Why did Rhode Island take in red chicken?

Answer 1

One of the most successful breeds by farmers in North America. The Rhode Island Red was produced to fill a need for a prolific layer hen and a meat bird. The first of the breed came from a farm in Little Compton, Rhode Island, beginning about 1830. Asiatic Cochins for size and egg-laying ability, the Red Malay Game was an important contributor to the Rhode Island Red, giving the breed its deep color, hard feathers, and hardiness and the Brown Leghorn contributed excellent egg production. The Rhode Island Red is widely considered to be the most successful dual-purpose breed in North America. The breed is probably the best egg-layer among the dual-purpose chickens and has been widely used for that function, laying in the range of 250 eggs per year. It is not a meat specialist, but its size makes for a good eating bird.