What is a "Red Star" Breed???

[iwiw60]

My friend says she's getting Red Stars....never heard of them before...anyone have a picture??

 

[foreverlearning]

They are red sex links. They have many different breeds going into their line (depending on what hatchery she gets them from) so when they hatch they can tell by the color if they are male or female. They are a common production breed and if forced to lay threw break times (giving extra protein in molting, added light threw winter) they can stop laying at 2 years old. If you do not force them to lay during regular break times then some people have reported still getting at least a few eggs a week at 5 years.

 

[Fred's Hens]

They are not a breed at all.

They are just one name for a common RedxWhite cross/mix that produces great egg layers that can be sexed, on sight, at hatch. This makes them ideal for the commercial brown egg laying industry and also a favorite of backyard folks who want to be sure of getting pullets.

 

[iwiw60]

Many thanks to you both! I have another question, please:

Me personally...I'm getting Black Astralorp chicks at our local feed store. Is there any way to 'sex' them so I don't end up with all roosters?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Hopefully, they were vent sexed at the hatchery. All you can do is ask whether they were sexed. If they were not, your odds may not even be 50-50, to be honest. What is called "straight runs" or straight from the hatcher to the shipping crate, somehow gets more males than females in far too many cases. One can only suspect that "straight run" means a few pullets are put into the mostly cockerel box, just to keep things interesting. I jest, but only a little.





.

 

[iwiw60]

Hopefully, they were vent sexed at the hatchery. All you can do is ask whether they were sexed. If they were not, your odds may not even be 50-50, to be honest. What is called "straight runs" or straight from the hatcher to the shipping crate, somehow gets more males than females in far too many cases. One can only suspect that "straight run" means a few pullets are put into the mostly cockerel box, just to keep things interesting. I jest, but only a little.





.

Oh dear! Thanks so much for that info! I'm printing it off so I'll remember what to ask the guys at the feed store when I go to get my little darlings...thanks again...LUV this forum board!