Rhode Island Red is an important breed of chicken that is the state bird of Rhode Island. It is usually raised for its eggs, which have brown shells. It also is raised for its meat. A mature Rhode Island Red weighs about 7 to 9 pounds (3 to 4 kilograms). These birds remain popular in backyard flocks. Commercial chickens that lay brown eggs may descend in part from Rhode Island Reds.
The Rhode Island Red gets its name from its rust-colored feathers and from Rhode Island, where it was developed. Breeders produced it by crossing a variety of breeds, including Malay, leghorn, and Asiatic chickens. It became Rhode Island’s state bird in 1954.
