Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by M Sanchez on October 25, 2012 at 10:14pm

We have some RIR (3) that we've raised from chicks.  They are so sweet and gentle that allow us to pick them up.  (ready to lay any day now).

Permalink Reply by C.C. on October 25, 2012 at 11:32pm

How old are your RIRs that they are ready to lay any day?  I have 3 and they haven't laid eggs yet, they are over 7 months old. I'm getting alittle concerned.

BTW, they don't LIKE being picked up, but are completely docile and sweet once I'm holding them. I really enjoy them!

Thanks for any follow up &/or advice!

Permalink Reply by Nicole Gramlich on October 26, 2012 at 12:57am

Hey C.C.,

I've read that RIR's take a bit longer to mature than other breeds, so that's probably why you haven't seen much yet.  Coupled with the fact that our hours are getting shorter, you might not see eggs for a while.  I know our girls we got as day olds back in August of 11 and didn't see eggs til late Feb, and it was March for our EE's to lay - so 6 and 7 months old for a heritage breed and one specific to laying.  I wouldn't worry too much yet.  :)

And thank you M. Sanchez for the reply.  I'm glad to hear someone has had positive results with their temperament.

C.C. - if you want to read up on a great site, www.backyardchickens.com is fabulous and there are a LOT of people who own RIR's that know sooooo much about them.  I'm mainly asking here because there aren't a ton of people from NM on there who know what our temps and climate are like in regards to raising them (which for RIR's doesn't seem to be problematic).  :D

Permalink Reply by M Sanchez on October 26, 2012 at 9:09am

Our RIR's are 7 months as well.  Good Luck! 

Permalink Reply by Reina DeMartino on November 2, 2012 at 6:00pm

Are you selling any?  we're looking for two new hens and love RIRs.  Our chickens are pets and have free range of the back yard during the day (no dogs) and are securely locked up at night to protect against raccoons, which we have in our neighborhood.

Permalink Reply by Gloria M on October 26, 2012 at 10:20pm

Among our small flock we have two buffs and one RIR, all about a year and a half. Got the RIR from mypetchicken.com. Even tempered, but prefers not to be held...at all, a little testy is a good description, but omg she is a beauty and lays big ole fat eggs reliably. The buffs came from Millers Feed on far north 4th st...they order from Privett hatchery in Portales; one of the BO's really likes to snuggle, the other one, not so much. They haven't been at all broody so far and lay every other dayish in full summer. They have lovely petticoats and like to show them off.
They were all the same age when they grew from day 2to 6weeks in our bathtub...all treated the same. Not sure I believe that a breed follows a pattern, but that they have individual personalities...and that some of their friendliness is due, in part, to the status in the flock. Just my theory.

Permalink Reply by Nicole Gramlich on October 27, 2012 at 2:11pm

Thanks Gloria!  Awesome to hear that you've got both and to hear the comparison between the two.  I think we're going to leave the RIR's out because we really enjoy the mellow nature of our flock.  We don't particularly pick them up to cuddle and stuff anyhow, but we do get out there with them and they come around and are pretty sociable.  (I love the way the buffs look, too.  So beautiful!)

I know that from all I read, the difference between the hatchery orps and breeder orps are that breeder stock is bigger (males up to 11 pounds, females up to 8 pounds), and that they are the true strain, which means they will go broody faster and lay less eggs.  The hatchery birds supposedly have leghorns and sometimes RIR's in their ancestry to make them less broody, lay more frequently, but because of the LH flighty nature, they are less likely to be social/cuddly.  They are also smaller, 5-8pounds.  I'm probably going to go to a breeder, but it's really good that you know where yours came from so I could know, too!

Thanks again for the reply.  :)

Permalink Reply by Gloria M on December 30, 2012 at 10:22am

Ahh...thank you for the info on hatchery vs breeders.  So very interesting!!!!

Permalink Reply by Dawn Janz on October 27, 2012 at 2:30pm

I love my RIRs.  When I first started having chickens I thought they were boring, but they are great pets and full of personality.  I have 3 now and 3 teenagers that are 50/50  RIR and Americauna

Permalink Reply by Danielle Ramsey on December 11, 2012 at 5:36pm

I know this discussion is a few months old but I was at Cottonwood Feed today on Isleta and they have a nice selection of RIR, Barred Rock, Easter Eggers and Buff Orp pullets that should be ready to lay in spring. These are hatchery stock. They ordered the chicks (I believe) from Mt. Healthy. The hatchery calls the E.E.s Americunas but they are E.E.s