Rhode Island Red — Started Pullets
Rhode Island Red — Started PulletsNPIP Certified Hatchery - License #51-770
- 200–300 Eggs/Year
- Large Brown Eggs
- 18–20 Weeks to Lay
- Pullets ship in pairs (2, 4, 6…). Mix any breeds.
- Shipping: $59.95 for every 2 pullets
- Free local pickup in Preston, MD
Checking hatch dates…
Orders close Sunday at 11:59 PM Eastern before each Tuesday ship date. After that, that week is no longer available, so please choose another week from the dates still open.
See other hatch dates
📦 Learn how we carefully pack and ship your pullets →
Skip the brooder and start closer to eggs with America's favorite laying hen. Our Rhode Island Red pullets are started birds — hardy, fast-growing, and already showing the bold mahogany coloring this iconic breed is known for.
What you're getting:
- 🪶 Deep mahogany red feathering — the classic RIR look developing from the start
- ⚡ Fast-growing and cold-hardy — one of the most adaptable and resilient heritage breeds
- 🐓 Active and curious personalities — independent enough to thrive with minimal fuss, friendly enough to handle easily
At maturity:
- 200–300 large brown eggs/year — one of the top-producing heritage breeds
- Deep mahogany red plumage — bold and instantly recognizable
- Extremely cold-hardy and adaptable to all climates
- Beginner-friendly and dual-purpose
Weeks to first egg: 18–20 weeks from hatch
Egg size: Large
Egg color: Brown
Common questions about Rhode Island Red started pullets
How old are your Rhode Island Red started pullets?
They ship at 12–16 weeks old, so they're past the delicate brooder stage and ready to grow out in a coop.
When will a Rhode Island Red pullet start laying?
Rhode Island Red hens usually lay their first egg at 18–20 weeks from hatch. Since our pullets ship at 12–16 weeks, you can expect first eggs within about 8 weeks after they arrive, depending on season and conditions.
What eggs do Rhode Island Red hens lay?
Large brown eggs, about 200–300 a year once they're laying. Expect birds that are friendly and independent; individual temperament varies.
How are pullets shipped?
By USPS Priority Express, two birds per box, and each pullet is health-checked before it leaves. Shipping is $75 per box of two. Local pickup in Preston, MD is free.
Pairs well with:
- Barred Plymouth Rock pullets: another dependable brown-egg layer
- Black Australorp pullets: a top producer with a gentle temperament
America's proven layer, started and ready to grow — reserve your Rhode Island Red pullet today.
Breed specifications
Breed specifications
Production
Maturity
Temperament
Appearance
Adaptability
Chick care overview
Chick care overview
Brooder temperature: Start at 95°F for the first week, reducing by 5°F each week until fully feathered.
Food & water: Offer chick starter feed and fresh water immediately. Dip each chick's beak gently into the water on arrival to encourage drinking.
Hydration boost: We include hydration supplements in your shipment — add to water for the first 24–48 hours to help chicks recover from transit.
Space: Allow at least 0.5 sq ft per chick in the brooder for the first few weeks.
Watch for: Huddling under the heat source (too cold), panting or moving away from heat (too warm). Active, spread-out chicks are happy chicks.
For detailed care guides, visit our FAQs.
Shipping
Shipping
Your chicks ship in a USPS-approved live animal box designed specifically for safe poultry transport, complete with soft bedding, temperature control packing, and hydration supplements for the journey.
We take immeasurable care in every shipment — each box is packed with your flock's safe arrival as our top priority.
Day-old chicks ship by USPS Priority Mail with live-animal handling, the same day they hatch. Most orders reach your local post office in 1–2 days; some rural areas take up to 3. Started pullets ship by USPS Priority Mail Express, as USPS requires for older birds.
LIVE CHICK SHIPPING
USPS Priority Mail:
6–25 chicks — $34.95
26–50 chicks — $49.95
51–100 chicks — $59.95
Optional Priority Mail Express at checkout: $69.95 for 6–14 chicks, $74.95 for 15–25, $79.95 for 26–50, $99.95 for 51–100.
Shipping farther than a day's drive from Maryland, such as south of the Carolinas or west of Ohio? We recommend Priority Mail Express. Express chicks are loaded first and usually arrive sooner, but USPS does not guarantee delivery times for live animals.
Ordering more than 100 chicks? Call us at (410) 635-1970.
Minimum shipped order: 6 chicks • Mix & match breeds
Local Pickup — Wednesdays in Maryland
No shipping fee · No minimum order
Live Arrival Guarantee
We stand behind every shipment. In the rare event that any chicks do not survive transit, you will receive a full refund for those chicks.
