Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
for many purposes, they are the poster bird for backyard poultry since their production,
noise level, and temperament are right in the middle of the spectrum.
Adaptability is this dual-purpose bird's greatest trait. They can hang out just as happily
in a fenced pen as they can free-ranging outdoors. There are no surprises with this breed;
they are flat-out regular chickens and like it that way.
Plymouth Rock rooster
RHODE ISLAND RED
AN ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC.
From the state that bears their name, these girls
have become farm heroes and free-range superstars. A dual-purpose breed, their high-
volume brown-egg laying traits and meaty frames make them a perfect hobby-farm
starter bird. They're a ruddy brown with black tails and unlike many of their contem-
poraries have been bred more for work than for show. Rhode Island Reds are the border
collies of the laying-hen world: a little scrappy but completely utilitarian. Roosters can
get aggressive, but in their defense, they are extremely protective of their flocks.
Hardy and bursting with character and curiosity, they are fairly vocal birds, always the
loudest in my flock. When a Red lays an egg, you'll hear about it—even across the yard
and through a kitchen window. While the hens are manageable, they aren't docile by any
