev John Melchert line of the 1960s who were from Minnesota.

That's the Rhode Island Red scoop of the day. Plan to get your orders in this spring. Many will have eggs or started chicks available this spring.

Thanks for all the great information.I am going to take it all in and read everything and try to pick up this valuable information to help my breeding program. I am going to go the first route and see if I can get some chicks from Matt this spring.I am on his waiting list. I sent the information you requested.Maybe we can get together and Matt can send me chicks from the best matings that will go with the birds I have.You and Matt know more about that than I ever dreamed about knowing.It would be great if he had chicks and could bring them to the Newnan show in early spring.If not he can just ship them.I'm excited about this venture!!!
 
Bob, you left out 2 lines that I can think of....Lloyd Flanagan out of Texas and John Roberts out of South Florida.
Your right Matt I also forgot Chris up in Ohio with his find strain of Single Comb Large Fowl which have allot of Dennis Meyers Blood in them.

I am going to edit the post and put them in there. Matt give me a call on when we need to get to the Pensacola Chicken Show to lay it out.

That's coming up I think the 8th of December week end. You can come Friday night stay over night buy your chickens leave Saturday. Or you can show as well lots of nice birds will be entered. More latter I will edit this message latter to remind all of you who live within 400 miles of Pensacola Florida it will be at our fair grounds.

I wiil up dat this list if I forgot anyone. These are people who have strains that are about ten years old or who I know are sound programs.

I will not recomend a strain to you if the person has crossed in two or three different strains in the past few years and then try to tell you they are 50 yeras old.

This has happen and I dont want you to fool with a genetic night mare. Get one good line and stick with it and hopefully its a line within 300 miles of your home so the birds will adapt to your climate regards how harsh it might be. bob
 
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Your right Matt I also forgot Chris up in Ohio with his find strain of Single Comb Large Fowl which have allot of Dennis Meyers Blood in them.

I am going to edit the post and put them in there. Matt give me a call on when we need to get to the Pensacola Chicken Show to lay it out.

That's coming up I think the 8th of December week end. You can come Friday night stay over night buy your chickens leave Saturday. Or you can show as well lots of nice birds will be entered. More latter I will edit this message latter to remind all of you who live within 400 miles of Pensacola Florida it will be at our fair grounds.

I wiil up dat this list if I forgot anyone. These are people who have strains that are about ten years old or who I know are sound programs.

I will not recomend a strain to you if the person has crossed in two or three different strains in the past few years and then try to tell you they are 50 yeras old.

This has happen and I dont want you to fool with a genetic night mare. Get one good line and stick with it and hopefully its a line within 300 miles of your home so the birds will adapt to your climate regards how harsh it might be. bob
Thank your for this wealth of information. I will be reading up and figure out which line in chicks to get on a list for. Three hundred miles may be a stretch for me to find a breeder though. My climate here in the Puget Sound is temperate. We rarely get snow. It's late November and we've only had a couple hard frosts.
 
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