The gene-spliced breeds are not good backyard chickens

[Becky Shumwy]

In 2022, I purchased 4 Black Star hens. In 2024, I purchased 4 Red Star hens for a total of 8 hens. With the exception of 1 Black Star and 1 Red Star, I have had nothing but trouble (physical and behavioral) with the others. I found out that these Black and Red Star chickens are gene-spliced for excessive egg production and were created for the large egg producers because these companies only keep their hens for 1 year or 1 1/2 years before shipping them off to "Colonel Sanders".
After my hens turned 1 or 1 1/2 years old, they all exhibited the following traits: multiple moultings during the year that affects egg production and often made them more aggressive; bladder prolapse due to the excessive egg laying; bone fractures due to continuous egg production that drains calcium from their bodies; more egg binding than usual; and increased feather-pecking and vent pecking immediately post-lay.

I have one Black Star that just now turned 3 years and she has quit laying completely. I have learned that most of these Black & Red Stars or Rocks do not live a normal chicken lifespan. 3 years is about the maximum lifespan due to the intense egg production.

Due to the tantalizing advertisements for egg production numbers of these Transgenic hens, I will stay away from them and only chose to purchase normal breeds like Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, Leghorns, or almost any other regular chicken breed with normal genetics. They live longer and in the end, produce more eggs over time with fewer health problems.

Most of this information I obtained from nationalacademies.org, FarmForward.org, and IntechOpen Publishers.

 

[SnackMeat]

Just a heads up before you get any rhode island reds-- I have read they do best in a single breed flock because they can be aggressive bullies to non RIR. I like different breeds in a flock (and honestly would love to have a Buckeye if I was gunning for a red chicken, over a RIR) so that always stuck out to me.


Anyway, sounds heartbreaking at least with getting one of the battery birds for $1.50 that I've seen Craigslist ads for, you can at least feel like you're giving them a nice life after what they experienced, versus supporting a bad breed being produced.

 

[SourRoses]

It is false to call them gene-spliced or transgenic.
They are simple hybrids, crossing two breeds in physical mating conditions.

It is widely known the layer hybrids are prone to health problems. The production of eggs without ceasing is hard on the body the same way a mammal constantly pregnant would suffer. Her resources are being depleted just the same, and there's little time for natural healing so the delivery damages accumulate.

You are right in that, for a high production layer, Leghorns are the best bet for birds that stay healthy. They are an established breed that has stabilized all of the traits which allow for efficient production.
Still, any breed can have individuals that suffer egg issues and other health problems.

Diet plays an important role, especially when it comes to fat, protein, and calcium. Sometimes people can get more set on what they think should work rather than what's been proven to work. They close their minds and then wonder why they're having problems.

 

[McChooky]

As a rule the standard breeds live longer than other chickens but bantams live the longest of them all.Most hatchery chicks don't live long anymore.They're the worst thing that ever happened to chickens

 

[nuthatched]

They're simply crossbreed, the quality depends on the quality of the breeding stock. But no, production breeds don't live long and need extra care to support them, it unfortunate but even 'heritage' breeds will suffer from the same issue if the stock is poor, compounded by care.

 

[McChooky]

Gene splicing does occur.An example is the featherless meat bird but nobody raises them for eggs only food(they do it in egg layers too)

 

[McChooky]

Interesting read:
https://www.farmforward.com/issues/genetic-modification/gmo-chicken/