Black Sex Link
Egg layerUnited StatesBeginner friendly
A Black Sex Link is a purpose-built hybrid, usually a Rhode Island Red rooster crossed with a Barred Rock hen, and it inherits the best of both: heavy brown-egg production on a friendly, cold-tough frame. Hens are black with warm copper feathering across the chest.
Eggs per year
250–300
Egg color
Brown
Egg size
Large
Hen weight
5–7 lbs
Temperament
Friendly and hardy
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
The "sex link" name is literal — female chicks hatch solid black while males show a white head spot, so anyone can sex them the day they hatch.
Black Sex Link egg production
Expect roughly 250–300 brown eggs a year from a Black Sex Link in her prime — about 5–6 a week, or 21–25 dozen over the course of a year. That puts it among the more prolific backyard layers. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Black Sex Link is generally described as friendly and hardy. These are calm, people-oriented birds that tolerate handling well and settle into a backyard flock without much fuss — a big part of why they're such a common first breed.
Climate & care
Rated cold-hardy, the Black Sex Link rides out hard winters well as long as the coop stays dry and draft-free — keep drinking water from freezing and watch combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
Black Sex Linkhens rarely go broody, which keeps the eggs coming but means they won't usually raise their own chicks. To hatch, you'll want an incubator — our incubation calculator tracks every step.
Space & feeding
A Black Sex Link hen is a large bird at 5–7 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Black Sex Link right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You're new to chickens and want a forgiving bird
- You want a calm bird that's good around children
- You get real winters and need a hardy bird
- You keep chickens in a hot climate
Think twice if…
- Honestly, not much — this is a versatile all-rounder rather than a specialist
Black Sex Link FAQ
- How many eggs do Black Sex Link chickens lay?
- A healthy Black Sex Link hen lays about 250–300 brown eggs a year — roughly 5–6 a week, or 21–25 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Black Sex Links lay?
- Black Sex Links lay brown eggs, large in size.
- How big do Black Sex Link chickens get?
- A Black Sex Link hen weighs roughly 5–7 lbs — a large bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Black Sex Links cold-hardy?
- Yes. The Black Sex Link is rated cold-hardy and rides out hard winters well, provided the coop stays dry and draft-free. Keep water from freezing and check combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze.
- Are Black Sex Links good for beginners?
- Yes. The Black Sex Link is a forgiving, friendly and hardy breed that suits first-time keepers well.
- Do Black Sex Link hens go broody?
- Rarely. Black Sex Link hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
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