Star

I wouldn't ever spend good money on these birds again. They're 'friendly' to the point of aggression, even taking chunks out of my legs if I don't keep an eye on them. They lay poorly after their first year, and the eggs they do lay after that point are too large to fit in cartons. They are very prone to reproductive disorders, so they often just drop dead or turn up ill one day. I've euthanized several of mine due to EYP or similar disorders. Don't buy these, get a heritage bird that needs help surviving. Or, if that's not an option, Leghorns are a less-endangered breed that are thrifty on feed and lay for a longer period of time.

Edit: I feel I should correct my original statement. If you happen to be keeping a flock of layers that you eat at a year and a half of age, then by all means, go ahead. That's what they were developed for.

Never broody. Mix with other breeds and sex link traits are passed making sexing easy. 90% hatch rate!

I've had several red stars, and they were sweet, and beautiful birds. They laid 5-6 large brown eggs a week for about 2 years, after that they started laying less, and the eggs had very thin shells.

If you aren't looking for a long term layer, these are great, but if you want a hen that will lay reliably for years they aren't the best

A beautiful bird with a distinguished feather pattern than others of the same breed. Never had any problems with bullying, they get along well with their flock mates.

The first flock I helped raise was comprised of five red star hens and one rooster. The rooster was my sweet boy, and by far the best rooster we have ever, ever had. I miss him constantly. The hens were incredibly personable and sweet (for the most part, Jackie was a feisty girl!) They were all very calm and easy to handle and pick up. In fact they were so relaxed and friendly that trying to move them anywhere without carrying them could be difficult since we would have to just physically push them. Our sweet flock of six got us hooked on chickens with how wonderful they were. Our birds were totally free range and did very well with it, we never once lost one of our stars to a predator. They were always in their coop on time at night, and boy, that rooster was a beast when it came to keeping his girls safe. The downside was their lifespans being shortened by high egg production. We had each hen until her final moments, and they all made it to at least five years old, with two making it to six. The girls slowed down a lot in their age, but none of the other birds we eventually added ever dared question the authority of the stars. Sweet, wonderful birds, I'd recommend them to anyone.

Curiosity killed the cat. It hasn't killed my black stars yet, but I worry that eventually they'll wander somewhere they shouldn't have. Many a day I've found they've made it around 6 ft wood fencing and into the front yard/neighbor's yard/garden. Strong personalities. They try to pick on my Rhode Island Reds, who fortunately have a few years on them. I don't expect them to take kindly to newcomers. Not lap sitters but not entirely opposed to neck scratches. I think they're attractive birds, and they're the only chickens laying through the winter at a pace of 1 egg/day.

We only have two red stars in our flock, they are amazing. One comes up to be petted, the other rides around on my shoulder when I'm outside. These two girls hands down beat our buff orpington ladies in the friendly department. They are sweet and lay without fail, also have not gone broody like our buff orpingtons. Ours even beat out our silkies in the friendly department. They are great foragers when allowed to free range, I nearly always get an egg a day from them. They are also very curious and always want to know what we are up to. They will follow us around the yard like puppies and let our daughter pet them. The only con is if you don't want to give them attention at any time they will demand it. They also very loudly announce to you when they have laid an egg. Every time. Sometimes for 5 minutes. They can be as loud as a rooster crowing in the morning. Our red star girls will run through the back door into the kitchen if they feel we haven't fed them soon enough. Ours have never failed to give us an egg since they started laying this summer. They really have opened our eyes to hybrid breeds. I am glad we have them in our flock. They have laid rain or shine, hot or cold weather, since they began laying this past summer. They also vary enough in looks we can easily tell them apart at a glance, unlike our other hens where we have to look very closely because they are so similar.

We initially were not impressed, as our very young daughter picked them and we had no idea what they were until they feathered out. Now? We love them. Easily the favorite of the chickens in our flock that include Gold Laced Wyandottes, Buff Orpingtons, and one Rhode Island Red. It'll be a hard choice between Red Stars and EEs when we need to add some fresh, young egg laying hens to our flock.

The only bad parts are the demands and the egg alarm. They demand attention. Where our other birds are content to have nothing to do with us as long as they have food, our red stars are in our business 24/7. They just have to know what's going on. They also very loudly announce they have laid an egg. Forever. Lol. It goes on forever, they love to do this even more than our RIR. I used to always run to the backyard thinking something was wrong, now I know it's just the egg alarm so I can empty the nest box.

Both black and red stars are great to have in your flock! They lay about 1 large egg a day. They are packed full of personality! They're full of mischief! Stars are also kind to the other flock members. They are very docile and love attention! Stars are a great breed!

red stars are the best they lay at 22 weeks

Great breed!



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We used to have two Redstars. They were great and one of them got jealous when I picked up the other one! They were excellent layers. But two months before they turned three, one died. Then the next. We think it was a genetic disease.
R.I.P. Jenny And Maria

I love this breed! Have only had two of them and my last one disappeared, and have not found a single trace of it since, but she used to lay big eggs for us and give us one every day. They are very nice breeds to have! They are also hardy they do well in both cold and hot claimants.

We have had both black and red both very sweet girls. If your looking for some nice chickens or are just starting I would reccommend getting some!

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 have a Red Star, a Red Star cross, and Black Star cross and have had Black Star hens in the past. My RSL cross lays medium sized tan eggs, and her mother lays super large eggs that never fit in the carton. Super pretty eggs, and hasn't missed a day since winter.

The rooster has never crowed, and is very friendly. Really large though.

I have 3 red stars with other breeds. They are bullies to the other breeds. I know there is a pecking order, but they take it a bit too far. They band together as one, and peck other hens away from water and food at times. They don't go as far to hurt or injure another bird, but the constant bossiness is annoying-it means I have to provide more roost space than they should normally need and provide additional water and food. The pros are that they are sweet to me, they love treats and are easily trained to come, and they truly do lay a large brown egg every single day, even when it was dark and cold.

I got there of these girls by mistake but I love em. They aren't laying yet but so far they have been awesome birds! They are curious and sit on my lap when I'm out in the coop, easy to catch and hold as they don't figgit in your arms, and in small flocks they are pretty easy to tell apart (but you have to look at the small details) or band them!
The down fall is only they are bullies to younger birds if you bring new chicks into the flock but they easily warm up to them! They can also get bullied mine get picked on by my NHRs but only on occasion. Over all they are great and I am definitely getting more in the future!

I love my Red Star! I have five chickens and four different breeds but my Red Star is definitely the best layer. She is very quiet and is very smart. Since she is small, it is easy to pick her up easily and when I do pick her up, she is very calm and quiet. She lets me look her over without protest.

I have raised day old to 10wks and also recently added two 21 wks old, they are so friendly, easy to pick up, the 21 wks old I bought started laying the following day, I had not expected that as I had read that chickens need time to get adjusted to new homes.
I've read that they don't run away from predators, mine rush back to the coop when they see hawks. Very pleased with them