Breeding Buff Leghorns - Page 64

Thank you for clearing that up. Could she be part Buff Leghorn? Or you think she is full Easter Egger? And that isn't really a breed though right? Just a fancy side of a mixed breed backyard flock?
There is still a lot for me to learn about the different breeds.

I agree the blue leg one is something else and an easter-egger is a good guess . I think the bird in question is a pullet,looks to be good,long legs,big shanks,level tight wing.These look better than expected. In color I would not use the white tailed ones for breeding unless it was a very slight amount,the same with black.  Dan.

Hatcheries will use high production hens of various breeds, mate an Ameraucana and Araucana male to them and call them an Ameraucana and Araucana. In truth, they are Easter Eggers or a mixed breed. If you just wants eggs, your blue leg pullet should be fine. If breeding for purity, she should be culled. We have several culls from our Exhibition flock in my wife's laying flock coop. If you start getting blue eggs, leave her be with your flock. If when the pullets start laying and you get no blue eggs, consider discarding her. 

 

Dan is right on the off color feathers. Most often they will pass this trait on to their offspring.

 

Last year Dan was talking about the thought of ordering 100 Buff Leghorn Pullets from Ideal Poultry Farms, cull to only the 10 best. Then mate one of his top males to those 10. I personally do not have Leghorns. But perhaps someone would agree to swap you a male for say several dozen of your eggs from the flock. They may even consider loaning the male in exchange for hatching eggs. In any case, allow Dan and others to mentor you. They know the breed and the color. Especially Dan.

Thank you for chiming in Dan. I was hoping to hear your opinion, and am glad to hear that she has a good shape. I still a lot to learn.
When I bought all the birds I ordered only Pullets thinking that I was going to be happy with having just a laying flock. (and a little worried that i would end up with a roo or two anyway) Since joining BYC, and finding our more about the breeds I have, I admit I was hoping that they had slipped me a BL Roo. I caught myself looking over my girls last night, deciding which ones I would leave with the laying flock, and which ones would be allowed to breed... Looks like I can wait a while before making that decision:/

I cull early if I have plenty to chose from,for things like disqualifications and some defects.I can cull  for color fairly early.Type,outline,station,and size need time,as well as tail and saddle length.I look for width of body,long legs and big shanks,I want to avoid narrow knock-kneed,small birds.Males mayu take 10 months to finish their tails in length to evaluate.

I agree with Dan, the bird in question is a pullet. She must be about 5 month old on the picture and is going laying in a few weeks because her comb is growing. She has also feathers on the back like females have so for me she is a pullet.

I ordered all of my chicks as day olds from Ideal. The chicks shipped out on May 2nd. That would put all my girls turning 16 weeks yesterday. The pictures i posted last time were about 3 1/2 weeks ago, so they would have been almost 13 weeks old. 

 

All of these pics were taken early this morning. 16 weeks old. Sorry about the photo quality. 

 

This is my slate legged EE in the front, with my lightest colored BL to the left. A couple of my other girls are in the background.

 

To the right is the same girl i shared photos of 3 weeks ago. She still has more comb and waddle then the other BL from the same shipment.

 

Here she is again, busy getting some morning bugs

The light one and the dark one are extremes for color.The other two look good,nice length of leg.Keep posting pictures,they should look even better as they start laying.

Thank you Dan, I will. It has been a real eye-opener to see the pics you and others have shared of this breed. The more y'all share, the more I learn. Thank you:)
Edited by Nomibear - 8/25/12 at 2:47pm

hi shane, i know this thread is probably quite old now but i also live in Australia and instead of culling those pullets you dont want (if you havent already) i could take them of your hands for you if you wanted i love rescuing chickens, id also be willing to pay.