Star Colorations

[GAchickennewbie]

I've been researching the red star and was wondering if there are any other color variations? If I understood it correctly, they are a hybrid and those usually have many different color possibilities.

 

[nicalandia]

they are a hybrid and those usually have many different color possibilities.

Backyard hybrid do , but not Genetically engineered Hybrids, These birds are all reproduced to yield a consitence product, a High Rate layer, so any varaiation is not only not desired but would yield laying hens with too much variation, so thats why Redstars, Gold commets, Isa Browns look the same, that is a Gold/red Restricted Pullet with dominant white on the Tails, flying feathers and neck hackles

 

[Egghead_Jr]

There is not much of a color variation to all the red sex links out there. Gold/red with white leakage is what they are whether a Comet, Cinnamon Queen, Red Star, etc. Some are different names for same cross and some are different birds used for the cross. If you bred the red sex link then you'd have various colors but they would no longer be red sex links. Hybrid sex links are a one time cross with predictable color and sexed by color when hatched.

There are black sex links too. Other birds used for this hybrid.

 

[GAchickennewbie]

Thank you both very much! Everything I read about them is positive in regards to their temperament and egg production, so it had me curious.

 

[nicalandia]

Thank you both very much! Everything I read about them is positive in regards to their temperament and egg production, so it had me curious.

I would like to add that since Egg Lay Rate is NOT a single gene or even a pair or genes(its a poligenic trait) using these type of egg layer to a EE(Easter egger project) or a production type of project would boost the egg laying abilities of such project

 

[Wmoff1350]

I have 3 red star and 3 black star this is my second batch of both they do lay eggs year around. I live in north Idaho right by canada and with a heat lamp heated water they do great. The only time they dont lay is when they molt which can be 6 weeks. Thankfully they dont molt at the same time. They also lay for most of their life though they do slow down considerably.

 

[Michael OShay]

I've been researching the red star and was wondering if there are any other color variations? If I understood it correctly, they are a hybrid and those usually have many different color possibilities.

Star is a label under which some hatcheries market their sex linked chickens. There are really only two variations of "Stars" bred by hatcheries; Black Stars (Black Sex Links), which are produced by crossing a red gene rooster with a barred gene hen (usually a Barred Rock) and Red Stars (Red Sex Links), which are produced by crossing a red gene rooster with a silver gene hen. Some hatcheries also sell "Gold Stars" but this is just another label for their Red Sex Links just as "Red Star" is. You could produce a Black Sex link variation by crossing other roosters such as Buff Orpingtons with barred gene hens, but no hatchery that I'm aware of has used anything but red gene hens. I've had both "Star" varieties and they are egg laying machines. I actually prefer the Black Stars to the Red (Gold) Stars as my Blacks Stars have been friendlier than my Red Stars, and have been slightly better layers in really cold winter weather, but you can't go wrong with either sex linked variety.