Speckled Sussex gene color??!?

[FarmerJohn3285]

Is the SS gene considered to be red? I'm thinking of using my SS too to make black sexlinks with a BR.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Tadkerson's first post has great information on how to make sex links.

Tadkerson’s Sex Link Thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=261208

When you mention red, you are probably thinking about making red sex links, which requires the rooster to have the gold gene. But with a barred rock, you would be making a black sex link, which is different. The requirements to make a black sex link is that the hen has the barred gene, which the BR does, and the rooster does not have the barred gene, which the SS does not. Also, the chick has to be a color that you can see the light patch on its head if it is there. A light patch on the head means the chick is a barred male. A chick without that patch is a non-barred female.

A SS rooster over a BR hen will give you a black sex link. I have not done it but I think that patch would be easy to see.

Editted to add: The SS does have the gold gene. You can use him with a hen with the Silver gene to make red sex links.

 

[FarmerJohn3285]

Thanks for your help.

I was thinking this was the case, I just wanted another opinion in case I was wrong.