how do you get a sex link

[Mike Fuson]

I am interested in hatching some of the red sex link chickens. Sil-go-links, red star, comets, cinnamin queens, they all seem to be about the same to me. I know it takes a cherry egger rooster and a barred rock hen to get rock reds but they are the black sex links and don't lay as good. I would like to know what cross it takes to get these red sex links. I ordered some last year and they are the champions of big brown eggs. However foxes have killed a bunch and I would like to get some more. Thanks

 

[Krys109uk]

The sex links with fancy names are most often from specialised lines developed for the commercial market. It s unlikely that one could reproduce sex links which lay as well as those.

However, a sex link can be made using a number of genes on the Z sex chromosome such that the dominant allele is on the femlale's only Z chromosome & the males two Z chromosomes have the recessive allele.

Most often used are: Sex linked barring (B)/non barred (b+), silver (S)/gold (s+), Late feathering (K)/rapid feathering (k+). And in the broiler industry sex linked dwarfism.

For black sex links often RIR (or almost any non white non barred bird) over barred Rock.

For red sex links RIR (or any gold bird) with over Light Sussex, Rhode Island White, Delaware.

For rate of feather growth sex links, Leghorn (or any rapid feathering bird) over RIR (or any late feathering bird).

 

[CHIC]

I have done some research and I am getting a New Hampshire male- because RIRs are known for being aggressive. For the red sex link, I am using the Silver Laced Wyandotte for the female. For the black, Barred Rocks. I put a post up with this idea and most people thought that I made good decisions.

 

[HBuehler]

For red we use a RIR Roo and a RIW for the hens.They are my only solid white hens other than my leghorns and they lay wonderfully.Makes a super red sex link.We have no problems with our RIR roo's but also they are heritage so maybe that's the difference-no hatchery.
We also have NH's and will be doing the NH Delaware cross next year as well.

 

[CHIC]

I also heard that using the RIwhite is a good idea for culling the roos.

 

[Krys109uk]

It's curious, I've often heard people saying they don't want RIR because the males have a reputation for being agressive but I've never known anyone say they've actually owned an aggressive RIR.

 

[hinkjc]

I've owned aggressive RIR roo about 17 years ago and would never again. I also have friends who have them and most of their roos are aggressive as well. The hens are wonderful, but I did not have good experience with the males. Of course, I'm sure there are good and bad in them, like all breeds, but that has really turned me off of them.

 

[Krys109uk]

Of course, I'm sure there are good and bad in them, like all breeds, but that has really turned me off of them.

I think it must be like you say. One hears of a mean one in lots of breeds.
New Hampshires also seem to have a reputation for being aggressive. Another one people say are aggressive are white Leghorns; I bred them for many years & never had an aggressive one.

I've bred thousands & thousands of chickens in my time (including a few RIR one year) & the aggressive birds have been so few I can remember each bird individually, 5 in total. Two of which were Vorwerk bantams.
A bit of lead behind the ear seems the best cure.

I wonder whether anyone has ever successfully cured an aggressive cockerel without killing them.​

 

[Chris09]

I was told this if you have a "man biter"..
That if you take a halved lemon and let him peck that when he gos to peck you he will soon stop trying to peck at you..
I don't know if it work but I was told that it did..

Chris

 

[CHIC]

Thats pretty funny, wonder if it works..