Are rhode island red chickens easy for a beginner to keep?
Rhode Island Reds are a very good breed to start with. Bought as day old chicks or pullets they are cold hardy and heat tolerant. Moderately early maturing this breed broods infrequently but once they do, they are dutiful mother hens. They are well adapted to free range but do not suffer from confinement and are quite docile and calm with the exception of the cockerels which can be quite aggressive. They are good duel purpose birds that can be used as layers for the first two years and then fattened up for the kitchen.
