Checkmate Farm

Rhode Island Red Chickens

Six Rhode Island chickens arrived on July 4, 2009. We purchased the Rhode Island chickens with no prior experince raising chickens. During the first hour on the farm, a chicken hopped onto my lap and snuggled in. She instantly won my heart! We discovered this breed to be docile, easy going, approachable and very pleasant to have in our barn yard. A terrific breed for beginners to own!

The new chicks were first kept in a horse stall. Keeping the chickens inside the paddocks with the dogs would definitely be the best predator protection we could offer the chickens. Before we built a chicken coop, we wanted to know if our adult guard dogs would guard the chickens or harm them. Slowly we introduced the growing hens to each adult anatolian. It worked. The dogs acccepted the chickens as a new livestock animal to protect.

This is one of the most famous and all time popular breeds of truly American chickens. Developed in the early part of this century in the state of the same name, they have maintained their reputation as a dual purpose fowl through the years. Outstanding for production qualities, they have led the contests for brown egg layers time after time. No other heavy breed lays more or better eggs than the Rhode Island Reds. Baby chicks are a rusty red color and the mature birds are a variety of mahogany red.

By adding chickens to our farm, we finally feel like real farmers! When you get to say “Here chick chick chick” – bingo – you are a farmer!