Red Sex Link

I've had a lot of RSL's over the years and have never once had this issue. It may have been a poor commercial line you got, or it may be feed or lighting issues. Over weight birds tend to lay excessively large eggs. Birds with nutritional deficiencies may lay less frequently with excessively large eggs. RSL's are geared for production in the first two years rather than longevity. However, feed, exercise, parasite, and lighting control can keep them in optimum health.

I got my RSL at 1 1/2yrs and they lay very large eggs as well. They came from a very reputable breeder that was moving and had to cut down her numbers. They don't seem to be in pain however a couple do suffer from cysts in their feet. Breeder had spent $500 to have them removed from one hen.

I have 20 RSL's. they are five months old and have been laying since Sept 2016. I have two hens that lay jumbo eggs. the last few weeks they are laying super jumbo..they are in no pain, the only difference I have noticed is they are a buff color vs. the dark red color of the rest . They laid this size right from the start. I'm thinking the feed and seed where I bought the chicks mixed up and put those two in RSL cage maybe..I have looked up this type of hen and seems to be a Buff Orpington hen.as afr as I can find so far..RSL's are nice, friendly great layers..I only feed quality OMI feed and treat them with fresh veggies, Kale,baby spinach,collard and beet greens,strawberries, cooked rice, rolled oats, as well as a variety of herbs grown fresh every month.(my own) I use no chemicals or antibiotics, fresh garlic in their water. fresh herbs are plentiful for egg production,nesting and all natural antibiotics and respitory health..I have very healthy and happy birds..

The commercial lines of red sex links require careful management to produce and thrive. They need to be fed quality feed according to their needs, and the type of husbandry they get will ultimately determine their egg quality, the hen's health and longevity. I know of a flock of ISA browns that laid well into their 7th year. Certainly there are high production issues with the commercial hybrids, but they don't all drop dead in their second year.

I have a batch of red sex links too - and they are mellow, sweet chickens that let the kids handle them with no problems. They went through puberty with very minimal skittish issues, and even live in peace with the turkeys. I love mine so far. I'm sorry you seem to have problems with yours.

im so sorry you had that problem more importantly im sorry the chickens had that problem

Maybe your ones had genetics to lay huge eggs?
I have a few of these just for eggs as my show poultry are no good for eggs.
Mine lay medium brown eggs almost everyday and there over 3 years

I agree! I have one also and she's a great layer and very sweet and curious. She lays the largest eggs of all my girls. (Mine doesn't poop in the nest box fortunately.) I wish I had room for more.

I have 10 chicks who have not started laying yet, they are only about 13 weeks old, but they are the most fun chicks I have ever had. The run and play with one another and all run out to me and follow me around when I am doing my bird chores.

yeah, i have a black sex-link, she is a bit of a bully but other than that, she's pretty standard, she lays eggs (but not many) she is getting back her feathers from a weird thing the younger chickens used to do, they would stick their heads through the fence and it caused loss of feathers ( we fixed it, so don't worry) she has really pretty feathers and is overall a good starter chicken for new chicken keepers!

I'm a first time keeper and I purchased 3 of these from a local feed store as pullets. I get 3 eggs almost every day with the occasional 2 egg day and 1 egg days being even more rare. They're very friendly and food motivated. I bought them in March of this year and it's November now so we'll see how they keep laying in the time ahead. I've found providing artificial light as the days have gotten shorter has helped to keep egg production up.

My chicken Henny has a small tail too!

I have two and I get an egg a day from each since they began laying...which was about 3 months ago. I, too, am concerned about their cold tolerance. I live in WV so it does it a bit cold here. They are the friendliest of the 8 birds I own. They follow me around and come running when they hear or see me. They are gluttons and very gentle. Today I let them out in the back yard in the rain and they loved it and got quite wet. I'll have to ask the breeder I got them from which two breeds she bred to get mine.

My red sex link, Scarlett, is the most productive of all my chickens. She's sweet and lays enormous jumbo eggs almost every day even throughout the winter. She's the only one still laying right now. She doesn't go broody either, which is good for me. All in all, the least expensive chicken I have produces the biggest, best eggs! Go figure.

It sounds alot like internal laying/egg yolk peritonitis to me. I just lost a girl to that a couple days ago. I've lost chickens on both ends of the age spectrum, but I think the scariest one was with the 1 1/2 yr old BSL. She had yolk fluid in her throat and nose. They pretty much stop doing anything once they have it, so either their blood gets infected, or they starve.
So sorry you lost some of your girls! They sound like they were really sweet *hugs*

I had 4 red links are 2 years old.Two of the hens had ascites and now a third has it as well. I was wondering if this is common in this type of breed?

What is the color differences in the chicks. Male or female?

Sweetest hens I've ever had until a friggin fox killed every single one of my hens :/

MysticChocobo said:

Sweetest hens I've ever had until a friggin fox killed every single one of my hens :/

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I'm so sorry to hear that happened! I be devastated if this happened to my hens. No chicken deserves to go in such a way

MysticChocobo said:

Sweetest hens I've ever had until a friggin fox killed every single one of my hens :/

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Thank you and Agreed!