Rhode Island Reds

"Rhoda," an egg farm rescue, she was very tame and a great pet hen for years

One of the best known breeds, the RIR is a good layer of large brown eggs and as a dual purpose breed also can supply a fair-sized roaster. The hens will rarely go broody and can produce around 260 eggs per year.

Developed in Rhode Island in the 1830s, various breeds were used in their makeup, including Malays, Cochins and Brown Leghorns. The single combed variety was admitted to the APA's Standard of Perfection in 1904 and the rose combed birds a year later. The cock will weigh about 8 1/2 pounds and the hens run about one pound lighter.