Sexlinks From Standard Bred Birds?

[Mosey2003]

I don't know why it's been bouncing around my head, but I've always been curious... Does anyone that breeds to the SOP ever do a sexlink cross here or there? I wonder how they would measure up to the hatchery models. Like, I have Barred Rocks. Wondering if, someday down the line, I picked up a nice NH cock I could hatch a few Blacks and see if the males dress out nicer and have nice, big females for the laying flock.

I kinda doubt anyone does, but just thought I'd ask

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I hatched out a chick, that may have been a sex link. I'm not sure. The mother was a BR, and the father was a mixed red breed. He basically has the same coloring as a NHR......anyway, it looks like a sex link, barred, and it was black with a white dot when a chick. Obvious male by 2 weeks.

 

[Mosey2003]

I know how to make a sexlink, just curious if anyone had done it purposely with exhibition quality birds

 

[KikiLeigh02]

There is one breeder close to me who does cross a RIR rooster over Barred Rock hens because she says the pullets sell REALLY well. She sells them as fast as she can hatch them, and it helps cover some of her costs. They don't lay as well as the production versions from hatcheries, BUT they don't have reproductive issues that the hatchery versions have. I assume she either sells the boys for meat or raises them for herself, but I didn't ask so I'm not sure about that. I'm pretty sure she told me she was using some she would have culled to make these, so they probably aren't true exhibition quality birds.

 

[Mosey2003]

The proper cross for the black sexlinks (Black Stars, they're marketed as) is a NH over Barred Rock, and I've heard that RIR just doesn't nick quite as well, for whatever reason. I think I'd just like to see them out of quality stock.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

You'll have to share some pictures if you do! I'm sure they'll be gorgeous, I love the look of BSL hens.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

I cross my NHR hens with my French cuckoo maran roo and end up with excellent quality dual purpose birds and I also do this with my light Brahma hens so far impressed...have another set of 36 in the bator right now

 

[mandelyn]

I have two flocks of cull birds to play with for that. Also for Olive Eggers. I love the versatility of Marans! I would guess the body structure holds true in terms of the differences between efficient hatchery birds and breeder stock.