10 week red star hens???

[lizziebeth66]

These are supposed to be red star hens. They are 10 weeks old. Are they red stars and are they all hens?

 

[and-roo]

They are all Production Red pullets. Except maybe the one in the 3rd/4th pictures... and maybe the one in the second to last, but that's just judging by the tail and stance. None of them have very red combs, so you might have all girls.

 

[Michael OShay]

Red Star is one of a number of labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links. RSL pullets typically have white underfluff and white feathers in the tail. Your birds lack these white feathers and are Production Red pullets rather than Red Star (Red Sex Link) pullets.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Red Star is one of a number of labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links. RSL pullets typically have white underfluff and white feathers in the tail. Your birds lack these white feathers and are Production Red pullets rather than Red Star (Red Sex Link) pullets.

I agree. You have Production Reds rather than Red Sex Links.

No matter...they all look like girls at 10 weeks...boys would have massive red combs...and your girls will be laying machines.

The only essential difference for the RSL's vs. PR's is you can tell female from male in RSL as baby chicks since they are genetically color coded...the female chicks at hatch are reddish yellow down color, the males are pale yellow/white down color...it makes it very easy to sex at the hatchery and almost 100% guarantees you of getting females when you want hens.

PR's are not color coded by sex...all chicks come out reddish yellow down, often with pale chipmunk stripe. You have to rely on vent sexing at the hatchery which is about 90% accurate...and if you have bad luck...just as you toss the coin, you could get a string of tails...you could get a string of roosters...but it averages out in the long run. Straight run means you get about 50/50, if you have good luck.

So if you want RSL's to ensure you get hens, you will have to insist on that from the feed store or hatchery.

Be aware many feed stores (dare I say most) are generally confused about the breeds they have in stock...I had one feed store owner look me in the face and completely deny sex links were color coded as to sex. So, you get a lot of misinformation and wrong chicks from feed stores unless you know what you are looking for.

Anytime I want a new breed I'm not familiar with, I educate myself from the hatchery photos and from Feathersite.com.

LofMc

 

[BantamLover21]

I agree. You have Production Reds rather than Red Sex Links.

No matter...they all look like girls at 10 weeks...boys would have massive red combs...and your girls will be laying machines.

The only essential difference for the RSL's vs. PR's is you can tell female from male in RSL as baby chicks since they are genetically color coded...the female chicks at hatch are reddish yellow down color, the males are pale yellow/white down color...it makes it very easy to sex at the hatchery and almost 100% guarantees you of getting females when you want hens.

PR's are not color coded by sex...all chicks come out reddish yellow down, often with pale chipmunk stripe. You have to rely on vent sexing at the hatchery which is about 90% accurate...and if you have bad luck...just as you toss the coin, you could get a string of tails...you could get a string of roosters...but it averages out in the long run. Straight run means you get about 50/50, if you have good luck.

So if you want RSL's to ensure you get hens, you will have to insist on that from the feed store or hatchery.

Be aware many feed stores (dare I say most) are generally confused about the breeds they have in stock...I had one feed store owner look me in the face and completely deny sex links were color coded as to sex. So, you get a lot of misinformation and wrong chicks from feed stores unless you know what you are looking for.

Anytime I want a new breed I'm not familiar with, I educate myself from the hatchery photos and from Feathersite.com.

LofMc

x2

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

Red Star is one of a number of labels under which some hatcheries market their Red Sex Links. RSL pullets typically have white underfluff and white feathers in the tail. Your birds lack these white feathers and are Production Red pullets rather than Red Star (Red Sex Link) pullets.

I agree