red sex linked birds

Back to the top

Commercial Crosses
The commercial layers are often a cross, or multiple crosses, between a Rhode Island Red rooster and a Delaware hen. They get the fantastic laying ability from the Delaware , and the brown eggs and nicer temperament from the Rhode Island Red. The commercial hatcheries have spent years improving the blood-lines by careful selection. They are bred to start laying at 18 weeks old (an old breed will probably not lay till 6 months old). Once they start laying, they lay all through their first winter (when the old breeds stop laying because of the cold and dark), and don't stop until the following winter. They lay almost one egg a day right through. By the second winter they are burnt out, and the commercial egg producers get rid of them and start again with a fresh batch. They actually don't necessarily die. they molt and then lay again for another season but may not be so productive after the first year.. at first this marked slow down bothered me then I thought why worry I may not last over a year anyway!