Sex- linked Information

[tadkerson]

I have the following Hens and was wondering if I bred any with my neighbor's RIR Rooster, if I'd get sex-linked offspring to propagate our flocks for layers:

Barred Rock
Black Australorp
Black Copper Marans (French)
Black Minorca
Buff Orpington
Columbian Wyandotte
White Leghorn

I am pretty sure I can do the following but not sure about any of the rest:

RIR x Barred Rock = BSL
RIR x Columbian Wyandotte = RSL

What you have listed above this response is all you can cross to produce sex links. Check the first post on this string.

Tim

 

[gilmoujr]

What you have listed above this response is all you can cross to produce sex links. Check the first post on this string.

Tim

That first post is where I got my info. LOL. I was hoping for a confirmation - which you graciously bestowed upon me. Forgive my ignorance as I am new to this.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: If I might suggest-- use the rooster on all the girls for a nice variety. Even with sexlinks the boys need a destination. Just saying, don't limit yourself to sexlinks unless you have to.

 

[EmSteele]

New to this thread. I've been told recently that I may own 2 black sex links...can't upload pictures unfortunately. Both were completely black as day holds but look completely different now. Does anyone have 10-14 week roo and hen pictures? Haven't had a chance to go through the entire feed yet to check.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

These are some standard black sex link pullets, about 10 weeks old.

 

[EmSteele]

Looks a LOT like one of them....but it got such a red,large comb so fast that we assumed it was a roo. Would help if I could post pics here! The other is all black except for a little red/gold on the throat and black comb and wattle(waddle?)... both were solid black as chicks...not white head spot or anything.

 

[EmSteele]

And thank you for the photos...!

 

[Ridgerunner]

New to this thread. I've been told recently that I may own 2 black sex links...can't upload pictures unfortunately. Both were completely black as day holds but look completely different now. Does anyone have 10-14 week roo and hen pictures? Haven't had a chance to go through the entire feed yet to check.

How are your “black sex links” totally different in appearance from down color? The big clue is, are they barred or not barred? Actually that is the only information required if they are truly black sex links. At 10 to 14 weeks, you should be able to tell.

In theory, 10 to 14 week old black sex link pullets should be solid black. But that’s theory, not practice. Lonnyandrinda’s photo shows that does not always work. Different breeds or even crosses can be used to make black sex links. How those other genes go together determine if they are solid black or have other colors and patterns leaking through. But the big thing is that they are not barred.

In theory the males will be black and white barred. Actually they will be barred, there is no question about that and at that age the barring will be plain to see. Just like the hens, you can have other colors leaking through, but they will be barred.

It’s also possible they can be black sex links and not be black. It’s very possible you could have blue or red chickens that are technically black sex links. The trick to making black sex links is that the hen has to be barred and the rooster cannot be barred and you can see the spot on the head of the male chicks in the down. Hatcheries are going to use black, but if you go back in this thread, some of the later posts talk about some of us using blue chickens to make black sex links.

 

[EmSteele]

Neither are barred. I'm not completely sure they are bsl's yet, either. They both fit different breeds without being exact to any. The hatchery (will never use them again) told me one was a Welsummer, and the black was a BCM. Neither exactly fit. Maybe that will help with description? If anyone has a minute, I have pics on Instagram @moleysteele. I realize not everyone uses that but instagram is my favorite after BYC. Thanks for trying to help!! Don't think I need to mention this is my first chicken experience and I'm a rambler

 

[LoneOak]

Neither are barred. I'm not completely sure they are bsl's yet, either. They both fit different breeds without being exact to any. The hatchery (will never use them again) told me one was a Welsummer, and the black was a BCM. Neither exactly fit. Maybe that will help with description? If anyone has a minute, I have pics on Instagram @moleysteele. I realize not everyone uses that but instagram is my favorite after BYC. Thanks for trying to help!! Don't think I need to mention this is my first chicken experience and I'm a rambler

Whats your problem with the hatchery you used? Why would you never use them again? I would think that they would know the breed of the birds they sold you better than anyone else, after all they hatched them and most hatcheries know which breed their eggs come from. I would trust them before I would trust a buddy who said they might look like sex-links to me!