Best Breeds for Egg Production

After having many pretty and fun different breeds of chickens that we fed to the local predators . We've created a chicken bunker with a strong run and are focusing on kid friendly birds who are great egg layers.
From my reading on the forum, I think we will go with Sex Link, in a variety of colors. My question is, If the sex link is a cross between any number of different breeds of birds, is one color a better than another?
Also, the hatcheries keep there "recipe" secret so are say black sex link birds from one hatchery better than black sex link birds from another hatchery?
One more thing, do you think any color of sex link is more hardy or savvy on free range?
Thanks!

MamaKat said:

After having many pretty and fun different breeds of chickens that we fed to the local predators

. We've created a chicken bunker with a strong run and are focusing on kid friendly birds who are great egg layers.
From my reading on the forum, I think we will go with Sex Link, in a variety of colors. My question is, If the sex link is a cross between any number of different breeds of birds, is one color a better than another?
Also, the hatcheries keep there "recipe" secret so are say black sex link birds from one hatchery better than black sex link birds from another hatchery?
One more thing, do you think any color of sex link is more hardy or savvy on free range?
Thanks!

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The classic red sex link is a cross between a Light Sussex and a Rhode Island Red. I can't speak from hatchery stock, never owned any. If you are looking for docile, might try the Henderson Chicken Chart online. Might try Freedom Rangers. I heard good things about them but never owned any. I don't think the color denotes a better sex-link bird. I think it is the breeds behind the colors that do instead.
Best,
Karen

3riverschick said:

MamaKat said:

After having many pretty and fun different breeds of chickens that we fed to the local predators

. We've created a chicken bunker with a strong run and are focusing on kid friendly birds who are great egg layers. From my reading on the forum, I think we will go with Sex Link, in a variety of colors. My question is, If the sex link is a cross between any number of different breeds of birds, is one color a better than another? Also, the hatcheries keep there "recipe" secret so are say black sex link birds from one hatchery better than black sex link birds from another hatchery? One more thing, do you think any color of sex link is more hardy or savvy on free range? Thanks!

Click to expand...

The classic red sex link is a cross between a Light Sussex and a Rhode Island Red. I can't speak from hatchery stock, never owned any. If you are looking for docile, might try the Henderson Chicken Chart online. Might try Freedom Rangers. I heard good things about them but never owned any. I don't think the color denotes a better sex-link bird. I think it is the breeds behind the colors that do instead. Best, Karen

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Freedom rangers are meat birds they dont lay very well. I would go with RIR

MamaKat said:

After having many pretty and fun different breeds of chickens that we fed to the local predators

. We've created a chicken bunker with a strong run and are focusing on kid friendly birds who are great egg layers.
From my reading on the forum, I think we will go with Sex Link, in a variety of colors. My question is, If the sex link is a cross between any number of different breeds of birds, is one color a better than another?
Also, the hatcheries keep there "recipe" secret so are say black sex link birds from one hatchery better than black sex link birds from another hatchery?
One more thing, do you think any color of sex link is more hardy or savvy on free range?
Thanks!

Click to expand...

if you lots of eggs. you cant go wrong with Hybrids. the Hy line Silver browns will lay 330 eggs per year http://www.hyline.com/aspx/productsandservices/products.aspx

nicalandia said:

if you lots of eggs. you cant go wrong with Hybrids. the Hy line Silver browns will lay 330 eggs per year http://www.hyline.com/aspx/productsandservices/products.aspx

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I checked out their website. I know there is a lot of research that goes into food production, but I couldn't quite understand, are the Hy Line birds genetically modified or just a breed produced from different pure breeds? I have to say, their website freaked me out!

If your looking for eggs all yr round why not also get some Brahma's for winter laying ? I like the Austrolorps for All yr round but they do slow down for winter

I have a red sex link and a barred rock, I get 2 brown eggs almost every single day. They are very friendly too.

MamaKat said:

I checked out their website. I know there is a lot of research that goes into food production, but I couldn't quite understand, are the Hy Line birds genetically modified or just a breed produced from different pure breeds? I have to say, their website freaked me out!

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While genetic screening might be used I don't think they've started splicing chickens DNA for food (yet!). Modern hybrids are the result of pure lines crossed together which have been very carefully and thoroughly bred for performance.

MamaKat said:

Also, the hatcheries keep there "recipe" secret so are say black sex link birds from one hatchery better than black sex link birds from another hatchery?

Click to expand...

The recipes for most hybrids aren't much of a secret but the ingredients are everything. So in all likelihood yes, one hatcheries black sex links are better than another to a greater or lesser extent than another. Although if the hybrid is from a large breeding company such as the ISA brown then multiple hatcheries would have the same parent stock breeders (unless they buy their eggs) and no difference should be found unless a hatchery is screwing something up.

Thanks for the responses. After talking with some friends, they seem to get really good numbers of eggs from their non-sexlink breeds like Araucanas. Maybe the sexlink part doesn't matter that much?