Sex-links - all of the fun, non-technical stuff

[ChicksterJo]

I got 4 Red Stars this last February and I culled two of them because they were quite mean to the other chickens. Out of the two I have now, one is super friendly and "talkative" and the other is loud, obnoxious, and somewhat stand-offish too, even though she used to be very friendly. I hope these two start laying soon!! I can't wait to see how great they lay.

 

[gootziecat]

I apologize if this has been discussed a zillion times, but it's my understanding breeding (any) sex link to another sex link will not produce sexable colored chicks. In other words, an ISA Brown to an ISA Brown will not produce light roos, red pullet chicks. Is this correct? Thanks.

 

[sdeneen2001]

That is correct. There is a lot of detail in the "technical" sexlink thread. But I think you have to "start fresh"

 

[Johnboy78]

I got my first chicks- all pullets:/ -just under 4 weeks ago, 2 of the 8 were checked off as Brown S/L.
At 4 wks they are the most assertive and the friendliest of the flock. They are the first
to take treats from the hand and they are the ones who fly up to the edge of the box to meet me.
If Geena (RIR) doesn't become top hen one of these certainly will.
Maybelline has the eyeliner and Catwoman has the broader stripe across the eye, like a mask.

 

[gootziecat]

I've found them to be one of the friendliest chicks I have. And mine are not assertive around the other chicks.

 

[NevadaRon]

Fred's Hens :

There is no "breed" of course, as these are all hybrids. Since there are no "breed police" running around giving out fines,

, the hatcheries can call these hybrids anything they want to call them.

LOL!!!

Fred's Hens :

I call the BSLs I've had only good layers, not great. I also found them stand offish, but again, different hatcheries produce different strains. YMMV.
The RSLs on the other hand, have been friendly to a fault. They're at your feet and under your feet. Oh, did I mention they lay like crazy?

That is exactly the results I have had! The RSLs are incredibly productive, and lay huge eggs. Plus they are smaller so by inference I'm assuming they have better feed conversion ratios, though that observation is by no means scientific.​

 

[ChicksterJo]

I built my first nest box today (by myself, I might add

) and it took 3 hours because I was using a handsaw...but I am so happy about it, and now I hope my red sex link will start laying soon! (She's about 18 weeks old.)

 

[sdeneen2001]

do you have pictures of your nest box?

 

[ChicksterJo]

Sorry, I did not take pictures of it. It is a little messily done but it should do the trick. I'll take a picture if I remember.

 

[Johnboy78]

Quote:
Sorry I didn't make it more clear. They are assertive but not aggressive. (yet anyhow)
They are the first to check out a hand in the brooder or to investigate something new in the box.
They are as aggressive as the rest insofar as chest bumping, wing flapping displays, flying into
each other and shoving around the feeder. Pecking as a means of assault has not yet begun.