Considering Rhode Island White chickens? The 15 things you must know first
Rhode Island White chickens are an extremely rare and underrated heritage breed. These chickens are not only beautiful and friendly, but they also provide a good amount of eggs (and meat, for the homestead types).
Rhode Island Whites are also excellent foragers, hardy, and do well on the open range. And you’ll find they can be very happy birds in confinement too.
But before you get your own Rhode Island White chickens, there are many things about these birds you need to be aware of. In this article, I cover everything you need to know to decide if these are the right birds for you.
You’ll learn:
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What are Rhode Island White chickens?
Rhode Island White chicken facts
Category: Pet, eggs, & meat
Origin: United States
Egg-laying ability: Good
Broodiness: Low
Meat production: Good
Cold tolerance: Poor-Exceptional (depends on comb size)
Heat tolerance: Moderate-good
Predator evasion: Moderate-good
Foraging ability: Good
Toleration for confinement: Moderate-good
Temperament: Friendly to docile
Aggression toward flock members: Moderate
Noise level: Moderate-high
Why are they called “Rhode Island Whites” and where do they come from?
This is one of the few chicken breeds whose name is self-explanatory. Rhode Island Whites are beautiful white birds that were developed in Rhode Island in 1888.
The birds were created in the town of Peacedale by a poultry farmer, one J. Alonzo Jacoy, who wanted a good dual-purpose chicken, meaning a bird that would be good both for eggs and meat. Jacoy created the birds by mixing the following three different breeds:
Cochins, which provide a good meat yield.
White Leghorns, which, of course, are exceptional egg layers.
Wyandottes, which are exceptionally hardy, dual-purpose birds.
What do Rhode Island White chickens look like?
Notable features of Rhode Island Whites
Rhode Island Whites are beautiful birds in solid white plumage and with yellow legs and beaks. These chickens have a brick-shaped body, like their neighbors, the Rhode Island Reds.
The original Rhode Island Whites had medium-size rose combs, and, today, the American Poultry Association (APA) only recognizes this variety. However, many of the strains that are available now have medium- to large-size single combs.
Below, you can see a video of the rose comb variety of Rhode Island Whites.
And here, you can see a video of the single-combed variety. Note that most of the chickens in this video are pullets (young hens), and so their single combs are considerably smaller than those of adults.
Some Rhode Island White chicken keepers have described their hens as having a dove-like appearance, due to the shape of the hens’ heads. You can definitely see that resemblance in the above video.
“[Rhode Island White] heads are fairly deep and are inclined to be flat on top rather than round.”
Rhode Island Whites have medium-size wattles, reddish-bay eyes, and red earlobes that are oblong in shape.
How big do Rhode Island White chickens get?
Rhode Island Whites are moderately-sized chickens. They also come in a bantam (i.e., miniature) version.
Roosters: 8.5 lbs
Hens: 6.5 lbs
Bantam roosters: 34 oz
Bantam hens: 30 oz
What do Rhode Island White chicks look like?
Rhode Island White chicks are a light canary yellow. You can see what they look like in the video below.
The 15 things you must know before getting Rhode Island White chickens
#1 Rhode Island Whites are a different breed than Rhode Island Reds.
Rhode Island White chickens are not simply a white variety of the Rhode Island Red. This is a common misconception, and I’ve even seen some chicken breed books get this wrong (and they should really know better). It’s no wonder new chicken keepers are confused.
Both breeds were developed in the late 1800s as utility birds (i.e., dual-purpose chickens) in the state of Rhode Island. However, they were created by mixing together different breeds.
Rhode Island Whites were created from these breeds:
Whereas the exact lineage of Rhode Island Reds isn’t known, the following breeds were likely used in their creation:
So why do Rhode Island Reds and Rhode Island Whites look the same, aside from their plumage colors? It’s because after the Rhode Island White was created, breeders strove to mold the breed into the Rhode Island Red’s body shape.
“The breed continued to be developed and improved so that it more closely resembled the Rhode Island Red’s brick-like body shape. This distinctive shape helped to prevent the breed from looking similar to and being confused with White Wyandottes or White Plymouth Rock chickens.”
#2 Your Rhode Island White chickens will give you a decent number of good-sized eggs.
Egg color: Brown
Egg size: Large-extra large
Age of lay: 6 months
Eggs/week: 4-5
Eggs/year: 200-250
Rhode Island Whites lay 200-250 large to extra-large brown eggs per year. That’s 4-5 eggs per week—not bad!
#3 Rhode Island White chickens are good winter layers.
Even though some breeds of chickens are more prolific layers than Rhode Island Whites, these other breeds often don’t lay during the cold months. Rhode Island Whites were developed as a cold-hardy breed quite capable of laying throughout the winter.
#4 Rhode Island White hens don’t want to sit on their eggs and hatch chicks.
Rhode Island Whites are generally not a broody breed. This means they’re more reliable layers, as broody hens do stop laying during their broodiness.
However, if you want hens to hatch and raise their own chicks, you’ll need a different breed.
#5 Some strains of Rhode Island White chickens are fast-growing birds with a respectable amount of meat.
“[Rhode Island Whites] are reputed to be splendid meat fowl…”
Many strains of Rhode Island Whites have been developed with a focus on egg production over meat production. If you buy birds from one of these strains, you’ll likely end up with a smaller bird that doesn’t have as much meat on its bones. A lot of the commercial hatcheries sell these smaller strains.
Other strains of Rhode Island Whites have been developed for fast maturity, good size, and phenomenal taste. These strains won’t lay quite as well as the layer strains, but they will be solid birds with a market weight of 5.5-7.5 lbs.
If you’re raising Rhode Island Whites for meat and eggs, you’re better off finding a breeder or hatchery that deliberately raises a strain made for meat as well, not just for egg production.
#6 Rhode Island White chickens are fairly heat tolerant.
Although Rhode Island White chickens do have down feathering that helps to keep them warm in the winter, they’re not as fluffy as a lot of other cold-hardy breeds, like Plymouth Rocks or Orpingtons.
Because of this, Rhode Island White chickens tend to tolerate heat better than some other cold-hardy breeds. They will, however, still need cold water available at all times and plenty of deep shade in hot temperatures.
#7 The single comb variety of Rhode Island Whites are prone to frostbite.
The rose comb variety of Rhode Island Whites is extremely cold-hardy. Rhode Island Whites are naturally tough birds in the cold, and those small rose combs are frostbite-resistant.
Unfortunately, Rhode Island Whites who sport single combs don’t have the same protection. This isn’t just a problem with this breed—almost all breeds with single combs are at risk of frostbite, particularly roosters.
Check out the video below of a beautiful flock of Rhode Island White chickens. You can see that some of these roosters have very large combs, and some of the hens have decent-sized combs as well. These birds are susceptible to frostbite if your coop is too cold (and most coops are in the winter months).
Although I’ve never raised Rhode Island Whites, I have raised single comb Rhode Island Reds. I had a problem with frostbite in my Rhode Island Reds my very first year raising chickens (you can read about it here). You definitely don’t want to put your birds through that.
The solution to this problem is the Sweeter Heater. This is a radiant heater that you hang above your chickens’ roosting bars. It doesn’t heat the coop, but it warms the chickens on the roosting bars and prevents frostbite on those miserably cold winter nights.
You can find small Sweeter Heaters here on Amazon, medium Sweeter Heaters here, and large Sweeter Heaters here. I use them in all my coops and can’t recommend them highly enough. They are life-savers for single-combed breeds!
#8 The original rose comb variety of Rhode Island Whites is hard to find.
Rose comb Rhode Island Whites can be very difficult to source, and this is such a shame because these are one of the best chickens around for cold winters.
In my search for rose comb Rhode Island Whites, I have been incredibly disappointed to find that all the major commercial hatcheries who sell Rhode Island Whites only sell the single comb variety. Below, you can see a video of a typical commercial hatchery Rhode Island White breeding flock.
If you have your heart set on the rose comb variety of Rhode Island Whites, you’ll find a couple of U.S. breeders on the map at the end of this article. If you live in Canada, check out Breezy Bird Farms.
#9 Rhode Island Whites are fairly predator-savvy, but darn that white plumage!
Rhode Island Whites are smart and hardy chickens. They are highly alert to predators and great at warning flock members of any potential threats.
As one Rhode Island White chicken keeper said, “If a predator attacked, they’d be more than able to defend themselves. They scream or screech whenever they see another animal, whether its myself, a squirrel, my dog, or a bird flying above. However annoying, this proves to alert the other chickens to danger if the animal poses a threat.”
However, Rhode Island Whites do have one main drawback when it comes to predators: their beautiful white plumage shines like a beacon for all the carnivore world to see—and I suppose the omnivore world too.
This is, of course, not a problem unique to Rhode Island Whites—all white breeds are at a major disadvantage. You’ll often hear homesteaders refer to this as “white bird syndrome” or “white girl problems.” White chickens are frequently the first birds lost in predator-rich environments. They’re just too darn easy to see.
#10 Rhode Island Whites are wonderful free rangers, but also do well in backyards and runs.
Rhode Island White chickens love to forage, and they’re great at it. So, if you’re a homesteader or you’re looking for a tough range bird, these babies fit the bill.
But Rhode Island Whites can also thrive in a backyard setting, as long as they have enough space to explore and play at foraging. However, do be aware that breeds that are great foragers can tear up your lawn fairly quickly.
Below, you can see a young and very beautiful Rhode Island White energetically foraging—she seems right at home in this backyard setting.
#11 Rhode Island White chickens are human-friendly, and many are docile.
“Rhode Island Whites are pleasant, easy going chickens and would make an enjoyable addition to any family farm.”
You can expect your Rhode Island White chickens to be very friendly, and maybe even docile. This means that at the very least, your chickens will enjoy being around you and like your attention. And, if you’re lucky, they might even want you to pet and hold them.
One Rhode Island White chicken keeper had this to say about her flock: “Mine follow me like dogs and even squat for me. I love, love, love them and hope to get more in the future.”
Unlike Rhode Island Reds, Rhode Island Whites don’t have a reputation for aggressive roosters. This doesn’t guarantee your Rhode Island White roosters will be friendly, but it’s a good start.
#12 Rhode Island White chickens should be kept with similarly assertive breeds.
If you are raising a flock of only Rhode Island Whites, your girls will likely get along well. However, Rhode Island White chickens are known to be assertive with, and in some cases, aggressive to other breeds. As one keeper said, “They don’t seem to get along well with others, but of the same breed, they are perfect.”
Another keeper told a similar story of her Rhode Island Whites: “My hens are extremely aggressive. They claim certain spots and attack any chickens who enter that spot… When I feed them, I have to put the feed in several different spots, otherwise my Rhode Island Whites won’t let the Silkies or rooster eat. They claim the highest perch, forcing my Silkies to be lower down…”
Does this mean you can’t keep Rhode Island Whites in a mixed flock? No, but you do want to be deliberate about which breeds you mix with these birds.
Follow these simple rules for a happy mixed-Rhode Island White flock:
Do not ever mix Rhode Island Whites with small or vulnerable breeds, like Silkies or Polish, or you may end up with some dead hens (particularly if your birds are confined to a small backyard run).
Only mix your Rhode Island Whites with breeds that are similarly assertive (but not aggressive), such as Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshires, Jersey Giants or Wyandottes, for example.
If you really want to be safe, you could choose white varieties of these other birds, where available (such as White Plymouth Rocks, White Jersey Giants, and White Wyandottes). Hens like other hens who look like them. (Yep, your chickens are little racists.)
Design your coop to have some extra space on roosting bars so that your other breeds don’t have to roost directly next to a cranky Rhode Island White.
Design your coop to have 1 or 2 more nesting boxes than you think you’ll need so your other breeds don’t have to nest next to a cranky Rhode Island White.
Make sure your coop is large enough that your other chickens have room to get away from an aggressive Rhode Island White.
Make sure you have more than one feeder and waterer in different areas of your run, so your other hens can eat and drink away from Rhode Island Whites, if necessary.
Make sure your run is large enough or provides enough entertainment (in the form of roosts, things to peck at or in, places to explore) that your Rhode Island Whites always have things to do.
That last rule is an important one. The majority of aggression problems in chickens (of any breed) comes from boredom and lack of space. If your Rhode Island Whites have plenty of personal space, as well as places to scratch around in, they’ll be much less prone to aggression. They’ll be too busy doing their important daily chicken tasks!
#13 Your Rhode Island Whites will be noisy.
Rhode Island Whites tend to be noisier than your average chicken. They like to talk, squawk, and gossip.
This can be excellent if you’re a homesteader. Rhode Island Whites will squawk loudly at any potential threats, warning the entire flock of danger. However, if you live in an urban or suburban area, your chickens’ vocalizations may be less welcome—if not to you, then to your neighbors.
And Rhode Island White roosters love to crow—just like roosters of most other breeds do. In the video below, you can see a gorgeous Rhode Island White rooster and hear his beautiful crow.
#14 Many Rhode Island White crosses are sex-linked, so you don’t have to worry about unwanted roosters!
Urban chicken keepers, take note! Many Rhode Island White crosses create sex-linked birds. You definitely will want to consider one of these crosses, rather than a purebred Rhode Island White.
What’s a sex-linked bird, you ask? This is a chicken that can be sexed at birth to an extremely accurate degree (near 100%). The male chicks look different from the female chicks.
If you’re new to chickens, you might not think that’s a big deal, but here’s something the hatcheries don’t like to advertise:
When you order female chicks, you will commonly end up with one or more roosters.
What? It’s true. Most chicks’ sexes are determined by the vent-sexing method. This is when an expert checks inside their vents to determine if the baby is male or female, but it’s only about 90% accurate. And your odds are much worse than that with many hatcheries.
So, it’s very, very common for you to end up with some male chicks. And if you live in an urban or suburban environment, you know that may be a real problem. Most places don’t allow roosters in the neighborhood.
So, what do you do when you end up with a rooster? Well, you either kill it yourself or you give it to someone else to kill. That’s the harsh reality. Try as you might to “rehome” your roosters, there’s not a market for that (despite what other blogs may tell you). And rooster sanctuaries are so rare, they might as well be non-existent.
If you have no problem killing your roosters, then you have nothing to worry about. But, if you’re like me, and you get attached to your birds, this may be devastating for you. Do yourself a giant favor and get Sex Links.
Rhode Island Whites are commonly used to create Red or Gold Sex Links (although sometimes other white breeds are used). Red or Gold Sex Links are much better layers than their Rhode Island White parents, and any backyard keeper is lucky to have them.
#15 Rhode Island White chickens are rare, and in desperate need of conservation.
“The White has never been as popular as the Red, though it is also a good barnyard bird.”
Although never as widely regarded as Rhode Island Reds, Rhode Island White chickens were once popular birds—they were well appreciated in the first half of the 20th century. However, the breed began losing popularity rapidly in the 1960s and beyond.
Today, The Livestock Conservancy has given the Rhode Island White breed a conservation status of “Threatened.” The number of breeding flocks in the United States are dangerously low, and worldwide, well, close to non-existent.
“The Rhode Island White is little heard of outside its native America.”
Unlike many other endangered breeds who have gained a lot of popularity in the last decade or two, the Rhode Island White’s numbers have continued to decrease.
These chickens are a wonderfully hardy, heritage breed, and it will be a shame if we lose these birds. So, if Rhode Island Whites sound like a good match for you, consider helping to save this breed from the brink of extinction. And if you can help preserve the original rose comb variety, even better!
Breeds you may want instead of Rhode Island Whites
If you love the white plumage and you want a dual-purpose chicken, you may also want to consider the White Plymouth Rock. These birds tend to be docile and excellent with children.
And if you like Rhode Island Whites and you want super cold-hardy chickens, you may also want to consider Wyandottes, Buckeyes, or Chanteclers. These breeds all have very small combs that are resistant to frostbite—all are incredibly hardy.
And of course, you could always consider the more popular Rhode Island Red. These chickens are very similar to Rhode Island Whites, except that their red coloring makes them less visible to predators. Other similar breeds are the New Hampshire and the Delaware. Closely related to the Rhode Island Red, both are rare breeds in need of preserving.
For more information on these breeds, check out my articles:
Considering Wyandotte chickens? The 13 things you must know first
Considering Rhode Island Red chickens? The 19 things you must know first
Considering New Hampshire chickens? The 18 things you must know first
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Rhode Island White sources
Bassom, Frances. Mini Encyclopedia: Chicken Breeds and Care. Dorking: Interpet Publishing, 2011.
Damerow, Gail. Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens. North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2017.
Damerow, Gail. The Chicken Health Handbook. North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2015.
Ekarius, Carol. Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds. North Adams: Storey Publishing, 2007.
Verhoef, Esther and Rijs, Aad. The Complete Encyclopedia of Chickens. Lisse: Rebo Publishers, 2005.