Sex link (Red Star, Black Star, ISA Brown)

Poultry · Chicken · 0 live listings

Sex-links are hybrid hens, like Red Stars and Black Stars, bred so chicks can be sexed by color at hatch. They are among the best brown-egg layers and are calm, which makes them a common choice for new keepers.

At a glance

Purpose
Eggs
Origin
Hybrid, US
Adult weight
Hens 5–6 lb
Lifespan
4–6 years
Eggs
About 280–300 brown eggs a year
Best fit
Backyard egg flocks
Species
Poultry
Category
Birds
Group
Chicken
Also known as
Red Star, Black Star
Papers
5 categories
NoiseModerate chatter
HardinessHardy
Egg outputTop brown-egg layer
Beginner fitGreat starter hen

Scales follow breed-club and veterinary consensus; individual animals vary. Listings show what each seller has on file.

The tradeoffs, honestly

Sex-links lay heavily for two to three years and then slow down. Heavy layers are prone to reproductive problems later in life.

Common questions

Can I breed Sex-links?

Not true to type. They are crosses, so offspring will not look or lay like the parents.

What health checks should chicks or pullets have?

Ask whether chicks were vaccinated for Marek's disease at hatch and whether the flock is NPIP-certified, which covers pullorum-typhoid and usually avian influenza. Look for clear eyes, clean vents and quiet breathing, and quarantine new birds for 30 days.

How long do Sex-links lay well?

Two to three years, then production drops.

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Typical rangeNot enough sales yet for a rangeLive listings0
Health tests to ask for
NPIP flock certificationMarek's vaccinationHatch record on fileAvian influenza surveillance resultVeterinary exam on file

Ask the seller for these. Documents on Everybarn are on file for your own checks; we don't check them with the issuer.

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Sex link (Red Star, Black Star, ISA Brown) · Everybarn