The Red Shaver is a hybrid of a Rhode Island Red rooster and a Rhode Island White hen. They were created to be dual-purpose and are intended for small farms, not commercial use.
This breed is also called the Red Sex Link because it is a sex-linked breed. Hens begin laying eggs around 18 or 20 weeks of age. They are excellent egg layers, laying around 300 large brown eggs annually.
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Red Shaver Chicken Breed Quick Info
Red Shaver Chicken Description
| Red Shaver Type/Size: | Hybrid |
| Feather Color: | Reddish-brown, White |
| Leg Type: | Clean |
| Leg Color: | Yellow |
| Skin Color: | Yellow |
| Red Shaver Ease of Raising/Keeping: | Medium |
| Red Shaver Special Care Needs: | Yes |
| Is the Red Shaver breed a common, rare, or protected breed of chicken? | Common |
Red Shaver Use
| Meat | Yes |
| Eggs | Yes |
| Dual Purpose | Yes |
| Red Shaver Temperament: | Friendly, calm, can vary |
| Red Shaver Ability/Likelihood to Free Range: | Yes |
Red Shaver Egg Production
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Estimated Number of Eggs Per Year | 300 |
| Likeliness to Brood Eggs/Raise Chicks | Low |
Red Shaver Meat Production
| Dressed Weight Male | 4.2 lbs |
| Dressed Weight Female | 3.75 lbs |
Red Shaver Climate Tolerance
| Heat | Excellent |
| Cold | Excellent |
Red Shaver Age to Maturity
| Number of Months to Reach Full Size | 6 Months |
| Number of Months to Start Egg Laying | 5 Months |
| Number of Weeks/Months to Reach Meat Harvest Size | 5-6 Months |
Red Shaver Size at Maturity
| Male | 6 lbs |
| Female | 5.5 lbs |
Origins of Red Shaver Chicken
The Red Shaver chicken originated in Canada. They are a common subcategory of the Red Star chickens hailing from the United States (which are considered red-sex link chickens).
The growth of this breed occurred in the mid-1900s in the United States, when crossbreeding was beginning to be commonplace. Today, they are somewhat common on smaller farms and homesteads.
Some Things to Know About Red Shaver Chicken
This is a sex-linked breed, which means that you can tell the difference between male and female chicks very early on based on their coloring. Cockerels can be identified as early as one day old, as they are white. Pullets hatch out red or buff.
The Red Shaver chicken has a single comb, medium-sized wattles, red earlobes, and yellow legs. Roosters are white with red flecking, while hens are reddish-brown with white down.
How Easy is it to Keep Red Shaver Chickens?
Red Shaver chickens are overall mostly peaceful and quiet and can continue to lay eggs through the winter. Because they are hybrids, their temperaments can vary, with some being flighty or rough and others being calm and friendly. They are known to reject the introduction of new chickens into the flock.
The Red Shaver is a quiet breed, making them ideal for chicken owners who live close to neighbors or in urban settings. They are hardy, and do well in both the heat and cold.
They thrive in a confined range or part-time free-range environment and are strong foragers. They can adapt well to confinement but are flighty.
Special Care and Considerations for Red Shaver Chickens
Like all chickens with a single comb, they can be susceptible to frostbite in the winter. You can use a swipe of vaseline to protect their combs from freezing in low temperatures.
This breed also needs adequate fencing, as they are flighty. They are large birds and lay an above-average amount of eggs, so they require more than the average amount of food.
They can also get bored and need to be occupied or distracted; otherwise, they risk becoming malnourished or violent.
