Barred Holland breed of chickens

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Smoothmule, I got my barred hollands in april 12. The legs on them were also quite black, but now they are more or less orange. They came from AJ Farms/Domini Ranch in Senaca Falls NY. I do not know where they got there stock from.I got 25 birds and culled down to 4 hens and 2 cocks. One of the hens lays a pretty decent white egg the rest are more cream. I've been trapnesting for about 5 weeks now so i pretty much know who lays what and how much in the short term. I am setting a doz eggs under a old english game tonight, she gone broody. Only setting the white eggs. I love the breed but until they get some size on them I wouldn't consider them dual purpose. I know nothing about selecting breeders but I banded and trapnest them so I have to handle them daily and I'm really starting to see the differences in them. Working toward white eggs and more weight.
 
What do you think would happen with leg and egg color if you were to outcross with a California Grey? Would the additional likelihood of whiter eggs and yellower legs increase enough to warrant the outcross? Here is a pic of a CA Grey Cockerel

and here is the Holland

This cockerel looks older. Their tails are different. I know nothing about breeding but I have seen mention of outcrossing with a similar type bird to strengthen type so I am curious.
 
Smoothmule, I got my barred hollands in april 12. The legs on them were also quite black, but now they are more or less orange. They came from AJ Farms/Domini Ranch in Senaca Falls NY. I do not know where they got there stock from.I got 25 birds and culled down to 4 hens and 2 cocks. One of the hens lays a pretty decent white egg the rest are more cream. I've been trapnesting for about 5 weeks now so i pretty much know who lays what and how much in the short term. I am setting a doz eggs under a old english game tonight, she gone broody. Only setting the white eggs. I love the breed but until they get some size on them I wouldn't consider them dual purpose. I know nothing about selecting breeders but I banded and trapnest them so I have to handle them daily and I'm really starting to see the differences in them. Working toward white eggs and more weight.
Thanks so much. I hope mine end up with more color in the legs then too.
 
Oh Goodness! These chicks may mature a bit slowly (so I'm told) but man o man they are growing fast. I will be sorting them out this coming weekend to split them into 2 breeding groups for later when they're mature. They have quickly outgrown every pen I've moved them to. LOL They're certainly not babies any more and definitely the nosiest and friendliest chickens around!











 
I just wanted to throw out a question about the barring. It's been mentioned, but what does the SOP say about the barring on this breed? Is it supposed to be "barring" like the Barred Rock or Cuckoo like on a Cuckoo Marans? I ask this because when mine are old enough to be producing, I want to know how I need to breed selectively. I know I need to improve the leg color. I am told they are from all white eggs (I know that doesn't guarantee none of the pullets will lay cream color eggs) and the other areas are looking pretty good but I am seeing some with cleaner/finer barring and some with cuckoo barring here, mine are more cuckoo.

I'm on the fence about my own preference but I think what matters more than preference, is the SOP. Is it clear enough on the type of barring? Do we have anything to show what the original Hollands looked like? I plan to breed toward the SOP but I don't have a book, I will have soon. Any comments?

PS. I got another email from Jeanette at the ALBC. They are planning to help any of us who are willing to work with them to improve the Holland breed. I plan to work with them, anyone else?
 
What do you think would happen with leg and egg color if you were to outcross with a California Grey? Would the additional likelihood of whiter eggs and yellower legs increase enough to warrant the outcross? Here is a pic of a CA Grey Cockerel

and here is the Holland

This cockerel looks older. Their tails are different. I know nothing about breeding but I have seen mention of outcrossing with a similar type bird to strengthen type so I am curious.

Maybe Jeanette at the ALBC could answer this.
 
From the 2010 SOP: "Feathers in all sections, crossed by coarse and irregular light and dark bars that are short of positive black and white. I hope this helps.

PS. I would definitely appreciate assistance from the ALBC. Can you post contact information. I sent them an email a couple of weeks ago but have not yet received a response.
 
Thanks everyone, I found someone with an SOP and was told that cuckoo was the correct pattern for Barred Hollands so they should not have the crisp fine lines of the Barred Rocks. So, I have that okay. I'll have to wait to see if there is any white in the ear lobes but I'm doubting there is. I am hoping for a deeper yellow leg color to develop, a few of mine still have that peppering of black over the yellow on the legs, not really "swarthy" but not clean yellow. They came from white eggs so I feel these pullets will lay white eggs but I'm still anxious to see them. The pullets have another 3 or 4 months before they're laying.
 
Hi hope all are doing good... Question... How white of an egg does a Barred Holland lay... ?


thanks a ton

Keith
SC
USA
 

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