Most modern-day Rhode Island Red chickens are smaller than the original heritage line of Rhode Island Reds. The Rhode Island Red parent must always be the father rooster. Most people mean “hen” when they say “chicken.” Hen means a female. Also, if you see a chicken crowing, it’s a rooster. The Rhode Island Red is an American breed of domestic chicken. They are the official Rhode Island state bird! The common saying among chicken experts is "if it crows, it's a rooster; if it lays an egg, it's a hen," easily identifies hens and roosters. With their reddish brown plumage set off by a few white feathers, they are excellent for free ranging. Also, roosters have larger combs.. The Red Sex Link Hybrid Chicken is the result of crossing two heritage chicken breeds, the pure Rhode Island Red Chicken rooster with a pure Delaware Chicken hen. The hens are usually quiet in disposition. In recent years, Rhode Island Red have been bred mainly for egg production. [2] : 70 It was developed there and in Massachusetts in the late nineteenth century, by cross-breeding birds of Oriental origin such as the Malay with brown Leghorn birds from Italy. The cockerels have a white spot on their heads. The Barred Rock is a dual-purpose, cold-hardy bird and therefore makes a great breed for the small farm or backyard flock owner. The one he’s standing on may be a hen or a rooster though. Asked in Chickens and Roosters How can you tell if an egg is a rooster or a hen ? Rhode Island Reds are a truly American breed, having been developed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. we have three Rhode Island chickens and my mom and I cant tell the difference between the two. Your not going to get a true heritage RIR unless you get it from a breeder who focuses on sticking to SOP standards. Red Sex Links, for example, are created by mating a Rhode Island Red rooster to a Delaware hen. In fact, the Rhode Island Red is the official bird of Rhode Island. You must have Rhode Island Red roosters and Delaware hens and … Red Stars and Golden Comets are two other breeds that are bred for this reason and for increased egg production. Rhode Island Reds are one of the most popular chicken breeds for backyard flocks for a variety of reasons. Rhode Island has the Rhode Island red hen and Delaware has the Blue Hen Several states have the Wild turkey. • Roosters are larger and heavier compared to hens. Rhode Island's state bird is the Rhode Island Red Chicken, whose male gender is called the rooster. Hens from the egg-laying strains are usually non-broody. New Hampshire Red Hen RIR are friendly chickens with a good nature. There are some popular hybrid breeds that utilize this method. It is the state bird of Rhode Island . ! Rhode Island Red Characteristics 1. After one year, he is considered a rooster. The one standing on the back of another chicken is the rooster. If more than one cockerel is kept, they are better in a free range environment where they have plenty of space. The New Hampshire Red differs from the Rhode Island in that it produces more meat (and therefore fewer eggs), it's faster to grow and feather out, it matures early and it's even more vigorous. A male chicken is considered a cockerel before one year of age. The breed was developed in the state of Rhode Island in the 19th century. Rooster means male. It was accepted to the British Poultry Standard in 1909. The opposite mating does not produce sex links. Rhode Island Reds are more common than Rhode Island Whites. The Red Sex Link results from a cross between a Rhode Island Red rooster and a Delaware hen, producing an outstanding dual-purpose chicken. Black Stars or Black Sex links are the result of a Barred Rock Hen crossed with a Rhode Island Red Rooster. Size and Weight. They are very good pets for children, but they can get aggressive when annoyed (especially in roosters). This breed has a single comb. The rose-combed variety was accepted in 1906. The Red Sex Link is a hybrid, created by crossing a Rhode Island Red male and a Delaware Female. Both roosters and hens have wattles -- the red, fleshy growths hanging from their beaks -- and combs, the growths on top of their heads.