Need some quick 'expert' opinions on which breed to get

[ontheridge]

I have a mixed flock now (marans, welsummers, and a black sex link I think) and wanted to add to it this year. I had my eye on RIR just because I wanted some great layers, but our local co-ops don't have any. My options are gold sex link, black astralorp, and gold or silver laced wyandottes. Any feed back on these breeds when it comes to egg production, integrating into the existing flock, or general health? Thanks in advance!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

There are so many excellent breeds. Try these charts.
http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

 

[Texas4T]

Based just on my personal experience, I would NOT add RIRs. They can be very aggressive to other breeds, depending on the line they come from. If you are in it just for the eggs, I would say go with the sex links or Australorps. Both are bred for egg production. Hope this helps you out.

 

[Michael OShay]

Based just on my personal experience, I would NOT add RIRs. They can be very aggressive to other breeds, depending on the line they come from. If you are in it just for the eggs, I would say go with the sex links or Australorps. Both are bred for egg production. Hope this helps you out.

I agree with Texas4T. I've had all of those breeds over the past 50 years, and aggressive RIRs are not uncommon (particularly from hatchery stock). Gold Sex Link is one of a number of labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links which are laying machines that churn out eggs at a similar rate as Black Sex Links. Black Australorps lay almost as well as sex links and they are one of the hardiest breeds in existence (in both heat and cold). In addition they are typically a very calm and gentle breed. My children and granddaughter (pictured in my avatar) made lap pets of ours. Whatever breed you decide to get, good luck with your flock.

 

[rhodyray]

I have five hens and are red sexlink and believe they are Cinnamon Queens. Into my second year with them and expected this year to be as good as last year (it was a fantastic egg production year) but am somewhat disappointed. This year I'm picking 3 to 4 eggs per day compared to the 4 to 5 last year and on some days I'll get a bad egg that may either be soft shelled, punctured, exceptionally small, or somewhat oddly shaped. I would not recommend this hybrid to you. However I would, based on my read of the breed and writings from owners, recommend Black Australorps because of egg production, friendly disposition , love to free range, cold weather adaptability, and general strength of the breed. That's my input and I hope you find it helpul.

 

[Texas4T]

I have five hens and are red sexlink and believe they are Cinnamon Queens.  Into my second year with them and expected this year to be as good as last year (it was a fantastic egg production year) but am somewhat disappointed.  This year I'm picking 3 to 4 eggs per day compared to the 4 to 5 last year and on some days I'll get a bad egg that may either be soft shelled, punctured, exceptionally small, or somewhat oddly shaped.  I would not recommend this hybrid to you.  However I would, based on my read of the breed and writings from owners, recommend Black Australorps because of egg production, friendly disposition , love to free range, cold weather adaptability, and general strength of the breed.  That's my input and I hope you find it helpul.

I have also heard that production on these crosses wanes as they age. They are bred for commercial operations that replace hens fast, so if longevity is what you're after, I would have to agree...Australorps are the way to go.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sexlinks do tend to lay well. However, they're bred primarily so they can be color sexed at hatch.
Since their parents are normal chickens, their production shouldn't slow or stop at an early age.
This is from the feathersite.

"Bth 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. Black Sex-Links are often referred to as Rock Reds.
Red Sex-Links are the result of various crosses. White Rocks with the silver factor (the dominant white gene would produce all white offspring) are crossed with a New Hampshire male to produce the Golden Comet. Silver Laced Wyandotte crossed with New Hampshire gives the Cinnamon Queen. Two other crosses are obtained with Rhode Island White x Rhode Island Red, and Delaware x Production Red."
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Sex-links/BRKSexLink.html

These are not used for commercial production per se. The commercial egg farms use proprietary genetically selected birds but just because they lay like gangbusters their first 18 months and then become soup, that doesn't mean they can't lay for years to come.

Like all chickens, well managed, they can lay for many years but at a lower rate each year depending upon their genetics.

 

[Michael OShay]

Sexlinks do tend to lay well. However, they're bred primarily so they can be color sexed at hatch.
Since their parents are normal chickens, their production shouldn't slow or stop at an early age.
This is from the feathersite.

"Bth 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. Black Sex-Links are often referred to as Rock Reds.
Red Sex-Links are the result of various crosses. White Rocks with the silver factor (the dominant white gene would produce all white offspring) are crossed with a New Hampshire male to produce the Golden Comet. Silver Laced Wyandotte crossed with New Hampshire gives the Cinnamon Queen. Two other crosses are obtained with Rhode Island White x Rhode Island Red, and Delaware x Production Red."
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Sex-links/BRKSexLink.html

These are not used for commercial production per se. The commercial egg farms use proprietary genetically selected birds but just because they lay like gangbusters their first 18 months and then become soup, that doesn't mean they can't lay for years to come.

Like all chickens, well managed, they can lay for many years but at a lower rate each year depending upon their genetics.

X2 on the above post. Even though their lay rate had dropped off from 6-7eggs per hen per week, I've had a few Black Sex Links that were still producing 3-4 egg per week per hen at 5-6 years old.