Looking for Rhode Island Red hatching eggs for sale near you?
The Rhode Island Red is one of the most popular breeds of backyard chicken due to how hardy, friendly, and prolific they are at laying eggs.
You've made a great choice, hopefully, I can be the one to help you find some Rhode Island Red hatching eggs!
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Buying Rhode Island Red Hatching Eggs Online
The first place I always look for hatching eggs is online. There are some great online hatcheries that can have some eggs shipped out to you in a matter of minutes!
My go-to online hatchery is Cackle Hatchery. Cackle Hatchery is a family-owned business with a great reputation and more than 200 varieties of poultry in stock.
At the time of publishing, Cackle Hatchery had Rhode Island Red (and White) hatching eggs for sale, as well as some other options:
- Rhode Island Red hatching eggs - ~$5.95/ea
- Rhode Island Red chicks - ~$2.20/ea
- Rhode Island Red pullets - ~$115.50/ea
I mention hatched chicks and pullets because I often find people are not aware that you can buy chicks already hatched, or even pullets that are a few months old.
It's a lot of fun hatching chicks from eggs, but if you're in a rush to get some laying Rhode Island Reds, I recommend starting with pullets.
Related - 5 reasons I (and others) love Rhode Island Reds so much!
Buying Rhode Island Red Hatching Eggs Near You
Another option is to try and find Rhode Island Red hatching eggs for sale near you.
Your best bet is to start calling local hatcheries. You can find a database of local hatcheries I put together here that'll help you find hatcheries near you.
The issue is that it's much less likely - although not impossible - that you'll find RIR hatching eggs ready to hatch.
You might have to leave your contact details and have a hatchery call you when they have some available.
How Long Do Rhode Island Red Eggs Take to Hatch?
Now that we know where to buy Rhode Island Red hatching eggs, let's talk about what it takes to hatch them.
First things first - you need an incubator.
I recommend a simple incubator like this one from CREWORKS available on Amazon:
This model holds 12 eggs and has built-in water channels and digital controls that let you precisely program the temperature and humidity to suit every stage of their development.
Click here to see this model and other incubators on Amazon.com!
Rhode Island Red eggs take the same amount of time as any chicken eggs to hatch - 21 days.
Why Rhode Island Reds Are Great Backyard Chickens!
If you're looking for a great backyard chicken, the Rhode Island Red is an excellent choice.
Here are some of the reasons why:
- They're prolific layers, averaging 250 eggs per year!
- They're winter hardy and can tolerate cold weather better than other breeds.
- They have a friendly disposition and get along well with other chickens.
- They're active foragers and will rid your yard of pests and bugs - while benefiting from all the insect proteins.
If you're looking for a chicken that will provide you with plenty of eggs and make a great addition to your backyard flock, the Rhode Island Red is literally one of the best breeds!
How Long Does It Take for A Rhode Island Red to Mature?
It takes about 18-20 weeks for a Rhode Island Red to reach full maturity.
During this time they'll go through some big changes - from tiny chicks to full-grown adults!
Here's a quick overview of what you can expect:
- First Six Weeks: The chicks will grow rapidly, losing that cute fuzzy coat and adding feathers while gaining weight.
- Six to Eighteen Weeks: The chicks will continue to grow and develop and become pullets, before becoming point-of-lay chickens.
- Eighteen to Twenty Weeks: Rhode Island Reds will reach full maturity and typically lay their first egg around this period.
A few weeks later and they'll be up to full laying capacity providing you with large brown eggs most days of the week!
Related - A closer look at when RIR start laying and how many eggs you can expect!
What Is the Lifespan of A Rhode Island Red Chicken?
The average lifespan of a Rhode Island Red chicken is around eight years.
However, I've known many Rhode Island Reds that have lived well into their teens - so it's not uncommon for them to live ten years or more.
Although the life expectancy of backyard chickens varies depending on the breed, this is pretty much the average life expectancy for a chicken.
