Sex links as a whole

[the simple life]

My black sex links are mean and bossy and I have heard of others reporting the same thing.
I raised mine from chicks, along with some other breeds in the same brooder.
They were handled alot and treated well.
The others in the group turned out to be friendly and nice, these are just bullies to all the other chickens.

 

[cherrychicken]

both my sex links are very docile, calm and curious. I think they are a very cool breed of chicken!

 

[ella]

My red sex links were always the sweetest, friendliest and had the most amazing personalities!

I've lost 4 out of 5 to laying related problems within 4 years, that's my only complaint. It was so heartbreaking to lose those girls.

They are very high production which puts a lot of stress on their bodies, much more than other breeds. Make sure they have high quality layer feed and plenty of space. Too many treats and too confined an area can aggravate them.

 

[silkiechicken]

I have sexlinks, both of the red, black and golden variety, and have found that they can be anywhere on the pecking order. However, it can depend on strain and individual flock dynamics. There are lots of "middle" birds in a flock of 20-30 birds.

 

[ZooMummzy]

I have two black sex links, 3 RIRs, 3 Buff O's and 2 EEs. From day one, the BSL's have not been very friendly birds. They are not mean per say, they just don't like to be interacted with. They get picked on by the other hens, so they are definitely at the bottom of the pecking order. They were like this as chicks too so I don't know. I gave them just as much attention as the others. One RIR and one Buff are the mean ones in my group. If I don't bring treats, they bite me, one on each ankle!

They are both laying though, really well and early too. I have to say I like the whole presexed thing though. I get really stressed having to find roosters new homes so if I buy more chicks, I will probably go with a sex link.

 

[ben&momschicks]

I just thought I would comment on the red sex link chicks that I mistakingly bought in the spring. Five roosters. Yeah, I didn't know they could be sexed by color. They were like a wild gang of hoodlum teenagers; running, pecking (people & other chickens) and causing general mayhem. We have one now and as a single rooster with a gaggle of hens to keep him straight, he is tolerable.

 

[mtnhomechick]

I have 14 Red Stars and I wouldn't trade them for any other. They are my favorites.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I have bunches of both red and black. I have a pen of just red and black sexlinks just because of what you discribed. I had to get rid of the 2 bossiest. However they are fun birds, I just love them. My red stars are amazing producers lay early, lay regular, and lay huge eggs. So I put them in a production coop to keep them away from picking the other girls bald. It's been almost a year, and the girls are just now getting their feathers back. I'll always have red sexlinks, but never again in my Eye Candy Coop

 

[hatchaholic]

I have 18 black sexlinks, and they are all very calm, friendly birds. I've not seen any unusual aggression in any of them. I guess it all depends on the dynamics of a particular flock??

 

[mtnhomechick]

Well, after we moved here and retired.....I thought....Hmmmm .......maybe I'll get a few chicken so we have fresh eggs. We went to the farm store and picked out an assortment of 6. Got a FEVER............big time. I called cackle and ordered 15 RIR's. In the interim I found 15 red sex links at the farm store. At the same time I bought 9 white leghorns off a farmer at the store who only wanted brown egg layers. Big Mistake is that almost a month ago DH says after he took our dog to the farm store.........oh, btw.........Orscheln's has baby chicks again. OK.......get the picture? Now I have 6 B Australorps and two BR in a brooder.

I DO love the Red Stars tho. I am thinking they are great because they are my middle kids!!!