• Black Sex Link day-old chick with black down and a coppery face on burlap
  • Two Black Sexlink hens with copper neck feathers in a farmyard
  • Black Sexlink hen with black body and copper hackles on the ground
  • Brown Black Sex Link eggs on straw
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Black Sex Link — Day-Old Chicks

Black Sex Link — Day-Old Chicks

NPIP Certified Hatchery - License #51-770

  • 250–300 Eggs/Year
  • Large Brown Eggs
  • 18–22 Weeks to Lay
$6.49
$6.49
Sale Sold out
  • Minimum 6 chicks per shipped order. Mix any breeds.
  • Shipping: $34.95 for 6–25 chicks by USPS Priority Mail · $49.95 for 26–50
  • Live Arrival Guarantee on every shipped order
  • Marek's vaccine available: $0.75 per chick. Check the box in your cart.
  • Free local pickup in Preston, MD, no minimum

Checking hatch dates…

Orders close Sunday at 11:59 PM Eastern before each Tuesday hatch date. After that, that week is no longer available, so please choose another week from the dates still open.

📦 Learn how we carefully pack and ship your chicks →

If a steady supply of brown eggs is at the top of your wish list, Black Sexlinks are a practical addition to your flock. These hybrid chickens combine dependable laying with striking black plumage, often accented by warm copper or gold feathers around the hens' necks. Picture them exploring your backyard, then filling your egg basket with fresh brown eggs. 

Why backyard keepers love them:

  • 🥚 Approximately 250–300 large brown eggs per year — productive layers for a well-stocked backyard egg basket
  • 🪶 Glossy black plumage with copper or gold accents — hens bring rich color and contrast to a mixed flock
  • ☀️ Hardy and adaptable — do well with suitable shelter, shade, and protection from weather extremes
  • 🌿 Curious, active foragers — enjoy scratching and exploring when given space to roam
  • ⚡ Early-maturing layers — commonly begin laying around 18–22 weeks with appropriate nutrition and daylight

What to expect from Chesapeake Hatchery chicks:

Black Sexlinks are hybrid chickens bred for reliable brown-egg production. Marek's Disease vaccination is optional and is not included in the chick price. To vaccinate your chicks, check the Marek's vaccine box in your cart. Chicks are backed by our live arrival guarantee. Note: sex-linked refers to different male and female chick coloring in the appropriate parent cross; these hybrids do not breed true. Adult coloring, temperament, and production vary by bird and breeding line.

Weeks to first egg: Approximately 18–22 weeks
Egg size: Large
Egg color: Brown

Common questions about Black Sex Links

What is a Black Sex Link?
A hybrid bred so males and females have different colors at hatch, which makes them easy to sex.

How many eggs do Black Sex Links lay?
About 250–300 large brown eggs a year, among the most of any breed we hatch.

When do they start laying?
Usually at 18–22 weeks.

Are they good for beginners?
Yes. They're hardy, adaptable and curious, though temperament varies by bird.

Pairs well with:

Bring dependable brown-egg production to your flock — reserve your Black Sexlink chicks for the next hatch.

Breed specifications

Production

Hens lay approximately 250–300 large brown eggs per year. Actual output varies.

Maturity

Typically begins laying at 18–22 weeks. Timing varies by individual bird and growing conditions.

Temperament

Curious and active; temperament varies by bird and breeding line.

Appearance

Glossy black plumage with copper or gold accents on hens; adult coloring varies.

Adaptability

Hardy and adaptable with shelter, shade, and protection from weather extremes.

Chick care overview

Brooder temperature: Start at 95°F for the first week, reducing by 5°F each week until fully feathered.

Food & water: Offer chick starter feed and fresh water immediately. Dip each chick's beak gently into the water on arrival to encourage drinking.

Hydration boost: We include hydration supplements in your shipment — add to water for the first 24–48 hours to help chicks recover from transit.

Space: Allow at least 0.5 sq ft per chick in the brooder for the first few weeks.

Watch for: Huddling under the heat source (too cold), panting or moving away from heat (too warm). Active, spread-out chicks are happy chicks.

For detailed care guides, visit our FAQs.

Shipping

Your chicks ship in a USPS-approved live animal box designed specifically for safe poultry transport, complete with soft bedding, temperature control packing, and hydration supplements for the journey.

We take immeasurable care in every shipment — each box is packed with your flock's safe arrival as our top priority.

Day-old chicks ship by USPS Priority Mail with live-animal handling, the same day they hatch. Most orders reach your local post office in 1–2 days; some rural areas take up to 3. Started pullets ship by USPS Priority Mail Express, as USPS requires for older birds.

LIVE CHICK SHIPPING

USPS Priority Mail:
6–25 chicks — $34.95
26–50 chicks — $49.95
51–100 chicks — $59.95

Optional Priority Mail Express at checkout: $69.95 for 6–14 chicks, $74.95 for 15–25, $79.95 for 26–50, $99.95 for 51–100.

Shipping farther than a day's drive from Maryland, such as south of the Carolinas or west of Ohio? We recommend Priority Mail Express. Express chicks are loaded first and usually arrive sooner, but USPS does not guarantee delivery times for live animals.

Ordering more than 100 chicks? Call us at (410) 635-1970.

Minimum shipped order: 6 chicks • Mix & match breeds

Local Pickup — Wednesdays in Maryland
No shipping fee · No minimum order

Live Arrival Guarantee

We stand behind every shipment. In the rare event that any chicks do not survive transit, you will receive a full refund for those chicks.

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Black Sex Link — Day-Old Chicks