What is the difference between a Blackrock and a Black Star?

[Gavin1985]

Hey everyone, does anyone have any definitive answer?

So far as I can guess, the Blackrock is a RIR cock x Barred Plymouth Rock hen (specific genetic line)
and
a Black Star (according to elsewhere) "Black Star chickens are first-generation hybrid chickens, bred by crossing a Rhode Island red rooster with a Barred Rock hen, or vice versa."

Reason I ask, is, I am looking to find out if a Black Star is the same as a Rhode Rock.

Thanks in advance.

 

[chrismahon]

I would say Gavin that a Black Star is the same thing as a Rhode Rock.

Have to say I have never heard of a Black Star. White Stars are renowned good layers and we had Copper Stars which were not up to much except laying the odd dark brown egg.

 

[Gavin1985]

Thanks chris.

I have seen Blackstar's advertised for sale on cotswoldchickens.com and after doing a quick look on the web, I got the impression they were the same as Rhode Rocks which I have seen for sale locally.

Must be a regional thing.

 

[Chuck]

Black Rock is a brand name for a hybrid RIR male on Barred Rock females. They are only produced by one firm that hatches in Scotland and are a very long-established type of hybrid. Hardy, long lived and productive over a long period.

Rhode/Rocks (RIR x Barred Plymouth Rocks) are sold under several names, Black Stars, Bovans Nera, Black Rangers are examples and are given to chickens bred from the same mating but are not hatched in the Black Rock hatchery and are therefore not Black Rocks. These other types of hybrids are also hardy, productive layers so not much to choose.

Probably the main difference is availability and Black Rocks were sold only through B.R. agents. The others are more generally available along with other types of hybrids.

 

[Gavin1985]

Thanks for clarifying Chuck.

It's as I thought then. So If i want to buy Blackrock's it's best to make sure that I buy through a B.R Agent.

 

[Marigold]

If you want to buy Black Rocks you can ONLY buy through an agent! Muirfield Hatchery - Black Rocks for the home site. See http://www.theblackrockhatchery.co.uk/

 

[Wrigley62]

Hey Gavin,
This is from Wikipedia. I have two Black Stars/Black Sexlinks. I wasn't sure what they were either. This is where I got my info.
I hope it helps.

"Two common varieties are the black sex-link (also called Black Stars) and the red sex-link (also called Red Stars). Blacks are a cross between a Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire rooster and a Barred Rock hen. Red sex-links are a cross between a Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire rooster and a White Rock, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Rhode Island White or Delaware hen. One example of a red linked breed is the Red Shaver. In Europe, the Cream Legbar (an actual true-breeding pure breed) and ISA Brown sex-links also exist."

 

[Chuck]

This is American and doesn't apply to Britain. The last line .. In Europe does apply but has nothing to do with Black Rocks or any other Rhode/Rock hybrid.
I wasn't sure that Black Rocks were still sold only through agents since they changed hands, so thanks for that Marigold. You can get them at any age from agents, even day olds.