Sex- linked Information

[cmom]

Quote: Yes I have had ISA Browns too, I posted the wrong photos. I did breed a SC RIR male to some SC RIW females and got some RSL. I kept 2 males to breed with the females. The rest of the males I either took to an auction or sold. Many people don't care about the breed, they just want females for eggs and a pretty male to hear him crow.

The ISA Brown chicken is a hybrid being a cross between Rhode Island Whites and Rhode Island Reds. The ISA Brown is actually of French origin with 'ISA' standing for 'Institut de Selection Animale'. This breed has gained popularity as a friendly backyard chicken which will most likely lay close to 300 eggs in its first year. It has an excellent temperament and will quickly become accepting of children picking it up for a cuddle. It has a single comb.

Because of the hybrid vigour of these birds, they are generally hardy and do not normally go broody. They continue to lay through most of the year and are quite economical to keep. An average-sized family probably needs only 3 to 5 chickens to supply its household eggs.

A grow out pen. I do have several breeds in the grow out coop and pen. When they get a little older they are separated into other coops and pens.

Some males

A young male and female

Some of the females. These are older pictures. These were my first generation hatched from my RIR/RIW.

 

[cmom]

What color egg does an RSL lay? I am trying to figure out which of my pullets just started laying. I'm pretty sure its the RSL but not certain. The egg is what I would call a medium brown and has a bit of lavender look in it. All my other girls lay very light flesh colored eggs so this one looks very nice with them. I have only gotten one of them yesterday. Today she sat in the nest for about an hour and no egg. Is that normal for a new layer?
Thnx

I have some RSL's that lay quite dark eggs almost as dark as Maran eggs. I made this box to ship some eggs and I put some in to check the fit. The darker egg is a RSL. They are in a coop and pen with my White Leghorns so I know it has to be an RSL egg. It isn't uncommon for new layers to sit in a nest box for quite a long time and not lay an egg. Their bodies are adjusting so they may not lay every day at first.

 

[vpatt]

I have some RSL's that lay quite dark eggs almost as dark as Maran eggs. I made this box to ship some eggs and I put some in to check the fit. The darker egg is a RSL. They are in a coop and pen with my White Leghorns so I know it has to be an RSL egg. It isn't uncommon for new layers to sit in a nest box for quite a long time and not lay an egg. Their bodies are adjusting so they may not lay every day at first.

Thnx....I am sure it must be the little red hen, then. I do have a Cuckoo Marans that should lay soon.....but her comb is barely pink and I have never seen her in the nest. I am wondering why I didn't get a couple more of the RSL pullets....she has a good personality. That is a really dark egg...very pretty! Mine was not that dark but quite a difference from my other eggs.

 

[dheltzel]

If you wanted so good hens to brood eggs/chicks, and use a sex-linked cross to get rid of the males, what would you use? Bantam or LF, this is mostly a "thought experiment" at the moment, but I really like broody hens . . .
I was thinking black silkie or cochin over cuckoo maran, or Buff Orp over a silver hen of some kind. Any other ideas ?

 

[ronott1]

I have some RSL's that lay quite dark eggs almost as dark as Maran eggs. I made this box to ship some eggs and I put some in to check the fit. The darker egg is a RSL. They are in a coop and pen with my White Leghorns so I know it has to be an RSL egg. It isn't uncommon for new layers to sit in a nest box for quite a long time and not lay an egg. Their bodies are adjusting so they may not lay every day at first.

I like the foam shippers but they do have problems with side impact--double boxing with foam nugget spacers helps a bunch.

 

[vpatt]

Sassy laid her second egg this morning and it is bigger than any of the others! On average how many eggs per week does an RSL lay. I am just curious as ive only had my chickens since September and I'm still learning a lot.

 

[mymilliefleur]

Sassy laid her second egg this morning and it is bigger than any of the others! On average how many eggs per week does an RSL lay. I am just curious as ive only had my chickens since September and I'm still learning a lot.

Mine lay on average 5-6 eggs a day, some lay even more in the spring.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I get an average of 5 or 6 eggs a week for each bird. They usually lay at least one egg a day and take at least one day off each week.

 

[vpatt]

Thanks you two.....its nice to have a few that lay most days. My olive egger was like that...until she went broody. The chicks are three weeks old now....I'm hoping she will start laying again by March at least. What do you think?

 

[mymilliefleur]

Thanks you two.....its nice to have a few that lay most days. My olive egger was like that...until she went broody. The chicks are three weeks old now....I'm hoping she will start laying again by March at least. What do you think?

Yes, she will probably be laying by then. Maybe as soon as February, depending on how long she decides to keep her chicks.