Egg Quality

[Blackberry18]

The Red Star or sex-link hen will vary in color and shade from light Red to a near solid Red. They are usually a White/Red mix. They are a hybird developed from a White Leghorn and Rhoade Island Red.

Well, not really. A Red Sex-Link is a hybrid of a red gene male (Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire, etc.) and a silver gene hen (Delaware, Columbian Rock/Wyandotte/Leghorn, Silver Leghorn, etc.). So, if your chickens are different in coloration, that could be because they are made from different crosses, and that could produce differently shaped eggs.

 

[r2catco]

Interesting, the guy I purchased them from buys new chicks every year which seems to coincide with your comment. Thanks!

 

[r2catco]

I wouldn't think the breed or how the breed was contrived would have a bearing since these hens have had a history of producing good eggs and producing in good numbers.

 

[donrae]

I agree with Mare, it's likely the age of the hens and the breed. My rsl hens laid like champs, and often XL size eggs, but after about 2 years quality declined, especially in the thickness of the shell. I offered calcium free choice in a few different forms but nothing really seemed to help. They're simply past their prime and you'll need to decide if it's worthwhile to keep them or cull them and get younger birds.