Confused about black sex-link

[Cherrypie]

Could anyone help me figure out my black sex-link, pictured below? She had a lot of brownish feathers on her chest but her back feathers are black with a green sheen. Her shape looks like a RIR to me. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

She is a black sexlink. That's what they look like. They are usually a RIR over Barred Rock cross, but can be any red/gold rooster over barred hen (Dominique, Cuckoo Marans, etc)

 

[LilPeeps]

I don't understand your question. BSLs are mixed breeds created by breeding a red male (usually RIR or production red) with a barred female (usually a barred rock). This makes it so that chicks can be sexed at hatch.

 

[speckledhen]

Are you thinking she should not have the brown/gold on her? That is normal and comes from her sire.

 

[Cherrypie]

Ah, ok. I'm not familiar with sex-links so I thought they were a breed unto themselves. Now I get it. Thanks!

 

[speckledhen]

Glad to help! Yes, sexlinks are hybrids bred for high production laying and to be sexable by color at hatch. Most folks seem to like theirs.

 

[lauralou]

She's very pretty.

 

[ihvpower]

I asked that very same question when my "breeder" said mine BSL was a mutant... This was a few weeks ago and now she is the most beautiful of the girls and huge!

P,S. I never knew that they were a cross either until just now....

 

[Whirlwind]

Cherrypie your BSL girl looks just like 2 of mine. Mine were BR Hen and Welsummer Roo.