A Black Star hen is a hybrid layer cross between a Rhode Island Red rooster and a Dominique hen. This genetic cross results in vigorous offspring that are healthier and lay more eggs using less feed than their purebred counterparts. Because they are sex-linked, females and males can be differentiated at hatch allowing the grower to cull the males and focus only on future layers.
Sex-links are very productive layers during their first year with a significant drop-off their second year and a dramatic drop-off in subsequent years. Although sex-links are perfectly capable of laying fertile eggs and producing vigorous chicks, they do not breed true... you cannot differentiate between their male and
female chicks. Hatchlings Since 2014: 4,747 |