What breed should I get to make sex-links??

[JLS]

I want to get a cockerel this spring in the hopes of producing my own sex-links when he matures. These are the breeds I currently have for hens:

Buff Orpington
RIR/Buff Orp cross
Silverlaced Wyandotte
Easter Egger
Faverolle
Blue Silkie

What breed of cockerel should I get? Some requirments: must be winter hardy (the smaller the comb the better) and can toterate being contained if nessesary

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
Of the breeds you listed, the Silver Laced Wyandottes are the only ones that can be used to make sexlinks. There are lots of rooster breeds you could use, you just need one that is pure gold gened.
So you could use a Buff Orp, RIR, New Hamp. Buff, GL, or BLR Wyandotte, or any of these types of breeds that are pure gold gened.

This is a sexlink pullet from a Buff Orp roo on SLW hens.

 

[JLS]

so I could get a golden laced or blue laced red wyandotte? This would still make a sex-link?

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Yes you could use a Golden Laced or Blue Laced Red Wyandotte and you can also use a Partridge Wyandotte. (if you want to stay with the Wyandotte breed)

Chris

 

[Cowgirl71]

Here's a few more cold-hardy breeds that can make Sexlinks with your SLWs!

Buff Brahma
Red Chantecler
Buff Chantecler
Partridge Chantecler

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
Yep, and also Buckeyes could go into that pea combed catagory.

And yes, if you wanted to stay with the Wyandotte breed like Chris said, the GL, BLR, and Partridge males would work.

 

[catwalk]

You could also use a barred cock, as long as he's homozygous for barring. His pullet offspring should have the headspot indicating barring, and his boy children should not.

 

[phasianidae]

That would not work, a barred hen with a solid colored roo will make black Sexlinks, but a barred roo with a non barred hen would be all barred chicks.

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
No That does not make Sexlinks. A homozygous barred roo makes ALL barred offspring. A heterozygous barred roo produces 50% Barred offspring with a non barred hen and 75% barred offspring with a barred hen.

 

[catwalk]

You're right; I was thinking recessive. I have sexlink chocolate on the brain.