I have just ordered some chicks from my local feed store. The chicks are called "production red". All the manager knew about them was that they are soppose to be heavy layers, small birds like leghorns. But he doesn't know anything about what they look like when grown, or what breed of chickens they derived from. Does anybody know anything more about them?

-- russell (rhays@sstelco.com), April 08, 2001

Answers

The production red is also called the cherry egger. They are a cross between a road island or New hampshire red and something that I can't remember right now. They are not listed in my American standard of perfection but I do know they look like a small New hampshire when grown and they do produce a lot of small to medium size eggs

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), April 08, 2001.

I have 4 Production Reds in my flock that I bought as chicks in spring of '99. They seemed to molt and resume laying last winter more quickly than the Australorps. I have no real proof of that as I couldn't tell one Australorp hen from the other as easily as I could the Reds. They have been calm chickens and range well for us. I bought them on a whim when I picked up my regular order of chicks that year. I bought them through a local feed store but they came from Cackle Hatchery here in Missouri.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), April 08, 2001.

Production Reds are Rhode Island Reds.

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Reds/BRKRIR.html

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), April 08, 2001.

Howdy from the southwest. I have several and they lay like crazy, even in the winter. I think their temperment is a little more aggressive than my Americhaunas or Bantams. I thought they might be Rhode Island/Leghorn crosses, but they do look just like pure Rhode Islands. I don't think you'll be disappointed in them. Enjoy! dh in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), April 09, 2001.