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Rhode Island Red

(Gallus gallus)

Adopted on May 3, 1954.

The Rhode Island Red Hen became Rhode Island's official state bird on May 3, 1954.

The Rhode Island Red is the most successful dual-purpose bird of all and remains an excellent farm chicken. They are very good layers of brown eggs and are known for their hardiness and ability to produce eggs even in marginal conditions. Rhode Island Reds can produce 200 to 300 eggs per bird in a twelve-month laying period and begin laying as early as six months of age.

Rhode Island's state bird campaign was launched in 1931, by Mrs. J. Howard Pember, chairman of the State Federation division of conservation and natural resources. The State Federation of Women's Clubs sponsored the event, which was supported by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.

The six candidates were the bobwhite, flicker, tree swallow, song sparrow, catbird, and osprey. The bobwhite won, with the osprey in second place. Two state bird bills were submitted to the legislature, one naming the bobwhite, the other the osprey. Neither was adopted.

In 1954, a new state bird election was sponsored by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, and the Providence Journal Company. This time around there were five candidates. The bobwhite and osprey were back with the towhee, ruby-throated hummingbird, and a chicken breed known as the Rhode Island Red. (The robin and chickadee were considered, then rejected because they already represented other states.)

The Rhode Island Red had the State Department of Agriculture and Conservation on its side. The breed had originated in the town of Little Compton, Rhode Island, in 1854. The Rhode Island Red is the most successful dual-purpose bird of all and remains an excellent farm chicken. They are very good layers of brown eggs and are known for their hardiness and ability to produce eggs even in marginal conditions. Rhode Island Reds can produce 200 to 300 eggs per bird in a twelve-month laying period and begin laying as early as six months of age. Rhode Island Reds were first advertised in poultry journals in 1896, and the breed became very famous. A monument to the Rhode Island Red was erected in the village of Adamsville, Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Red won. A bill to adopt the Rhode Island Red was introduced in the House, backed by farmers' groups and the American Legion. The Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs submitted a bill to name the hummingbird the state bird.

The Rhode Island Red Hen became Rhode Island's official state bird at noon on May 3, 1954, when Governor Roberts put his signature on the bill.