General Info
Males are yellow and females display a reddish brown color at hatch.
They are also known as ISA Browns.
One consideration when purchasing ISA Browns is that their prolific egg-laying ability is at the expense of their longevity. While they can survive for up to 8 years given proper care, the lifespan and egg-laying period of these birds is more commonly 2-3 years.
With proper preparation these Chickens are great freezer birds at the 2-2.5 year mark when egg production slows.
Origin
The ISA Brown chickens originated from France. These hybrid chickens were developed in France around the 1970s by the Institut de Sélection Animale to be an egg- laying superstar.
ISA Brown chickens have been the top global egg layers for over 40 years.
Appearance
Sex-Sal-Link Browns look similar to Rhode Island Reds, their feathers have a lighter shade of reddish-brown that appears more chestnut brown. They may also have white tail feathers, the roosters are white with brown speckles. Whereas hens are medium-bodied, the roosters are stockier and broader.
They tend to molt for a shorter period, meaning they get back to laying eggs quickly
Eggs
They tend to settle for an early in the day lay, so 80 % of your picking should be done by lunch time!
Known for their consistent egg production (300 per year), even during colder months, though egg numbers may decrease slightly during winter.
Temperment
They are quiet and friendly and easily trained to lay in their nests.
Friendly and docile are words often used to describe ISA Brown chickens. Most users state that ISA Brown Hens (Sex-Sal-Link) are only very rarely aggressive..
Hardiness
As with all Hybrid Birds, good ventilation, dry bedding, good laying ration (18%) and controlled lighting are a MUST for peak performance!
Random Family Photos
Explore all of the breeds we offer on the Chicken Breed Index page or the Mugshot page we call the Chicken Breed Gallery.