Rhode Island Reds are one of the best breeds for egg-laying. They produce around 250 eggs per year, which is 5-6 eggs a week. Their eggs are medium to large in size and have the classic light brown color.
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Are Rhode Island Reds Good Layers?
If you’re looking for a chicken breed that will produce you lots of quality eggs, then a Rhode Island Red is one the best.
Along with Leghorns, Plymouth Rocks, Sussex, and Hybrids, Red’s are one of the best egg-layers. Both in the number of eggs they lay per year, and the size and consistency.
They are also very easy to look after, are known for being tough, and are a lot of fun for first-time backyard flock owners to get started with.
How Many Eggs Do Rhode Island Red Chickens Lay a Day?
A Rhode Island Red will typically lay around 5-6 eggs per week. That’s a massive 260-300 eggs per year!
This is, of course, if you’re doing everything right to provide all the environmental conditions and nutrition to lay at their best. They are hardy birds though and don’t need any special TLC to lay at their best.
How Long Do Rhode Island Reds Lay Eggs?
They typically start laying at around 18-20 weeks’ of age. As heritage hens, you can expect the Rhode Island Red to lay consistently for around 3-4 years, then start to slow down on their egg production.
They have a life expectancy of around 6 years of age. I’ve heard some owners say they received around 1,500 eggs from their Red’s in their lifetime.
That’s a lot of eggs!
What Color Eggs Do They Lay?
They lay light brown color eggs. Pretty much the typical color we’ve come to expect from chickens.
Not as exotic and desirable as the dark chocolate color eggs of a Marans. Or as inviting and attractive as an olive egger. Just good old brown chicken eggs.
What Are Rhode Island Reds Like at Pets?
Having a great egg-laying machine is one thing, you also want to know that you have a friendly and fun pet to care for. Right?
Well, it may sound almost too good to be true, but Rhode Island Reds are all of those things.
Don’t just take it from me. They are one of the most common breeds of backyard chickens for this reason.
Here are some interesting facts and information on the Rhode Island Red:
A Little History
The Rhode Island Red was developed in the late 1840s in Rhode Island (of course) and Massachusetts (source).
It was the result of some selective breeding across several birds which, at the time, produced a bird that was laying much better than other breeds.
By 1898 the first breed standard was drawn up. In 1904, the single-comb variety was admitted to the American Poultry Association.
A Duel-Purpose Hardy Bird
Much of the Red’s popularity comes from being a dual-purpose, hardy bird. They are bred to provide both meat and eggs.
Today, they are predominantly bred and kept for their egg-laying qualities. They are also cross-bred with other breeds to develop other egg-laying variations.
As a breed that produces anywhere between 250-300 eggs a year for a solid 3-4 period, it’s hard to put them on the table unless you don’t want the eggs.
A Good Backyard Breed
RIR’s are not just a good breed for commercial businesses selling eggs and meat. They are great for backyard keepers too.
Not just because you get to benefit from the eggs direct to your door, but because they are easy to care for and one of the more rewarding breeds to interact with.
Sometimes they get a rap for being a little on the aggressive or vocal side, but that’s just because they have loads of personality.
If you want a chicken with a personality that likes to be handled and interact with you, that’s another reason why you should be considering a Red.
What About Rhode Island Whites?
If for any reason you like the RIR but wanted a white chicken, you could consider the Rhode Island White.
They are similar in a lot of ways, and of course, get their name from the same state, but are a different breed and were developed some 50 years later.
They are also known for their superb egg-laying ability. With the added benefit that they lay better throughout the winter with shorter daylight hours.
So, if you’re really after a bird that will lay well all year round, they’re an excellent choice.
In Summary
There you go, all the facts and information around how many eggs Rhode Island Reds lay and why I love this breed of chicken so much.
To summarize:
- They lay around 250-300 eggs per year
- Their eggs are light brown or brown in color
- You can expect 4-6 eggs a week
- They are personable and fun birds to interact with
- They’re hardy, easy to look after, and tolerant of cold weather
I think that just about covers all the reasons why you should consider Red’s as your bird of choice when creating or adding to your backyard flock.
You can find out more about Rhode Island Reds in this article - 18 interesting facts about the Rhode Island Red.
