Chicken breed
New Hampshire Red
Also called New Hampshire
The New Hampshire was developed from Rhode Island Reds for faster growth, feathering and maturity. It is a dual-purpose bird that lays large light-brown to brown eggs and handles cold well. Some birds are assertive toward more docile breeds.
At a glance
200–280eggs a year
3–6eggs a week
6.5 lbhen weight
8.5 lbrooster weight
Largeegg size
Traits
- Cold hardyhigh
- Heat tolerantmedium
- Goes broodymedium
- Fine in a small runhigh
- Egg colour
- light brown to brown
- Temperament
- docile to competitive; can be assertive with other chickens
- Origin
- United States (New Hampshire and Massachusetts; developed from Rhode Island Reds)
- Comb
- single
- Bantam size
- Available
- APA standard
- Recognized
- Conservation
- Threatened
- Purpose
- dual, meat
Good for
- meat and eggs
- cold climates
Watch out for
- may bully more docile breeds
- keep children away from aggressive roosters in breeding season
- growth, egg production and broodiness vary by strain
Looks and feathers
Chestnut-red plumage that feathers out rapidly; lighter red than the Rhode Island Red.
Our drawing shows the most common US variety; colours vary.
Similar breeds
All breedsSources
- 1New Hampshire Chicken (breed facts)The Livestock Conservancy
- 2New Hampshire (product/breed profile)Cackle Hatchery
- 3Accepted Breeds & VarietiesAmerican Poultry Association
- 4New Hampshire Red Day Old Chicks (product/breed profile)Meyer Hatchery
- 5New Hampshire Red (breed page)My Pet Chicken
- 6Chicken Breeds & Varieties (A2880), incl. APA standard weightsUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
Hatcheries often disagree on eggs a year; ranges span every source we read. How we check the facts.