An American breed, the Rhode Island is one of the most recognized.   Their origin comes from crossing Shanghais, Malay and Red Javas with local birds at Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island State, as far back as the 1830s, the foreign birds coming in on trading ships.   They did not get a standard until 1904, eggs having arrived in the UK the previous year.   Selections were made for good laying and the Rhode Island is a prolific layer and used in the making of many commercial hybrids.

Though a 'heavy' breed, Rhode Islands (Rhodies) are active, hardy and friendly.   They have a broad, deep and long body with a flat back and medium sized tail.   The wings are a good size but they are reluctant and not very good fliers.   The head is average in shape, size and beak with a single comb, straight and upright.   There are rose combed versions, but rarely seen.   The comb, wattles, face and ear lobes are all bright red.   Legs are yellow and in breeding cockerels there is a red on the shanks.

Rhodies are primarily laying birds adn may produce up to 260 tinted eggs a year.   The hens do go broody but not excessively like more heavily feathered types.  

There are two varieties though the white is rarely seen and we have the popular red.

Red:   The birds are a dark red-brown.   The cockerels have black neck hackles and tail feathers; the hens have less black in the neck and tail.   Legs are yellow.

We also have the bantam form.