Breeding Red sex links offspring? (right room for this question?)

[BrownChickenBrownCow]

I have searched and found that second gen sex links lose the day one sex ID trait. But what happens down the line? In other words...if I had 25 reds and wanted to breed them amongst themselves would I get red sex links that just didn't have the ID marker or some new thing altogether? Do the offspring lay eggs in same fashion/rate as original sex links or could that trait be dimished with inbreeding them?

Or maybe I should just get 23 rhode island red hens and 2 Roos and stop hurting my brain trying to figure out chicken genetics!

Thanks for any replies, new to this and trying to figure it all out.

I appreciate your time.
Wise

 

[Fred's Hens]

What happens, typically, is you get some red with smut, some white with smut, and even some that look OK. The smutty look continues down the line. It just doesn't work out like you'd think and probably prefer.

You will also get ok layers but much of what makes the RSL such good layers is the "spark" or click of the hybrid that only happens once, in that first mating. After that, they're all sharing the same genes so there's no spark or click. Laying becomes more typical and no longer spectacular. Many have tried this and I've seen their product and I am not impressed.

 

[BrownChickenBrownCow]

Thanks! With that info, I think I will just start with some RIR's and/or barred rocks so I can breed them with less issue. I would need a "cooplex"

to keep them separate if i went with both breeds tho. Egg production only I guess the sex links would be the way to go.

Thanks again,
Wise

 

[Fred's Hens]

You can keep a mixed flock. I do, as do many others. Separate or all together, it doesn't matter that much.

If you only want to hatch BR, that's fine. Get a BR rooster and only put the BR eggs into the incubator. You can easily tell them apart.
Yes, many folks keep RSL, ISA Browns, etc for consistent eggs, especially if they have customers on a schedule.

 

[BrownChickenBrownCow]

Oh ok...I see what you are saying. That makes sense. As long as I can figure out how to tell which eggs are which, then I could keep the breeds separate and "pure" so to speak. Is telling the eggs apart something I should pick up on readily as I go?...before I put any in the incubator, I want to have that down pat.

Thanks again!!! Great info
Wise

 

[jlhowland]

I personally think it's fun to mix and see what nature does. I've got a few Ameraucana over White leghorn hens and they are really spectacular looking. Pure white but with Ameraucana muffs and comb. Really hoping for some green eggs from them.