Star

I love my Gold Star! She is so nice and she lays an egg every single day for me. The only complaint I have is that her egg shell color changes. It will go from a medium brown to almost white. Her egg size is always the same- BIG!

I love these birds. They are the heartiest and friendliest birds I have had. Free range, but always lay in their coop.

Very hardy, great egg layer and friendly

I absolutely ADORE my Star. She is my favorite chicken ( if I HAD to pick favorites) and head honcho of my three younger ones. I hand raised her from a tiny chicken, and she is extremely affectionate. She's figured out that she can climb up my leg vertically while flapping her wings really hard to perch on my shoulder. I call it a 'bird party' because she'll initiate a shoulder perch, and the others will follow suit. She LOVES to nuzzle my hand so that I pet her neck. I would recommend this breed to beginners and anyone for that matter.

I have a flock of 25 sex-link hens, both black (from Townline Hatchery) and red (from Meyer Hatchery). I prefer the black variety to the red. The BSL are larger and calmer with a light brown colored egg. The RSL are a slightly better layer with a smaller body size and a darker egg shell. The blacks can get large enough to butcher. These birds are easy to keep and lay exceptionally well. I pasture mine with a trailer coop and an electric net fence. They are cold hardy and they do just fine in my unheated/uninsulated coop (I live in MI). I also had a BSL go broody and raise 6 CornishX chicks. They make very good mothers. I will never have a flock without these birds, they are wonderful.

6/6/12 Update: My Order of ISA Brown and BSL pullet chicks came in yesterday from Townline Hatchery. There are 52 ISA Brown and 45 BSL for now. Some of them are replacing my flock and my mothers flock, others are going to be sold in a couple months.

Just wanted to say I did not get these chickens for ages because I thought they would be ugly, like the pic in the catalog was so boring looking or something. Well I got some 12 wks ago from mcmurray and they are not at all ugly, they are cute, red with pretty white tail feathers.

When I went to the feed store I was set on Buff Opringtons. They had sold out and I was very disappointed. I was outside in the parking lot and heard chickens peeping. I went to the back where they keep two big walk-in coops. One of the employee told me that none of the white Leghorns where for sale just the black Sex-Links. I sat there watching the Black's being ruff up by the Leghorns. I told them I would take two and pointed out which two. I got them home; they was scared, not use to being handle, and didn't trust me (lol) I didn't blame them. It's Sunday and I've been keeping them on the back-porch. I had a coop just build but I have been sitting with them changing their litter paper, keeping the food bowl full, and holding them. Bertha and Peaches now have happy peeps. I have learned when they are calling for me,and they will sit on my arm for a while. Bertha not pecking my finger when I reach for her anymore. I will still get some Buff Opringtons but my girls the Black Star's are my heart. Peaches(first picture) have more gold hackles real sweetheart. Bertha (second picture) got more bravo and the first to walk out to make sure the coast clear before giving Peaches the come out peep.

Can't say enough good things about this breed. They aren't susceptible to frostbite (toes or comb). A bit bossy if allowed to become head of the flock, but always friendly and very good guards of the flock. Their laying habits and eggs are even better than Leghorns'. If let out early enough, they will forage most of their food, coming back in the evening with a full crop. They are very smart, not flighty, and one of the best all-around chickens there are.

great layers and great personalites

Love her. She is sweet, loving, and loves to be held.

the gold stars i have are a wonderful layer of big brown eggs, almost every day. they are very easy to tame and great pets. the rich reddish brown infused with white is very pretty. They are very inquisitive. One of mine is named Nosy-always where she shouldn't be! In the kitty litter, the rabbit pens, ect. They seem to get along well especially with my Australorps. overall VERY happy with these birds.

even the best brown egg layers out there can not keep up with these girls.
i have incubated the eggs for 3 generations without losing egg production or sex link.

My red stars are some of my favorite chickens, I currently have 4 and they are by far my most friendly. Almost to friendly, they not only want some attention, they DEMAND it. Any outstretched arm or lap must be immediately occupied. Very reliable layers, always get 3-4 eggs from my 4 hens daily, rain or shine. They are the top of the pecking order and the undeniable queens of the coop, I was having some trouble with them getting a little over aggressive with my very docile brahmas but after the first year everyone knows there place and get along great. Definitely a chicken to have if you want tame hens.

My Gold Comet from chickensforbackyards.com is my favorite of the mixed flock. She is the friendliest and has learned to come when she's called. She was the first to lay, at just under 19 weeks. She's got a funny little personality and is so bold! She'll invite herself to outdoor dinners whether you like it or not. She hasn't taken a day off since she started laying. I love the heritage breeds and the fancy eggs they lay, but highly suggest getting one of these to crank eggs out while the fickle and finnicky fancy fowl are taking their sweet time to mature. Sadly, I'm told that all those eggs take their toll and they are not long-lived chickens.

I got these birds with the Brown Egg Layers special from Murray McMurray and they are wonderful. When I first got my birds I didn't get to spend that quality time with them to insure that they become friendly pet birds so I wasn't expecting what I got. PETS! They are wonderful pets, super friendly and lay plentiful eggs. Some eggs are even really dark brown. They started laying between 20-24 weeks. I love these birds. They are a must to add to your flock!

I have two Black Stars, one Red Star and a laced winged Wyandotte. The Stars are all great people hens; they follow me around and love to be held. They're not quite as cuddly as my sweet little Wyandotte. These hens have loads of personality, but I find that the Red Star is the really comedian of the group as is always the instigator of all chicken mayhem at my house. They are also very talkative to each other and to me.

They have been very consistent egg producers for the year I've had them. It is rare for any of the Stars to miss a day of egg laying. The eggs are L - XL. The albumen of the Red Star is much more dense than that of the Black Stars.

Because they are intelligent, you need to make sure they have lots of activities available. Mine free range, so I'm not sure how they would do in close quarters. They also tend to overwhelm the meek little Wyandotte, though they don't peck or otherwise mistreat her.

I think this is a perfect breed for the first time chicken owner, and would highly recommend you include at least one Red Star.

GREAT!!

First generation cross makes gender known at hatch. GREAT layers for any operation of large/XL brown eggs. They will slow down after 2 years, not for those who wish to keep the flock laying for many years since they are strongly bred for early production.

Calm birds, some flying ability. Good foragers. Not likely to go broody but can happen. The color sexing is only good on the first cross, so you must buy more or produce the cross yourself.

Great pets for backyards, great layers when you need dependable eggs, at least for the first 1 1/2 years. They seem to handle confinement well with their calm natures. Good size birds, easy to put weight on them after they're done laying.

My Star lays almost 2 to 3 eggs a day and she has hatched out over 20 chicks in one clutch. These birds are great all around hens.