I'm going to try and put a little of my experience with the different lines of Rhode Island Red that I've gotten from shipped chicks and hatched eggs. This is only my experience/opinion and not meant to be anything against any lines that I've received. I'm hoping that when I get set up with these RIR's that I will be able to keep 10 or 12 hens and 2 cocks of each of the lines as breeders. I hope I'm not over dreaming.
I was just sitting here thinking about this and thought I would add it for the folks wanting to get into the heritage rhode island reds. These are absolutely gorgeous birds BUT they are not for the folks that are wanting to sell eggs to friends/relatives etc. If you are looking for a show bird, these are excellent but they do not lay like the hatchery birds. You will have to keep more of these if you are wanting them for egg production or do like I do and have a pen of mixed birds for your layers to sell eggs from. This is just something that I thought I should put on here for the ones looking to get into heritage chickens.
I was just sitting here thinking about this and thought I would add it for the folks wanting to get into the heritage rhode island reds. These are absolutely gorgeous birds BUT they are not for the folks that are wanting to sell eggs to friends/relatives etc. If you are looking for a show bird, these are excellent but they do not lay like the hatchery birds. You will have to keep more of these if you are wanting them for egg production or do like I do and have a pen of mixed birds for your layers to sell eggs from. This is just something that I thought I should put on here for the ones looking to get into heritage chickens.
The Wilford Kittle Line
I received eggs from Donnie Baker who gets his stock directly from Mr. Kittle. I bought hatching eggs from Donnie in June of 2011. These chicks were not as dark as some when hatched. They had a very nice growth rate, I ended up with 9 hens and 1 cock bird. These hens started to lay at 8 months of age. They are very friendly birds, even the cock bird. They grew out to be a really nice dark mahogany color. They get along well with the other birds that they grew up with and are good layers at this point. They have been laying now for 2 months and from the 9 hens I've been getting 5 - 6 eggs each day from them. They were a couple of days old on the picture to the left. One thing I can say about this line is, they do go broody. I have 3 of them right now that are cluckers. lol If I didn't have so many young right now, I would let them hatch some but I've just gotten to many little ones right now.
These were my very first old time Rhode Island Reds. At the present time, I don't consider them to be show birds but with a little work, who knows what might come out of them.
These were my very first old time Rhode Island Reds. At the present time, I don't consider them to be show birds but with a little work, who knows what might come out of them.
I wasn't going to raise anymore of the Wilford Kittle line but got a call from Donnie the first week of November 2012 telling me that Mr. Kittle was giving up on raising his birds. Donnie is getting this stock so I am going to be getting some of these and work with them to keep this line going also. Donnie also sent me a couple pictures of the ones I'm getting so I will post them here. I received this group 12/1/2012 This old fella has worked with these for so long that it would be a real shame to just let them go by the way side. I'm getting 6 hens and 1 cock bird and later will get some eggs from Mr. Kittle top birds to hatch. If nothing changes, I will be raising some of these and using them as my layer flock because they really seem to lay better then the other lines. They also do lay all winter.
3/13/2013 These birds may not look like the ones that so many talk about as far as show birds go BUT as for the egg production, they are tops in my book for Old Fashioned Rhode Island Reds.
4/7/13 I am no longer going to work with this line. They are good layers but they need way to much work for me to start with them right now with all the other lines I have.
7/7/2013 I still have a few of these but am not really going to be working with them right now. I don't know if I will pull any of the girls out of the laying pen and work with them a little later down the road or not.
3/13/2013 These birds may not look like the ones that so many talk about as far as show birds go BUT as for the egg production, they are tops in my book for Old Fashioned Rhode Island Reds.
4/7/13 I am no longer going to work with this line. They are good layers but they need way to much work for me to start with them right now with all the other lines I have.
7/7/2013 I still have a few of these but am not really going to be working with them right now. I don't know if I will pull any of the girls out of the laying pen and work with them a little later down the road or not.
Gary Underwood Line from Trish Dusil
I received these chicks from Trish Dusil and as you can see on the picture, they were VERY dark when I got them in here at 1 or 2 days old. Got myself in a little mix up with these one. I had ordered chicks from Dick Horstman and when he brought them, they were 3 different ages. I put the little guys in with these babies and now I have to wait till they start to develop a little more to know for sure which ones they are. Dicks chicks are rose combs so I will know pretty soon. Didn't have very good luck with these chicks. May have to see if I can get some eggs and try my luck with hatching them.
Trish gets her stock directly from Gary Underwood.
I really can't say anymore about these ones right now because they are to young.
6/3/2012 Well as it stands right now I think I have a trio of this line. Hoping that I'm not wrong. At least with 1 cockerel and 2 pullets I'll have something to work with. I had an awful time raising these Underwood chicks. I lost all except one lone pullet. I still have her and she is really nice. A friend of mine had talked with Trish and he told me that she had gotten rid of all her RIR's. What a bummer. What was I going to do with this lone pullet. I really didn't want to mix her in with one of my other lines but gee, what could I do with her. I really didn't want to loose this line completely.
I read post from the person that got the birds from Trish. I sent the person a PM to see if I could get a few eggs from them and try my luck at hatching out a few to put with my lone pullet. When I get these and IF I have any hatch and can raise them up a little, I will be posting a few pictures. I am really glad and thankful that I found where this line went to and pray that I can get a start with them. It just doesn't seem like there are very many of them around anywhere. To my understanding, these eggs will be coming from both RC and SC so I will have to work a little to get them back to having the separate again.
I now have just 1 pullet left from these chicks.
A fella came and took my extra Mohawk Cockerels and asked if I have any Underwood's that I would part with because he had 1 cock bird and no hens. I let him take this one pullet that I had to put with his male.
Trish gets her stock directly from Gary Underwood.
I really can't say anymore about these ones right now because they are to young.
6/3/2012 Well as it stands right now I think I have a trio of this line. Hoping that I'm not wrong. At least with 1 cockerel and 2 pullets I'll have something to work with. I had an awful time raising these Underwood chicks. I lost all except one lone pullet. I still have her and she is really nice. A friend of mine had talked with Trish and he told me that she had gotten rid of all her RIR's. What a bummer. What was I going to do with this lone pullet. I really didn't want to mix her in with one of my other lines but gee, what could I do with her. I really didn't want to loose this line completely.
I read post from the person that got the birds from Trish. I sent the person a PM to see if I could get a few eggs from them and try my luck at hatching out a few to put with my lone pullet. When I get these and IF I have any hatch and can raise them up a little, I will be posting a few pictures. I am really glad and thankful that I found where this line went to and pray that I can get a start with them. It just doesn't seem like there are very many of them around anywhere. To my understanding, these eggs will be coming from both RC and SC so I will have to work a little to get them back to having the separate again.
I now have just 1 pullet left from these chicks.
A fella came and took my extra Mohawk Cockerels and asked if I have any Underwood's that I would part with because he had 1 cock bird and no hens. I let him take this one pullet that I had to put with his male.
Dick Horstman Line got directly from Dick
These seem to be really fast growing chicks. This is the only line of Rose Combs that I have. I got these directly from Dick. Some were just hatched some were a week and some 2 weeks old. On the oldest ones, I can already tell that they are going to have the rose combs.
As of now, I will have 3 pullets and 2 cockerels to start the 2013 breeding season.
These are pure Rose Combs from Dick and they sure are nice. I didn't get to raise to many of these but enough to raise a few if I care to. Depends on how these turn out this fall. Ended up with 3 pullets and 2 cockerels.
11/4/2012
These birds are really getting nice. I have 3 pullets and 2 cockerels that I will be using as breeders to get a start from next spring 2013.
Since I got so interested in the Underwood line and I do have a few of the RC Red's of these I am no longer going to be working with the Horstman line. If anyone wants any, they can contact Dick Horstman.
My friend Donnie Baker is going to work with these.
3/12/2013 As of right now, I have to say that I have 3 of these pullets that will be 1 year old next month. A couple of months or so ago I got my first egg from these birds. I don't know how many are laying but I only get 1 - 3 eggs per week from these three and to me, this is not what heritage means to me. Maybe I'm just stupid. I am no longer going to work with this line.
5/12/2013 Turned these girls in with my layer flock. I won't be raising any from these I have the RC variety in my Underwood line so that is what I will be raising RC's from.
7/7/2013 I am definitely not working with this line any longer.
As of now, I will have 3 pullets and 2 cockerels to start the 2013 breeding season.
These are pure Rose Combs from Dick and they sure are nice. I didn't get to raise to many of these but enough to raise a few if I care to. Depends on how these turn out this fall. Ended up with 3 pullets and 2 cockerels.
11/4/2012
These birds are really getting nice. I have 3 pullets and 2 cockerels that I will be using as breeders to get a start from next spring 2013.
Since I got so interested in the Underwood line and I do have a few of the RC Red's of these I am no longer going to be working with the Horstman line. If anyone wants any, they can contact Dick Horstman.
My friend Donnie Baker is going to work with these.
3/12/2013 As of right now, I have to say that I have 3 of these pullets that will be 1 year old next month. A couple of months or so ago I got my first egg from these birds. I don't know how many are laying but I only get 1 - 3 eggs per week from these three and to me, this is not what heritage means to me. Maybe I'm just stupid. I am no longer going to work with this line.
5/12/2013 Turned these girls in with my layer flock. I won't be raising any from these I have the RC variety in my Underwood line so that is what I will be raising RC's from.
7/7/2013 I am definitely not working with this line any longer.
4/14/2012 Don Nelson Line from Gloria Bradford (dinahmoe) BYC My Nelson line from dinahmoe are banded with black band on left leg.
Oh My, I can't say enough about these babies. I got 13 eggs in, 3 were not fertile and I hatched all of the other 10. These babies are soooo nice in every way. Don't know if any will beat these or not. These came from Gloria Bradford BYC auction. She got her stock from a guy in Mass. that gets his stock directly from Don Nelson.
I really can't say enough about this line. I absolutely love everything about them so far.
Pictured below at 4 weeks old. These are sure some nice RIR chicks. Thanks again Gloria.
I have 5 nice pullets and 3 cockerels from dinahmoe and 4 nice pullets from NYREDS.
3/12/2013 I am totally satisfied with these girls for size, color AND egg production. These birds in my opinion are TRUE Heritage birds.
4/7/2013 These birds are amazing. I have 3 hens from NYREDS variety and 4 hens from dinahmoe and right now I'm getting from 4 to 7 eggs daily. These are some wonderful birds to work with.
5/9/2013 Oh my, I lost one of these big hens today. Really made me feel bad. I am so thankful that I do have 17 chicks that I hatched out this spring and will be raising them up for myself for next year. These will be the first combo of the NYREDS and dinahmoe varieties. These are some really nice birds and excellent layers.
7/7/2013 I have a few young growing out from these that I will be adding the pullets to the pen of hens and will be picking a couple nice cockerels to keep for breeders.
I really can't say enough about this line. I absolutely love everything about them so far.
Pictured below at 4 weeks old. These are sure some nice RIR chicks. Thanks again Gloria.
I have 5 nice pullets and 3 cockerels from dinahmoe and 4 nice pullets from NYREDS.
3/12/2013 I am totally satisfied with these girls for size, color AND egg production. These birds in my opinion are TRUE Heritage birds.
4/7/2013 These birds are amazing. I have 3 hens from NYREDS variety and 4 hens from dinahmoe and right now I'm getting from 4 to 7 eggs daily. These are some wonderful birds to work with.
5/9/2013 Oh my, I lost one of these big hens today. Really made me feel bad. I am so thankful that I do have 17 chicks that I hatched out this spring and will be raising them up for myself for next year. These will be the first combo of the NYREDS and dinahmoe varieties. These are some really nice birds and excellent layers.
7/7/2013 I have a few young growing out from these that I will be adding the pullets to the pen of hens and will be picking a couple nice cockerels to keep for breeders.
Another group of Don Nelson eggs from William Post NYREDS (BYC)
Sure didn't plan on it but NYREDS posted on BYC Forum that he was breaking up his breeding pens and if anyone was interested he would sell to a few folks before he broke them up. Of course I had to jump right on that so now I have some more Done Nelson Line eggs coming from him. Oh my, that is it. I'm not buying anymore eggs/chicks this year. I should have a really nice start with all these fine lines for next years breeding. Received my first box of eggs today 5/9/12 from Bill set them 5/10. Received 14 eggs. Got second box of eggs 5/14 will set them 5/15. Will post how hatch goes. The first bunch hit lock down 5/28/12 I'm thinking that 6 or 7 may hatch. Then the next bunch goes into Lock Down 6/2/12 with hatch to be 6/5/12
Very disappointed with this first hatch. 14 eggs, 6-7 looked like they could hatch. Only 4 pipped, 4 hatched but one did not absorb all the yoke and I had to take it out right away and it had to be culled. Only got 3 out of first 14 eggs. Will be putting second 14 in lock down 6/2 and they should hatch 6/5. Sure am hoping that I have a few more hatch out of that bunch. Even knowing how hard it is to get good hatches from shipped eggs it is still awful frustrating when I have these bad hatches. Oh well, I will still have a good amount to start out with next year with this super good line. Second group of eggs were a little better, 50% hatch rate. Had 14 eggs and got 7 babies. From the two hatches, if all make it, I will have 10 more Don Nelson line to put with the 10 I now have. This should be plenty to start with.
Very disappointed with this first hatch. 14 eggs, 6-7 looked like they could hatch. Only 4 pipped, 4 hatched but one did not absorb all the yoke and I had to take it out right away and it had to be culled. Only got 3 out of first 14 eggs. Will be putting second 14 in lock down 6/2 and they should hatch 6/5. Sure am hoping that I have a few more hatch out of that bunch. Even knowing how hard it is to get good hatches from shipped eggs it is still awful frustrating when I have these bad hatches. Oh well, I will still have a good amount to start out with next year with this super good line. Second group of eggs were a little better, 50% hatch rate. Had 14 eggs and got 7 babies. From the two hatches, if all make it, I will have 10 more Don Nelson line to put with the 10 I now have. This should be plenty to start with.
Greg Chamness Line (The Old Mohawk) from Paul Gingerich. These chicks will have orange bands. These are top of the line Rhode Island Reds. Got to love these birds.
I got this line from Paul Gingrich who got his foundation birds from Greg which are the old Bob Blosl line of very dark mahogany Rhode Island Red. These chicks were hatched 4/30/2012 Received these babies 5/3/12 12 Mohawk Line RIR and 4 Silver Laced Wyndotte
Lost one of these little ones at 6 days old. Really hated that.
This line of RIR is really something special to me. I feel so proud to have been able to acquire them. I really think it was just a lucky streak that I saw these for sale and jumped right on them. I got 12 in my first order (lost one at about 5-6 days old) then about a month later I got another order with 12. I can't thank Paul enough for even thinking of selling these little ones. I will try and get a good start with and maybe help others to get them also. If nothing goes wrong, I will have the Florida and Illinois cross. Matt 1616 is supposed to send me two cockerels this fall and I will be crossing them with some of my pullets/hens over winter/spring 2013.
3/12/2013 My honest opinion, if you are wanting a show bird, then this is the line for you. If you are wanting an egg producing bird, leave this line alone. These are the slowest pullets to start laying and you never know when you are getting your next egg. If you are wanting eggs for you breakfast, plan on keeping 20 - 25 for a family of 3 - 4. If you are big egg eaters, you better go with another line of RIR's.
4/7/2013 With the way these girls are in the layer department, I am not going to be working with these. I'm not wasting my time on a rir that will not lay enough to feed the family.
Lost one of these little ones at 6 days old. Really hated that.
This line of RIR is really something special to me. I feel so proud to have been able to acquire them. I really think it was just a lucky streak that I saw these for sale and jumped right on them. I got 12 in my first order (lost one at about 5-6 days old) then about a month later I got another order with 12. I can't thank Paul enough for even thinking of selling these little ones. I will try and get a good start with and maybe help others to get them also. If nothing goes wrong, I will have the Florida and Illinois cross. Matt 1616 is supposed to send me two cockerels this fall and I will be crossing them with some of my pullets/hens over winter/spring 2013.
3/12/2013 My honest opinion, if you are wanting a show bird, then this is the line for you. If you are wanting an egg producing bird, leave this line alone. These are the slowest pullets to start laying and you never know when you are getting your next egg. If you are wanting eggs for you breakfast, plan on keeping 20 - 25 for a family of 3 - 4. If you are big egg eaters, you better go with another line of RIR's.
4/7/2013 With the way these girls are in the layer department, I am not going to be working with these. I'm not wasting my time on a rir that will not lay enough to feed the family.
Chick below was 4 weeks. Sure is a blocky little thing.
Another group of Greg Chamness line RIR from Paul Gingerich. Absolutely tops in my book.
These little ones are coming in from Paul also. They were hatched 5/29/2012 should get them 6/1/2012 Oh wow, got my email from Paul today saying that my new little ones are on their way. They're here, Paul sent me an extra one so I have 13 in this bunch.
Well, I haven't posted on this page for a while and thought that I would just add a little to say what's been going on with my Red's. I absolutely love the Mohawk and the Don Nelson lines. Right now I don't think that any other line will ever take their place with me. I am hoping to finish up my new coop this week and band and move my mohawks out to their new home. I will be posting some pictures then. May put a couple on this page but mainly on their own pages. (7/30/2012.)
Through BYC I found out who got the Underwood Line from Trish Dusil. Trish was a good friend of Gary Undersood and got her birds directly from Gary. I ordered a dozen eggs from Jim Heinz. I got 18 eggs 11/19/2012 and set them in the incubator 11/20. 15 of the 18 eggs showed fertility and made it to lock down. 11 of the 15 hatched. I'm very happy over this percentage in a hatch. Will post a picture tomorrow when I put them in their brooder box.
At this time I have the Kittle, Don Nelson (from both dinahmoe and NYREDS BYC), Dick Horstman RC RIR, Mohawk, and both RC and SC Underwood line of the Rhode Island Reds. I feel very honored to have acquired some of the oldest and best known RIR lines that I know of. I am only hoping that I will be able to get a nice flock of each of these lines started and be able to have them around for quite some time. Thanks to all that have sold me either eggs or day old chicks for me to get my start.
2013 will be a very exciting time for me.
At this time I have the Kittle, Don Nelson (from both dinahmoe and NYREDS BYC), Dick Horstman RC RIR, Mohawk, and both RC and SC Underwood line of the Rhode Island Reds. I feel very honored to have acquired some of the oldest and best known RIR lines that I know of. I am only hoping that I will be able to get a nice flock of each of these lines started and be able to have them around for quite some time. Thanks to all that have sold me either eggs or day old chicks for me to get my start.
2013 will be a very exciting time for me.
11/11/2012 Underwood line from Mr. Jim Heinz
Oh my, I was so bummed out on day 7 of incubation. I candled these eggs and it seemed that only 2 were developing. I have been trying to get a start in this line since 2011 and everything just seemed to be going against me. Well thanks to Jim Heinz and my dear Lord above, I now have 12 little yeepers in the brooder box. Now if I can just grow them all up.
5/12/2913 Got my first egg from these girls this morning. Don't know for sure if she laid it today or yesterday. These girls were 26 weeks old yesterday.
2/12/2013 And now I have a bunch of these directly from Gary Underwood. I just received them today. I will have quite a few of these to work with next year. Both SC and RC if I choose to use both varieties.
I am really excited over getting these chicks. Not only did they come from Gary but he toe punched each one and told me that I can contact him and he will help me set up breeding pens etc. When I spoke with him on the phone, he sure did seem like on super person.
7/7/2013 I absolutely love this line of reds. Their conformation is spectacular, the long straight backs on the males and the nice broad heads on the females. Both seem to have the nice width to the backs all the way to the tail. Their color is great also. I am very well pleased with these birds. Should have some hatching from my 7 month olds in just a couple of days.
5/12/2913 Got my first egg from these girls this morning. Don't know for sure if she laid it today or yesterday. These girls were 26 weeks old yesterday.
2/12/2013 And now I have a bunch of these directly from Gary Underwood. I just received them today. I will have quite a few of these to work with next year. Both SC and RC if I choose to use both varieties.
I am really excited over getting these chicks. Not only did they come from Gary but he toe punched each one and told me that I can contact him and he will help me set up breeding pens etc. When I spoke with him on the phone, he sure did seem like on super person.
7/7/2013 I absolutely love this line of reds. Their conformation is spectacular, the long straight backs on the males and the nice broad heads on the females. Both seem to have the nice width to the backs all the way to the tail. Their color is great also. I am very well pleased with these birds. Should have some hatching from my 7 month olds in just a couple of days.
3/12/2013 My Underwood line chicks won't be old enough to come to laying age before summer/fall 2013. I truly hope that they are pretty good at egg production.
4/7/2013 I am supposed to be having the Old Reese line coming from Matt1616 Tuesday or Wednesday. These are the Florida, Illinois cross of this line. Wow, do I ever feel honored to be getting these little ones. Thank so much Matt.
I got these chicks 4/10. I'm guessing that they were 5 - 7 days old upon arrival. Pictures posted on their page. Matt1616 reds. These are some very nice chicks.
3/21/2014 Well, I can honestly say that a few years back when I got my Nelson line birds I was really excited. As time went on I learned to really love this line. BUT, I can honestly say that I have really fallen in love with the Red's from my buddy Matt Ulrich. I absolutely love this line that he has worked with. I can also say that it is no wonder that he does so well with them in the show arena. These birds are in a class of their own. I will be hatching all of these that I can this year. I only have 4 hens and 3 cock birds right now but will have many more come fall. I have a few eggs in the bator right now and will be saving/hatching all I can get. I definitely will not be selling any of these.
Between these, the RC Underwood's and the Nelson I really can't say which ones I like better. They all have their own pros and cons. I really have to get my mind working on these this summer.
3/24/2014 I put a few eggs in the bator 3/11 -13/2014, I really wasn't planning on doing this this year but after seeing how nice these birds from Matt have turned out, I've decided to collect and hatch all the eggs from them and get a really nice bunch of them to cull and work with next year. I really do like these birds. I put some Nelson, RC Underwood and Reese eggs in there. I really do need to add some more to my Nelson flock and I like the RC Underwood's so well that I put around a dozen or so of those in. I only had 7 from Matt's so far but I collecting right now and got another dozen to set but will wait another day or so then put them in. Oh my, I will have a lot of my older layer flock to butcher off this coming fall. I'm sure not wanting to go into next winter with 100+ birds to feed. lol
3/27/2014 I am so overly excited about my Reese birds from Matt. The first Reese birds that I had gotten were such a big disappointment with the egg production and now these girls are just doing great. I get, usually, 2 - 3 eggs per day from the 4 girls. I just really like these girls. I know so many say if you are wanting egg layers go to the hatchery stuff but I don't see any reason why these can't do the job when years ago they did. I see that some of the lines are still able to do it. lol
I got these chicks 4/10. I'm guessing that they were 5 - 7 days old upon arrival. Pictures posted on their page. Matt1616 reds. These are some very nice chicks.
3/21/2014 Well, I can honestly say that a few years back when I got my Nelson line birds I was really excited. As time went on I learned to really love this line. BUT, I can honestly say that I have really fallen in love with the Red's from my buddy Matt Ulrich. I absolutely love this line that he has worked with. I can also say that it is no wonder that he does so well with them in the show arena. These birds are in a class of their own. I will be hatching all of these that I can this year. I only have 4 hens and 3 cock birds right now but will have many more come fall. I have a few eggs in the bator right now and will be saving/hatching all I can get. I definitely will not be selling any of these.
Between these, the RC Underwood's and the Nelson I really can't say which ones I like better. They all have their own pros and cons. I really have to get my mind working on these this summer.
3/24/2014 I put a few eggs in the bator 3/11 -13/2014, I really wasn't planning on doing this this year but after seeing how nice these birds from Matt have turned out, I've decided to collect and hatch all the eggs from them and get a really nice bunch of them to cull and work with next year. I really do like these birds. I put some Nelson, RC Underwood and Reese eggs in there. I really do need to add some more to my Nelson flock and I like the RC Underwood's so well that I put around a dozen or so of those in. I only had 7 from Matt's so far but I collecting right now and got another dozen to set but will wait another day or so then put them in. Oh my, I will have a lot of my older layer flock to butcher off this coming fall. I'm sure not wanting to go into next winter with 100+ birds to feed. lol
3/27/2014 I am so overly excited about my Reese birds from Matt. The first Reese birds that I had gotten were such a big disappointment with the egg production and now these girls are just doing great. I get, usually, 2 - 3 eggs per day from the 4 girls. I just really like these girls. I know so many say if you are wanting egg layers go to the hatchery stuff but I don't see any reason why these can't do the job when years ago they did. I see that some of the lines are still able to do it. lol