This breed is prepared by the university for small and poor farmers for backyard poultry. Because this breed produces brown color eggs, it is a good choice for village people. The color of Rhode Island Chicken is dark red to mahogany in color. The weight of cock is 3.85kg and hen is 2.95kg. This breed gives 250-255 eggs/year and the average weight of one egg is 53-55g. It is popular for small and poor farmers because it is sold costly and is colorful. When this breed is used for meat production after egg production then they give more meat than white leghorn breed. It is a great source of income.
 

•    Protein:
For starter i.e. chicks having an age of 0-10 weeks the protein level must be 10-20% in their diet. For meat birds such as pheasant, quail and turkey 22-24% protein is required. The higher level of protein helps to increase the growth of chicks. For grower, the protein level must be 15-16% in their diet and for layers; the protein level must be 16% in their diet.

•    Water:
For the starter i.e. the first water of chick should include 1/4th cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of Terramycin/gallon and second water include 1 teaspoon of Terramycin and then normal water is given. Provide one quart of water to every four chickens. Water must be fresh and clean.

•    Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates are necessary to maintain the temperature and to mix body fat. For this whole, they need energy which will come from carbohydrates. Don’t exceed the amount of carbohydrate more than 10% in their feed as it is difficult for them to digest.

•    Mineral material:
The mineral material is used to make bones and eggs and used for other body works. The mineral material includes Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Chlorine, Sulphur, Manganese, Iron, Copper, Iodine, Zinc, Cobalt and Selenium.  Mainly all these materials are obtained from feed.

Shelter and care: For chicken farming, suitable land is chosen in which maximum chick development and egg development takes place. The shelter should be at some height from the road so that rain water will easily flow out and it will also protect them from the flood. Fresh water supply must be there. It must have 24 hours electricity supply. The chicken shelter must be away from the industrial and urban area because the fertilizer of chicken will pollute the environment and causes flies’ problem. Chose the shelter which is free from noise as the noise problem will affect the production of birds. The smoke of factories will also affect the birds.
 
Care of newborn chicks: Raising baby chicks requires proper attention and an incubator. Eggs are placed in incubator for about 21 days by giving suitable temperature. After hatching, chicks are removed form incubator after 48 hours. Handling of chicks should be done carefully while taking out from the incubator. After taking out chicks from the incubator, they are placed in the brooder. For the first week the temperature of brooder must be 95^oF and it must be dropped by 5^oF for every following week. Proper feed at proper must be given to chicks and clean water must be available every time in the brooder.

Recommended vaccines: Updated vaccines are also required for their good growth. Some major vaccines or medicines which are required for maintaining chicken’s good health are as follows:
•    When the chick is one day old give them HVT vaccination to protect them from Marek’s disease. The influence of injection will remain up to 18 months.
•    When the chick is 4-7days old give them RD vaccination (F1 strain) to protect them from Ranikhet disease. The influence of this injection will remain for 2-4 months.
•    When the chick is 18-21days old give them IBD vaccination to protect them from Gumboro disease.
•    When the chick is 4-5 weeks old give them RD (F1 strain) vaccination to protect them from Ranikhet disease.
•    When the chick is 6-8 weeks old give them RD (F2B strain) vaccination to protect them from Ranikhet disease. 0.5ml of medicine is given to the chick.
•    When the chick is 8-10 weeks old give them chicken pox vaccination to protect them from chicken pox disease.

Bird flu (Avian influenza):
It is caused by influenza and it increases the death rate 100%. The infection comes out through the respiratory pipe, tears and waste. The disease spreads very early from one chicken to another. It can also spread through unhealthy food and water utensils, cages and clothes. The symptoms are lazy chickens, less hunger, less egg production, comb color turns yellow, and early death.
Prevention: Stop taking anything inside or outside from chicken farm. Separate shoes will be used inside the farm. Make the hole and add medicine in mentioned amount so that before entering the farm dip your foot in the treated water. Germ destroyer such as Qualitol should be sprayed around the farm.
Cautions during disease: Because this disease affects the human, wear proper clothes and gloves before picking the diseased chickens. Burn or bury the dead and influenced chickens in the soil. Meat can be made at 70oC as it kills the infection and it is used for eating.

Vitamin A deficiency:
The symptoms of this disease are beak and legs get fainted yellow and shaking head.
Treatment: Add more amount of Vitamin A in the feed and gave them green feed.

Fainted paws:
The disease is mainly caused due to vitamin B2 deficiency and it is mainly seen is growing animals. The symptoms are paws turn inside.
Treatment: Add Vitamin B2 in the feed.

Vitamin D deficiency:
The disease is mainly caused due to vitamin B2 deficiency or due to an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus in the body.
Treatment: Add Vitamin D3 in the feed.

Chicken pox:
It is a contagious disease and it can be spread in any age of the bird. The symptoms are sores on a comb, around eyes and ears.
Treatment: Homeopathic medicine of antimonium torterix @5ml/100 birds is given to cure chicken pox.

Coccidiosis:
It is a parasitic disease which is caused by coccidian protozoan. The disease is mainly caused to the chick having age between 3-10 weeks. It also affects the adult ones.
Treatment: Proper cleaning should be done. Approximately up to 12 weeks chick’s give coccidiostat in the feed, for eg befran or amprol @50g/qtl feed, clopidol @125g/qtl, stanorol @50g/ton of feed. Change the medicine after every 1-2 years. Mix the medicine properly in the feed.

Leucosis and marek’s:
It is a contagious disease which is infected to another animal via air, feathers, soil etc. Leucosis doesn’t spread through air and doesn’t spread through the polluted environment.
Marek’s symptoms: It is mainly caused to chicks having age between 1-4 months and sometime it is caused to 30 days old chicken. The symptoms are fainted legs, feather and neck, grey color eyes and ultimately they get blind.
Leucosis symptoms: It is mainly caused to chicken having age more than 4 months. They symptoms are increase in liver in size and ulcers are found in all body parts except veins.
Treatment: When the chick is one day old vaccinate them with Marek’s vaccine. Proper cleanliness and care should be taken.  

Ranikhet disease:
It is also known as New Castle disease. It is a very contagious disease and it is spread to every age bird. The symptoms are increased death rate, difficulty in breathing, fainted legs and feathers.
Treatment: When the chicks are 1-6 days old vaccinate it with Ranikhet medicine of F strain and broilers should be vaccinate after 4 weeks interval with F-1 vaccination.

Fatty liver syndrome (FLS):
The disease is mainly caused due to feed digestion problem which causes fat deposition in the body. This disease is mainly found in egg producing chicken or broiler which has given more energy feed. The symptoms are 50% less egg production, weight reduces up to 20-25% and blood spots are seen on liver and body.
Treatment: Decrease the energy content in the feed. Mix 100g choline chloride, 10,000 I U Vitamin E, 1.2mg Vitamin B12 and 100g incitol in 1 quintal of feed.

Aflatoxin:
It is mainly caused due to humidity and hot rains. The symptoms are less hunger, less egg production, increased thirst and decrease in blood level.
Treatment: Livol or liv-52 or tefroli tonic is given in feed or given through water. Vitamin A and Vitamin E @60,000 IU/acre and 300 IU/acre is given respectively.