New Hampshire Red

New Hampshire Red is a chicken breed developed in the state of New Hampshire in the United States in the early twentieth century by selectively breeding Rhode Island Red stock for faster growth, quicker feathering and earlier maturity, aiming at a dual purpose bird suited to both meat and egg production. It was recognized as a distinct breed by the American Poultry Association in 1935, notably lighter red in color and quicker to reach market weight than the Rhode Island Red it was bred from. New Hampshire Red became commercially important in the mid twentieth century American poultry industry, both as a producer in its own right and as foundation stock used in developing early commercial broiler and layer hybrid crosses before the industry shifted to more specialized hybrid lines. It remains popular among backyard and heritage flock keepers today for its productivity and hardiness.