About Rhode Island Whites Chickens

Rhode Island Whites are a dual-purpose chicken from the US state of Rhode Island. Despite their very similar names and shared place of origin, Rhode Island White chickens are a distinct breed from the Rhode Island Red. However, Rhode Island Reds and Whites can be bred together to create Red Sex Link hybrid chickens, such as the ISA Brown.

Rhode Island Whites were developed by J. Alonzo Jocoy of Peacedale, Rhode Island, starting in 1888. They were developed by crossing Partridge Cochins, White Wyandottes, and the rose comb variety of White Leghorn. Development was done by 1903. They were first accepted into the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1922.

They were moderately popular up until the 1960s, but now they are a relatively rare fowl. They are listed on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as a breed to watch, with less than 3,000 birds known to have existed in 2003. Like most standard breeds, they also appears in a miniature variety.  

Males weigh 8.5 pounds (3.9 kilos) and hens weigh 6.5 pounds (3 kilos). They have a single variety, with pure white plumage, red wattles and earlobes, and a medium size rose comb.