The Rhodonit is not a distinct chicken breed, but rather a commercial crossbreed created by crossing two other egg-laying breeds—the Rhode Island and the Lohmann Brown. This poultry variety was originally developed by German breeders.
After the chickens arrived in Russia (2002), further work on improving their qualities began at the Sverdlovsky Poultry Farm. —A poultry breeding farm located in the suburbs of Yekaterinburg. As a result of this work, it was possible to develop the Rodonit 3 cross, which is more suited to the Russian climate and has become the most widely used in Russia.
Description of the cross
Judging by the descriptions and photos of the original Rhode Island and Loman Brown crosses, Rodonit chickens are virtually indistinguishable from their ancestors. But this is only in appearance. In fact, through crossbreeding, geneticists have succeeded in producing a bird with a longer egg-laying period and the ability to adapt to any climate, which is crucial for poultry farms and farms in Russia.
Rodonit chickens have relatively small bodies covered with fawn or light brown feathers, which are positioned very close to the body (see photo). This characteristic allows these chickens to thrive even in significantly lower temperatures without ceasing to lay eggs.
On the small head there is a large, upright, leaf-shaped crest of a bright red color, earrings of the same shade, as well as a neat yellow beak with a characteristic brown stripe in the center.
A special feature of this cross is that the sex of the chicks can be easily determined almost immediately after birth.
The bodies of day-old chicks (future layers) are covered in brown down, and their heads are white. Roosters, on the other hand, have yellow down, and a prominent dark spot on their heads.
Rodonit 1 hens were culled during the breeding process due to a sharp decline in egg production after reaching eighteen months of age. Therefore, there are currently only two crosses of this variety: Rodonit 2 and 3.
They differ from all other breeds in their almost 100% survival rate, high productivity rates and ability to easily adapt to various climatic conditions.
Deviations in feather color from the accepted standard do not have any effect on the productive qualities of the bird.
You may be interested in:Temperament traits
These crossbreeds have a fairly even and calm temperament, allowing them to coexist with other poultry varieties without displaying any aggression. They become accustomed to their owners almost immediately and are not afraid of people.
In addition, chickens are incredibly resilient to stress, and pullets begin laying eggs almost immediately after moving to their permanent home.
Since these crossbreeds spend most of their time on the move, preferring an active lifestyle, their proper housing and breeding requires a spacious coop and a designated run. They feel uncomfortable in cramped cages, which negatively impacts their productivity.
Productivity of crosses
Pullets mature quite early, so their first egg laying can be detected as early as four months of age. Under proper care, Rodonit hens produce 280-320 eggs per year at home. Even higher egg production can be achieved on poultry farms—up to 350 eggs per year.
Rodonit hens produce large eggs, weighing up to 60 g, with brown shells. Peak productivity is only observed during the first 1.5 to 2 years of a hen's life, after which performance declines sharply. Therefore, it is not advisable to keep hens older than two years on large farms. In private farms, hens can lay for 3 to 4 years, but you shouldn't expect to produce a large number of eggs.
Rodonit chickens are prized for their excellent egg production. Therefore, farmers prefer to raise only hens, as the meat from the cockerels used for slaughter is not particularly tasty. It is typically used to make broth or as a base for animal feed.
Breeding
These hens have no maternal instinct whatsoever, so it's unlikely they'll hatch. For breeding, you can use a broody hen of a different breed or an incubator. Fortunately, roosters have fairly high insemination rates—about 97% of eggs are fertile. High-quality incubation material can only be obtained with the correct male-to-female ratio in the flock—one rooster for every four hens.
If the chicken flock contains a large number of females, but only one male, then to obtain high-quality hatching eggs, it is recommended to move the rooster with four hens to a separate room for two weeks.
You may be interested in:Features of maintenance and care
Since Rodonite chickens are quite unpretentious, absolutely any barn or poultry house with a backyard is suitable for breeding and keeping them (see photo).
Brief description of the poultry house:
Ideally, the coop should be at least 1 square meter per 2 chickens. A layer of bedding should be laid on top of the floor, using the following materials:
- straw;
- peat;
- sand;
- wood sawdust.
The litter is changed as it becomes soiled, usually every 3-4 months. In addition, the coop is disinfected every six months to prevent flea infestations. The coop must be well-ventilated and completely free of drafts. The coop is equipped with perches (40 x 40 cm), which are installed 0.6 m above the floor.
Waterers and feeders should be positioned so that the hens cannot knock them over, ideally along a wall. These hens love to dig around in their feed, scattering it everywhere. To prevent this, it's recommended to install mesh on the feeders, allowing access to the feed while preventing it from being scattered.
If the room is warm enough, Rodonit chickens will delight their owners with fresh eggs even in winter. To ensure this, it is recommended to insulate the walls with special materials or equip the room with safe heaters.
Feeding
Caring for Rhodonite chickens also includes proper feeding practices. The diet of adult chickens differs significantly from that of young chickens. Newly hatched chicks are placed in wooden boxes with special heating lamps installed above them.
After the chicks have dried off, they are given a pre-crushed (boiled) egg. From the second day on, their diet is supplemented with wheat groats, and on the third day, fresh cottage cheese with finely chopped herbs can be given. An antibiotic or a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate should be added to their water supply—this will help strengthen the chicks' immunity.
The diet of adult Rodonite chickens should include the following components:
- vegetables;
- oats and wheat;
- bone meal;
- corn, greens;
- ground shell, crushed shell.
Laying hens must receive the required amount of calcium, which serves as an essential element in the formation of eggshells.
The bird should also be provided with free access to clean drinking water; it should be changed at least twice a day in the summer and once a day in the winter.
For preventative purposes, once a week, instead of drinking, the bird is given a decoction of calendula or chamomile; if these are not available, a regular solution of potassium permanganate can be used.
Caring for Rodonit chickens is completely straightforward, even for a beginner. These birds are unpretentious, frost-resistant, and have high egg production rates. They require only basic living conditions (a warm house, a balanced diet, and free-range access), and these breeds will delight their owners with their incredible productivity for years to come.
You may be interested in:Reviews
Vorontsov Oleg Leonidovich, 36 years old:
"What I like about Rhodonites is their ability to lay eggs almost year-round (with a short break). Of course, this requires some effort, such as preparing the barn for winter, stocking up on sawdust (I use it for bedding), and insulating it. Otherwise, caring for Rhodonite chickens is generally hassle-free. I've been breeding these crosses for several years now, although I have to use a regular domestic hen as a brood hen, as Rhodonites are completely unwilling to sit on their eggs."
Derkach Maria Pavlovna, 49 years old:
"On a friend's advice, I bought some two-month-old Rhodonites, and just a couple of months later, my hens started laying eggs. This made me incredibly happy, as I hadn't believed until recently that hens could start laying eggs at such an early age. I'm very happy with my purchase, and I plan to increase my flock next year."
Kuraeva Valentina Konstantinovna, 43 years old:
"I've been keeping Russian-bred Rodonit-3 hens for two years now. Their egg production hasn't dropped yet, so I don't see any point in changing my flock. They lay eggs reliably, and I think the eggs are quite large. We built a warm, spacious barn with an enclosure specifically for them, so they have plenty of room to roam. Rodonit hens absolutely love to roam, even in winter, as they're not afraid of the cold. In winter, I also provide fresh eggs for my neighbors, because their domestic hens stop laying. I tried breeding the hens, but it didn't work out—the hen won't sit in the nest, and I don't have an incubator."
Orlova Olga Mikhailovna, 23 years old:
"My husband and I recently got married and decided to start our own small farm. We bought some nearly adult Rhodonite hens. The pullets settled in almost immediately and started laying eggs, which pleasantly surprised me. They didn't even need any time to adjust. Furthermore, these hens require virtually no care—they thrive on very little. We collect eggs every day, although we don't have many hens yet. We might buy another twenty or so of these same grown-up chickens in the future."
Fomina Ekaterina Alekseevna, 50 years old:
"I live in a private house and keep chickens, geese, and ducks. This year, I decided to get some Rhodonites. My neighbor was raving about these breeds. I must say, I don't regret the purchase – the chicks have grown up and started laying eggs at 4 or 5 months. Rhodonites are quite peaceful and get along well with all the other birds in the yard. I just needed to get more hens for the eggs, because my family didn't really like the meat of the cockerels. It turns out you can tell them apart at day old, which I didn't know."