General breed information · not a supplier offer

Rhode Island Red chicken

A dual-purpose breed developed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the 1880s and 1890s, bred to lay well and dress out as a table bird. The Livestock Conservancy describes it as a very good layer of brown eggs.

Quick answer

A dual-purpose breed developed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the 1880s and 1890s, bred to lay well and dress out as a table bird. This Rhode Island Red profile is general breed information from a published source, not a supplier offer; the line, health status and any performance are confirmed from supplier documents when you request birds or eggs through HatchMatch.

Reviewed 2026-10-23 by the HatchMatch Group Editorial Desk · sources listed on this page

Request Rhode Island Red birds or eggs

Rhode Island Red hen with dark red plumage, standing on grass — Photo: Erica Zahn, Public domain, cropped and resized · Wikimedia Commons

Figures describe standard-bred birds as listed by the source. Commercial lines that carry or derive from the breed name can differ, and results depend on line, feed, housing and management — confirm with the supplier's own documents.

Breed facts

As listed by the source [1]; not measured or verified by HatchMatch.

Species: Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)
Listed use: Eggs, meat (dual purpose) [1]
Egg colour and size: Brown; large [1]
Weight (as listed): Male 8 lb · female 6 lb [1]
Temperament (as listed): Calm [1]
Conservation status: Graduated from the Priority List in 2023 [1]

Strengths noted by the source

Dual-purpose: brown eggs and a table carcass
Listed characteristics: once considered finest-flavoured; likes to range

Trade-offs and buying considerations

Dual-purpose birds balance eggs and meat rather than maximising either
Named lines and crosses differ; state whether you need standard-bred birds

What to specify in a request

Breed and variety, and whether you need standard-bred birds or a named commercial line
Product: hatching eggs, day-old chicks or reared birds, and sex
Quantity, delivery dates and destination
Health, vaccination and parent-flock records you require

Who does what

You (buyer): State your specification, destination and documents; you keep your own import permissions and due diligence.
HatchMatch: Reviews the request and contacts suppliers on your behalf. It does not produce, sell or export the goods.
Producers and suppliers: Respond through HatchMatch and are responsible for their products meeting the rules that apply.

Related categories

Sources and references

Published standards and reference sources for context — not endorsements and not evidence about any supplier.

The Livestock Conservancy: Rhode Island Red – non-industrial chicken (breed facts) (checked 2026-10-23)
FAO: Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS) (checked 2026-10-23)

Supplier details: to confirm

No supplier has documentation for this breed reviewed by HatchMatch yet. Any offer — line, flock health, age and performance — is confirmed per request from supplier documents.

Supplier: To confirm
Availability and stock: To confirm
Price: To confirm
Origin: To confirm
Breed or strain: To confirm
Health status and vaccination: To confirm
Performance data: To confirm
Certifications: To confirm
Lead time: To confirm

Request through HatchMatch

Your request gets human review. Our team contacts suitable suppliers on your behalf and shares comparable responses; there is no direct supplier contact and no promise of a match. Qualification rules are shown on the form. The form opens as a day-old chick request with the breed filled in; you can switch to hatching eggs or live birds.

Request Rhode Island Red birds or eggs

HatchMatch facilitates sourcing and RFQs; it does not manufacture, sell or export the products. Suppliers are responsible for their products meeting the rules of the origin and destination countries, and you remain responsible for your own import permissions, local requirements and due diligence. Requirements differ by product and country, and we do not guarantee any supplier's compliance. Who is responsible for which rules

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