Is the Rhode Island Red chicken a friend or foe?

There is a wide range of behaviour amongst chickens, even within the same breed. Rhode Island Reds are generally known as friendly, pleasant natured chickens, are some of the best egg layers, and great foragers, however, they tend to prefer being at the top of the pecking order, so are not recommended to be kept with small bantams or other exceptionally docile breeds. They are a not an aggressive breed, neither are they flighty, nor ornery, yet it is wise to practice caution with roosters around small children. Rhode Island Reds are at the top of the list as most popular backyard chickens and are the number one commercial egg layer in some countries. 

What defines a friendly chicken?

There are two pools of thought when it comes to what people expect when they are looking for a ‘friendly’ chicken.

You may be anticipating a cuddly pet that follows you around the farmyard.

Perhaps you are merely looking for a low maintenance bird that won’t cause trouble within the flock, or a chicken that won’t rush to attack you or your children while you are doing chores! I think it’s every homesteader’s goal to not carry a stick with them when they enter the chicken coop. 

I have had chickens for 18 years. Started with Rhode Island Reds and they have been the only consistent breed I have ever had. They can be pretty personable. Great layers, cold hardy. I don’t recall many going broody. I haven’t been attacked when I collect their eggs, but never say never, lol 

M.B – Local Saskatchewan Poultry group

At it’s most basic level, a friendly chicken is one that isn’t aggressive toward people entering the chicken coop, they don’t charge at you or peck your feet, they don’t explode in a storm of flapping when you get near them. 

An exceptionally friendly chicken may be described as one that doesn’t run away from people, rather eagerly approaches people, anticipating a favourite treat or gentle pets.  

Breed is definitely an important factor to consider when choosing a chicken that will compliment your flock and meet your expectations,

but animal husbandry may play an even more influential role in a chicken’s personality.  

If you want a chicken as a good nature pet, I would suggest raising it from chick stage.

Get it accustomed to people by moving calmly and slowly when around them and by handling them often right from the beginning.

Regularly bringing in a little treat will condition the chickens to be excited when you enter the coop and they will flock toward you rather than scurry away. Beware some people may find this rather intimidating when they come to visit your farm.

We have personally had breeds that were know to be extremely flighty, but turned out to be our most friendly, docile chickens. I believe the difference was that they were handled everyday by my own brood of little boys. 

The Rhode Island Red

This state bird of Rhode Island is an average sized bird of 6.5- 8.5 lbs (hens and roosters, respectably) with beautiful red-brown feathers¹. The roosters are exceptionally good-looking with an even deeper red hue and green-black tail feathers. Most commonly, the Rhode Island Red breed has a red coloured single comb, but a heritage rose comb variety is found as well². They have red wattles and yellow feet. Rhode Island Red chicks are a deep orange colour. 

In appearance, the Rhode Island Red chicken breed looks similar to other red chicken breeds such as the Red Sussex and Hybrid Brown layer. 

Rhode Islands are considered a dual purpose breed, meaning they are raised as an egg layer, as well as for meat production. Typically, extra roosters would be harvested for the table. They produce a 5.5 -7.5 lb dressed fryer with an appealing white/yellow skin and meat.

RIR hens will live for around 6-8 years, actively laying for 3-4 years (note that production decreases greatly after 2 years). 

Rhode Island Red hens are known as prolific layers, their egg production reaching 200-300 large brown eggs per year³.

Commercial strains of Rhode Island Red birds produce the majority of the brown eggs found in the grocery store. Hens start laying these deep brown eggs around 18- 20 weeks of age. 

These hens are known to go broody (attempt to hatch a nest of eggs) unless she is from a strain that was heavily selected for egg production. Hens go broody in the early spring and sit on their nest of eggs. She will not lay anymore eggs while she hatching her clutch.

Broody hens are not friendly birds.

Her job is to protect the nest. She will growl and peck you if she determines you are too close.

A broody hen stays on her nest day and night, only leaving for a short time to eat and drink. She will flatten out to cover and protect all of her eggs, keeping them warm.

Don’t want a broody hen? You can learn how to get your hen laying again here. 

I have 15 rhode island red chickens, and they are so sweet. They run up to the gate whenever I come out to check out them. They are pretty clean and hardy. During the cold snap we had (-40 degree celsius), they weathered very well.

A.M- Local Saskatchewan Poultry group

Are Rhode Island Red roosters friendly? They can be a wild card.

Generally, they are not recommended around small children.

We had a little flock of teenager Rhode Island Red roosters last spring and I could very quickly tell which roosters were taking their job of protecting the flock very seriously. Even at 6 inches high, they were bold, aggressive, and I didn’t dare go into the chicken coop with sandals on! We chose the most docile rooster of the group and kept him. I haven’t had any issues with him being aggressive or mean, even around my small children. He hasn’t been fighting with the other roosters any more than normal. I have yet to see one of our roosters bloodied when I come into the coop in the morning. They have all settled into their pecking order nicely.

I used to think that all roosters were a bit mean, but experience has taught me that nice roosters are out there! We currently have three very docile roosters that never cause myself, nor my small children, any trouble when we enter the coop. But I will tell you, we have butchered many, many more that pushed the boundaries and made me uncomfortable. 

Rhode island red roosters are gorgeous with their deep red colour and shimmering green tail feathers. They are small to medium sized which also makes they less intimidating and enjoyable to raise. 

So don’t give up!

Friendly roosters are out there, and you very well may find one in a beautiful Rhode Island Red.

If you want an egg layer, these are great. The roosters are alright, too. They have enough meat on the roosters, so raising them isn’t a total waste.

B.A- Local Saskatchewan Poultry group

Friendly Rhode Island Red chickens are a great addition to your rural homestead, however they might not be ideal for backyard flocks.

Here’s why:

• a little noisy! They often make quite the commotion celebrating their newly deposited egg! You may love the idilic sound of the country, but your neighbours may think differently. 
• excellent foragers! If you’re planning to free range them in your entire yard you may not appreciate the disruption to your landscaping. Chickens are constantly scratching and searching. This is normal and can be immensely helpful when focused on the correct spot, like a future garden bed, however, they may ruin your manicured lawn and scratch away your sod if not contained. A simple solution is to create an enclosed run, ensuring there is adequate spacing; approximately 8-15 square feet per bird. 

They make great pets in other ways though.

The Rhode Islands are considered a curious and steady breed. They are not typically flighty or panicked. These are perfect characteristics for a bird that will be in contact with other farm animals and pets. They would be a good choice to train your dog with as you help it become familiar with chickens⁴. The Rhode Islands won’t panic or begin flapping and flying away, which would highly stimulate your dog making training more challenging! 

Some people have had a great success taming their friendly Rhode Island Red chickens and enjoy them as pets. They love human contact and really seem to enjoy being petted and may even perch on you.

Use their curiosity to your advantage and gain their trust with treats and calm, gentle affection. With patience and diligence you may have a nicely trained pet bird on your hands.

Are Rhode Island Red chickens friendly around other breeds?

They are considered more assertive, territorial, and dominate than others, but they are not necessarily nasty.

They just prefer to be at  the top of the pecking order.

Reconsider keeping them with a bantam hen and other small, timid breeds. They do very well with our current selection of leghorns, browns, Plymouth rock, and Barred Rock. 

Horrible in the coop setting. Always miserable to other breeds. Always the boss of the coop! Never go broody. Only plus of them is lots and lots of large brown eggs.

G.D- Local Saskatchewan Poultry group

I had 3 in a flock of 14 and they were more bossy. I didn’t have a big problem, but it might have helped that the other breeds out numbered them.

J.S- Local Saskatchewan Poultry group

All around the Rhode Island Red is a great choice to add to your flock. More often than not, they are friendly toward people and other chickens, they are reliable egg layers, a dual-purpose meat breed, and independent free ranging.

Here are some of the most popular chicken breeds chosen for their friendly disposition that would make a great addition to your flock⁵⁶:

• Speckled Sussex or Red Sussex– These easy to handle birds make good pets as they enjoy the company of people! They are easy to raise as a flock.
• Buff Orpington and Lavender Orpington– The friendly giant; so big and fluffy, you just want to hug them.
• Cochin especially the Golden Laced Cochins– A beautifully unique looking gentle bird that is an excellent setter, and tough birds during those colder months
• Austrolorp– Their docile, friendly temperament betrays their dominant black colour!
• Batam Silkies- a popular choice for they are cute, miniature, and not intimidating, with the White Silkies being the quietest of all them all
• Hybrid Browns– a cross between a number of great egg layers, but it is believed that the Rhode Island Red and Rhode Island Whites are at the top of the list.
• Bielefelder– another friendly and calm Heritage breed
• Copper Marans and Cuckoo Marans– dual-purpose bird, darker shades of brown eggs, and non-aggressive

Where can I buy friendly Rhode Island Red Chickens?

You can check your local area for small farms that sell their own chickens or you can browse the list below to find a hatchery in your area. This is in no way an exhaustive list.

Canada:

• June Creek- British Columbia
• Rochester Hatchery- Alberta
• Miller Hatcheries- Alberta
• Anstey- Saskatchewan
• Berg’s – Manitoba
• Breezy Bird Farms- Manitoba
• Frey’s Hatchery- Ontario
• DC Heritage Poultry- Quebec
• Active Life Farm – Nova Scotia

Find more Canadian hatcheries here.

USA

View a comprehensive list of American hatcheries here. 

Australia

Visit the chickencoach.com to find where to buy healthy chickens in Australia

United Kingdom

Noddy’s Pure Breeds

Knight Hatchery

Keep learning

Black comb in chickens- causes, treatment, and prevention.

Can chickens eat raw meat? Is it legal?

1. Considering Rhode Island Red Chickens? The 19 Things You Must Know First> The Feather Brain ↩︎
2. Rhode Island Reds> Roberts Farm ↩︎
3. Rhode Island Red- NonIndustrial Chicken> The Livestock Conservancy ↩︎
4. How to Introduce Your Dog to Backyard Chickens>dogingtonpost.com ↩︎
5. The Five Friendliest Chicken Breeds>Grubblyfarms.com ↩︎
6. Berg’s Hatchery> Heritage Breeds ↩︎