How to distinguish Chicks: Breed and Gender

[mexicanchickens]

Thinking of getting chickens maybe starting from chicks. We are looking for good egg layers and thought Rhode Island Reds might be a good option. How could I tell if chicks are Rhode Island Reds and what gender they are since we want hens not roosters?

 

[Gray Farms]

Rhode Island Reds are not sex able as chicks.

 

[summerb123]

yes RIRs are not......but Red sex-link are a good choose

info I found:

Red Sex Link Chickens can be developed using various red chicken breeds for the hen, but are always crossed with a Rhode Island Red Rooster or a New Hampshire Red Rooster. These particular Red Sex Links are a cross breed utilizing the Delaware Hen and the Rhode Island Red Rooster. The result is a prolific egg laying and quality meat bird with superior production value of its respective parents' breeds.

Red Sex Link Chicks are an excellent choice for many commercial egg laying operations for their substantial production as well as their ease of breeding and sexing. These breeds also mature rapidly and will begin laying much earlier than many other breeds.
One can easily sex or determine the gender of these baby chickens -

• Male Red Sex Link Chicks will be white.
• Female Red Sex Link Chicks will hatch either buff or red.

< Red Sex Link Chickens Commercial poultry operations will often favor Sex Link Hens due to their excellent egg laying capabilities and their moderate size which yield ample fowl meat.

Red Sex Link Chickens are referred to as Red Stars due to their exceptionally high egg production and rapid maturity.



Red Sex Link Chicken Info

• Adult Weight - Male: 7 pounds ; Female: 4.5 pounds
• Color - Roosters can range from pure white feathering to white with splotches of black plumage, Hens are mostly red with some white feathering on the tail and breast area, Both genders have bright red combs and yellow skin
• Purpose - Dual Purpose: Egg Laying and Meat Production
• Egg Production - Excellent: Between 250-300 per year depending on cross
• Egg Color - Brown
• Egg Size - Large
• Country of Origin -United States

another option is black sex-link.......


you might find some info here...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/375015/sexlink-thread-pictures-and-discussion

 

[mexicanchickens]

Thanks for the info. Red Sex Link Chickens sound like they might be a good option. So the gender of RIRs cannot be determined as chicks? Thanks for all the helpful information again!

 

[summerb123]

yes

 

[junebuggena]

Thanks for the info. Red Sex Link Chickens sound like they might be a good option. So the gender of RIRs cannot be determined as chicks? Thanks for all the helpful information again!

They can be sexed, but only by someone very experienced at vent sexing. Vent sexing is only about 90% accurate, though. Sexlinks are 100% accurate.

 

[mexicanchickens]

Are Red Sex Links hard to find or somewhat rare?

 

[summerb123]

Not at all very common backyard layers

 

[mexicanchickens]

What is a breed of layers who's gender can be distinguished as chicks and are somewhat easy to find and buy?

 

[junebuggena]

What is a breed of layers who's gender can be distinguished as chicks and are somewhat easy to find and buy?

Black sexlinks and red sexlinks are both very, very common and are 100% accurate sexing at hatch. Just about every hatchery on the planet has some version of red sexlink or black sexlink. They are outstanding producers, and what most commercial egg farms use for brown layers.