My Red Sex-Link Rant

[wingsofglory]

Yes, I had the medium long narrow eggs from the Barred Rock too! After all the rave reviews of the Barred Rock, I hope that is an exception.

My Buff Orpington also laid a medium egg. For such a large bird, I expected huge eggs!

 

[ChicKat]

Hi Animal---

I love your chickens! My flock is two barred rocks and one GSL who looks like the lighter one of your two. Nice eggs too. Interesting the variation from the same hatch.

hey Wings--

My barred rocks have been laying for a month now-- and I am noticing an increase in the egg size. (as well as frequency).

Could the egg size have anything to do with the feed?
I guess one way to tell would be if you had other chickens on the same feed that laid larger eggs.
could it be due to the age of the birds?

Last night I was reading the barred rock breed postings on here...and it made me wonder if my barred rocks (probably hatchery birds) are REALLY barred rocks. Someone there said that hatchery barred rocks may be crossed with leghorns. Interesting thought.. So if I have leghorn in my BPRs, that could explain the more than usual egg frequency.

Hopefully your rock will eventually meet your expectations.

 

[cposz]

I just want to mention that our RSL is the absolute sweetest hen in our little flock of 4. Our BO is stand-offish and our two Australorps are very timid. The RSL follows us around like a puppy and is the only hen who ever wants to be picked up. But she was highly socialized as a chick - the others weren't so much - so maybe that's the key.

 

[crash0330]

Quote:
I'd like to know where you guys get this from, I always hear people say this yet when I or somebody else asks where this belief comes from they never seem to come up with a good source.
In my experience Red sexlinks are great layers even when they are old, they do slow down, but then again all chickens do, I've had a flock of 4 years old RSL hens they laid excellent for their age, about 4 to 5 eggs a week, lived with me for a year, then I sold them to somebody else, that was a year ago, and that person that I sold them too they still have them.
Also I know this guy that rescues hens from egg factories after they don't need them anymore, he tries to rehome as many as he can but, I've talked to him and he has told me that this hens even tho have been treated really bad they're still pretty good layers and for the most part friendly.
I myself have 3 Red sexlinks and 3 golden comets, have not had a single problem with them, and they do not bother any of my other hens at all, they'r just really sweet friendly and great laying hens.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
I'd like to know where you guys get this from, I always hear people say this yet when I or somebody else asks where this belief comes from they never seem to come up with a good source.
In my experience Red sexlinks are great layers even when they are old, they do slow down, but then again all chickens do, I've had a flock of 4 years old RSL hens they laid excellent for their age, about 4 to 5 eggs a week, lived with me for a year, then I sold them to somebody else, that was a year ago, and that person that I sold them too they still have them.
Also I know this guy that rescues hens from egg factories after they don't need them anymore, he tries to rehome as many as he can but, I've talked to him and he has told me that this hens even tho have been treated really bad they're still pretty good layers and for the most part friendly.
I myself have 3 Red sexlinks and 3 golden comets, have not had a single problem with them, and they do not bother any of my other hens at all, they'r just really sweet friendly and great laying hens.

There is no ONE red sex link. There are dozens and dozens of hatcheries making dozens of strains. Many of the generalities attributed to some do not apply to all.
There is simply no statement about laying, personality, longevity, mis-behaviors, or problems that can be said to be universally true. It isn't a breed. Thus, the red sex link has no one personality as, again, it isn't a breed. RSLs can be made from many different birds, using many different possibilities for parent stock, including many different strains from the poultry genetics companies for commercial purposes. Saying something akin to "I'll never get RSLs again" is understandable, as is "I love my RSLs". Both statements can be true. It completely depends on what RSL one purchased, from which strain, from which hatchery.

Two people can order RSLs from two different hatcheries and get two similar looking birds that have nothing, nothing in common, including their parentage.

 

[AnimalCrazed]

ChicKat-
Thanks! I think i'm pretty lucky to have some great birds for my firsts

Fred-
You hit the nail on the head! there are just so many breeds that can make a sex link!

Before getting one people should do some research ask around find out what parents are used.. that sort of stuff. I believe mine came from a RIR and a RIW... maybe!

Also anyone on here ever breed their sex links to anything? what did you get?

 

[ChicKat]

Here is a post from awhile back were two black sex-links resulted in this set of cute chicks---

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=6634979#p6634979

And...they said that sex-links had broodiness bred out of them..but it looks like this mom is a success story. -- Ah the wonders of chickens.

edit-->

No wait---I think I had misunderstood, only the hen was black sex-link.

 

[andalusn]

I have a Cuckoo Maran (barred) and a Black Jersey Giant rooster. Their chicks are black sexlink pullets when fully grown. The rooster chicks have the barred pattern of mom. The hens grow up to be large in size, deep black in color gentle in nature. Most people mistake them for Black Australorps. I can usually count on the JG rooster to put size on most any chick. I like the cross really well.

 

[confusedturtle]

This thread has me worried. I only have 5 chickens (3 RSL's & 2 BO mixes), one has been identified as a roo (RSL roo) and Im a little suspect of one of my BO mixes. Now Im worried that my 2 RSL hens are going to be internal layers

My RSL's are the sweetest birds I have, they are underfoot at times but they dont mind my kids and I picking them up from time to time. They appreciate their range time and are only tough to catch when they discover something yummy in my veggie garden and want to stay and scratch. My BO mixes are flighty, skiddish and big ole scaredy cats. My BO's are a PIA to get rounded up when range time is over and I need them back in the coop. And I was hoping they'd let us hold them sometimes like the RSL's do, but when you look at them for a few seconds they channel their inner road runner and take off, never to be caught. I was also hoping my BO's would go broody on me next year so i could order some eggs to hatch out. I definitely would buy RSL's or BO's (not mixed) again and I have been in contact with someone from the board to possibly hatch out a few, but I think I will wait though until mine are older and see if I can get one of them to hatch them

 

[draye]

Quote:
There are plenty of Sex link hens around our place and we have not had any internal; laying problems.

ETA: They (the hens are about 3 years old).