Is a RIR X Black Australop a good cross

[littledel]

I crossed my RIR roo with my Black Aust. hens and came out with some beautiful chicks. A friend told me they can be sexlinked. I don't know. But 3 are black with a white spot on their head and the other 7 all black. I think the girls of this group should be good layers. Any ideas.

 

[Mahonri]

They will be great layers. But hey, we want pics!!!

 

[littledel]

I am unable yet to do the pics, sorry. Will work on that.

 

[ghulst]

Yes they are sex linked. White spots are cocks.

 

[greathorse]

You sure???

 

[lovinlife]

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Sex-links/BRKSexLink.html
I didn't see an Australorp listed as a cross to make sex links. But, maybe someone else knows a site that lists it.

"Both Red and Black Sex-Links use a red male for the father. Either a Rhode Island Red or a New Hampshire may be used.

Black Sex-Links are produced using a Barred Rock as the mother. Both sexes hatch out black, but the males have a white dot on their heads. Pullets feather out black with some red in neck feathers. Males feather out with the Barred Rock pattern along with a few red feathers."

This site had good info: http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainable-living.com/black_sex_link_chickens.html
Looks like the hen needs to be barred or cuckoo.

 

[greathorse]

I am far from an expert but pretty sure there needs to be silver in the female and I am not aware that Austrolorp has any silver..

I know that a RIR and SLW are sex linked, though I am not sure I have seen one. Would that be a rose comb? sorry if this is a hijack

 

[Ridgerunner]

They are not sex links. The sex links that can be determined by the spots on the head are the ones where the hen is barred and the male is not barred. They are normally called black sex links because the hen used is black and white barred and the chicks are black.

The silver gene comes into play to make a red sex link, when the hen has a dominant silver gene and the rooster has a color that is recessive to silver, such as gold. You can tell the difference in the male-female chicks by the color of the chicks.

Tadkerson has a great explanation.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261208

 

[Celtic Hill]

That should be a good cross! i love Australops!

 

[littledel]

bummer, I was hoping it was true. Oh well, I will just keep an eye on them to see what becomes of them and let everyone know. Thanks