Sex- linked Information

[SunnySideUpGUAM]

What rooster will you be using? Are you going for black sex links or red sex links? The Delaware has both silver and barring so both options are open to you. The pullets from that cross (Delaware rooster over a red sex link) will have both of those sex linked genes.

One requirement for sex linked chicks is that you have to be able to see the difference in the red/yellow down for red sex links or the spot for black sex links. Since the hen will be a mix you could possibly get different down patterns on the chicks when you try to make the sex links so there could be some challenges, but either could easily work.

I was going to breed my Delaware rooster to a couple RIR hens and I was thinking I'll add in a few more red sex linked hens to produce silver parent stock, mainly pullets to breed with my RIR rooster and produce red sex links for laying. It seems like a lot of breeding I know but in my situation I normally use what I have and make the best of it. Do you think the Delaware grand babies will be sexable? Or may their downs be too difficult to tell?

 

[junebuggena]

I was going to breed my Delaware rooster to a couple RIR hens and I was thinking I'll add in a few more red sex linked hens to produce silver parent stock, mainly pullets to breed with my RIR rooster and produce red sex links for laying. It seems like a lot of breeding I know but in my situation I normally use what I have and make the best of it. Do you think the Delaware grand babies will be sexable? Or may their downs be too difficult to tell?

The thing is, red sexlink hens don't have silver. They do often have dominant white, though. And that could be a major problem when trying to figure out if a chick is silver or white, since they can look pretty much the same. Stick with the Delaware/RIR crosses.

 

[Ridgerunner]

June, I’m trying to figure out your comment on Dominant White. Doesn’t Dominant White only work on black feathers? How likely are you to have a black-based red sex link hen? Black pattern feathers yes, but base color like Extended Black or even Birchen? I know you are better at this than I am but I just can’t grasp that. Crossing a Delaware rooster to a red sex link hen will give pullets that have silver. The RSL hen had the genetics that allowed the red and yellow down to show. Cross that pullet with a RIR should give you males with yellow down and females with reddish down. I don’t see that you are introducing anything with either the Delaware or RIR roosters that would mask that due to dominant white. Can you help me out?

SunnySideUpGuam, red six links are hybrids so you are not sure what combinations of genes are there except that they have gold by definition. It is possible that some of those genes could mask the effect so you have real trouble seeing the difference when crossed with those roosters though I’m not sure what. I agree you are taking a small chance with the red sex link grandmothers, but it would be fun to try to see what would happen.

 

[junebuggena]

Most of the time, red sexlink hens have the same coloring as New Hampshires, but instead of having the black markings, they have white instead. That indicates that those red sexlinks with the red/white coloring have a dominant white gene. When those hens are crossed with the Delaware, may produce some chicks that have the dominant white gene, masking any black patterning and resulting in a bird that looks solid white. Yes, they will be silver, but they may also have that dominant white. And it might make seeing the difference in down color a bit trickier, due to the crossbred hens. To keep it simple and consistent, best to use just two 'pure' breeds for the 'silver' hen foundation stock. Then cross the silver pullets with the RIR rooster for the sexlinks. That way, you can be sure that the stock is free of dominant white and you can play around with the barring gene a bit if desired.
And Extended Black and Birchen aren't base colors. They are 'pattern' genes. Those birds still have a gold or silver base color, you just can't readily see it. The pattern is just 'hiding' that base color.

 

[SunnySideUpGUAM]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it as I I'm just a newbie at it. I'll stick with using purebred birds to make silver moms.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MOMMAS ON BYC! And mother hens too!

 

[SunnySideUpGUAM]

hey BYC,
anyone know anything about Carolina Blue sex lined EE's? just seen them on the breed section. got me interested in how to breed for a blue sex link

 

[junebuggena]

That's pretty simple. You just need a Splash rooster, any breed will do, and barred hens, again any breed you like. All chicks will be Blue, but only the cocktails will have the head spots.

 

[SunnySideUpGUAM]

That's pretty simple. You just need a Splash rooster, any breed will do, and barred hens, again any breed you like. All chicks will be Blue, but only the cocktails will have the head spots.

awesome thanks so splash rooster x EE or ameraucana or araucana will give me blue sex linked colored egg layers? and you prob meant cockerels rite not cocktails?

 

[junebuggena]

awesome thanks so splash rooster x EE or ameraucana or araucana will give me blue sex linked colored egg layers? and you prob meant cockerels rite not cocktails?

Darn autocorrect. I think you missed the part about needing the hens to be barred. That's the important part for the sexlinking.

 

[SunnySideUpGUAM]

oh your right i missed that so i need a splash ee, ameraucana, or araucana roo to a barred hen