what is a sex-linked chicken?

[RAREROO]

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Like Tala said, Barred Rocks and Pro Reds are breeds them selves, not sexlinked hybrids so you barred rock hens can produce Black Sexlinks with the right rooster, the Pro Red hens will not produce sexlinks becuase they are not Silver gened or Barred.

As for the male chicks, they could have possibly be sold in large cheap assortments for people who want them for meat birds, but if their are a lot of excess roos, they may be killed and/or go to places like zoos or rehabilitation centers for things like that to be used as feed for some of the animals or may be ground up into feed. So yeah, sometimes it sucks to be born a roo.

 

[AHappychick]

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So let me see if I am getting this right... If I used a black broiler (that is if I could keep one alive long enough to breed) over barred rock hens the resulting chicks would be sex linked with the barring happening to the boys only correct? of the sex link crosses which would be the best for dual purpose? I have never had a leghorn but they look skinny to me, my brahmas and barred rocks were a good size and lay well. I would like the biggest sex link possible as many people I know free range and prefer the larger pullets that are less easy to be taken down by the cooper hawks around us. the boys would be food for the family and then I could stop buying freedom rangers for that purpose. I would research this more but I have been in a wirl wind of one crisis after another and jut dont have the time. Thanks

 

[Gypsi]

Quote:
Like Tala said, Barred Rocks and Pro Reds are breeds them selves, not sexlinked hybrids so you barred rock hens can produce Black Sexlinks with the right rooster, the Pro Red hens will not produce sexlinks becuase they are not Silver gened or Barred.

As for the male chicks, they could have possibly be sold in large cheap assortments for people who want them for meat birds, but if their are a lot of excess roos, they may be killed and/or go to places like zoos or rehabilitation centers for things like that to be used as feed for some of the animals or may be ground up into feed. So yeah, sometimes it sucks to be born a roo.

2 more questions:

1. how could the feed store guarantee 95% hens if they weren't sex linked? (i know that is a first class stupid question, but the mystery of chickens is just a mystery)

2. If I borrowed an Americauna roo, could my barred rocks produce sexlinked chicks?

 

[RAREROO]

AHappychick Yes to your question, a black broiler roo on barred rock hens will give black sexlinks. Im not sure about what would be the best cross but any large breed roos should work nicely, Leghorns are probably too skinny to use for meat crosses and White Leghorns wont work for the sexlink cross because they are dom white and will make the chicks mostly white with black dots.

Gypsi 1) Is not a stupid question, the hatcheries that the feedstores get their chicks from have trained professionals that can vent or wing sex the chicks but its not always 100% accurate so thats why they say 95%.

2) Yes An Ameraucana roo on Barred Rock hens will give you black sexlinked easter eggers.

 

[Gypsi]

Thank you Clint. I'm thinking my hens are still a bit too young for the roo, but I know someone with 2 or 3 americauna roos, bet she'd loan me the one that always tries to peck her on her ring finger, trying to get that ring.

 

[Mtn Cur]

I just breezed through the replies so if i'm repeating someone else, don't pay any attention to me. But they are also called "stars" which is what they are listed under in the breed index. I love my sex links (stars)- I own both and probably prefer the reds.

 

[RAREROO]

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Yep is has been discussed somewhere either in this thread or the actual Sexlink thread in the Breeds Genetics section, the "Star" strains are just a name brand.