Red Star Chickens

[farmerlor]

I have one red star and three black stars. They're all egg laying machines but the red star is much smaller, definitely not a dual purpose breed. She's very docile and friendly but not just stunningly gorgeous like some other breeds we own. I call her my little plain jane brown hen.

 

[dishgal1]

I have 10 red stars and they are continual layers. I also have the black stars. I love them both. Great production in contrast to food consumption.
I am raising some of their chicks from eggs we incubated.
The red stars are a cross between a Rhode Island Red Rooster and either a white rock hen or some places use a different white hen. Trade secret they say.
Black stars are a cross between a Rhode Island red Rooster and a Barred Rock hen.
They are beautiful but they can really fly. We finally had to corral them in a 40 x 100' lot because they were always flying out. Immediately after we put up a six foot fence they flew straight up and sat on top. We ended up having to clip one wing. Now they are happy again and have given up on trying to get out. They are not quite as heavy as their parents which makes it easier for them to fly.
We also have a Black Star Rooster. One of the offspring is a rooster and he is really going to be beautiful. I would post some pics but haven't figured out how yet on this site.
G
Texas

 

[Goldfinch]

I love my mother's two Red Stars! I chicken sit for my mother- they are great layers and wonderful Pets!!

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

Hi
Red Stars are the breed I use for egg production. I've used this breed for the past 6 years with no complaints.
My first ones started laying at 16 weeks, but they normally start laying at around 20 weeks. Mine lay well during the winter.
You may need to add a light on a timer in your area, to make sure they have the recommended amount of daylight.

Mine have all been good foragers, but as was mentioned, they can fly better than the heavier breeds. We also clipped one wing to keep them in their uncovered run.
Of course mine always wanted out, because they were free-ranging from the time they were old enough to be outside until they were old enough to lay. I had to pen them up in order to find the eggs, because they were hiding them!

They are gentle, friendly, and great layers of large light brown eggs.
If you decide on this breed, I'm sure you will enjoy them.

Here are a couple of pictures

These are mostly Red Star pullets

The same girls at almost 1 year old. Delawares are in the run behind them.

Jean

 

[Mahonri]

I once had a red star, she laid well and was nice sized with LARGE eggs... sometimes double yolkers.

I now have a Cinnamon Queen... 6-7 medium sized eggs a week... and very gentile.

 

[MonPet]

We just got into chickens in April and bought 12 of them from a local person who got them from Murray MacMurray (?). We got them at 19 weeks old and they were already laying when we got them. We were so impressed we bought 4 more, we were getting 16 eggs a day, but we switched from crumbles to pellets and production is now 14-15 eggs a day. We now mix the pellets and crumbles because we have one who has a totally misshapen beak, we call her beakie, and fear she was not able to eat the pellets. The eggs are HUGE!! We cannot even close the extra large egg boxes properly, it's incredible. If you think about getting chickens I can highly recommend the Red Stars. Not sure about the cold Maine winters yet, but the coop is built and insulated, now to finish off the inside.

 

[Kaugomu]

I know this is an older thread, but wanted to add my 2 cents for future serchers. We got one RS from My Pet Chicken this year when we started our back yard flock. Of our three, she is the most tame, friendlies, most tolerant of our preschool daughter, and also the noisiest of our flock. She is the Alpha Female but a darling. I'm very happy with the bread, but I don't know if my small backyard flock could have been three RSs and still have happy neighbors with the amount that this one talks!

 

[urban.friendly.farming]

I got three Red Stars as month old chicks in the spring. They all layed their first egg on the same day(!) and continue to lay very consistently so far this winter, even though it was -22C yesterday morning here in Colorado Springs. I've added a small morning light to lengthen their day, but I'm not sure the Stars need it. The others (an Astrolorp, three Wyandottes and a Heinz57) have given it up for the winter, but I still get three pretty, big, brown eggs from the Stars very early every morning.

Love 'em for egg production, but as others have said, they are a little scrawny for meat. They are great foragers (even in winter bareness) and I never see them hanging around the feed bucket like the Wyandottes.

I plan to always keep some Stars around for eggs.

 

[off-grid hen]

Quote:
Thanks for the update, I just ordered a few from my pet chicken.

 

[snooptwomey]

I have 2 of these lovely ladies, they are fairly large, lay roughly an egg a day(large to x large brown), havent slowed in the winter much, and they are the sweetest chickens. Very friendly towards each other, my daughters, and my bird hunting dog. Would def recommend this breed.