Iowa Blues Chicken Club (IBCC) - Breed Standard Discussion / Club Discussion - Page 3

I would have to agree with you. I think we can definitely support both varieties. I for one love the lacing, but I know there are some trying to breed it out. I think it makes them quite unique. Another good reason to try to get a set standard ASAP. I understand to get APA (is this what we're going for?) you have to have at least 5 breeders to show they breed true and to show for a few years for APA acceptance. For them to be listed on the ABLC Rare list instead of as a study they HAVE to have a standard! Can't wait till we get it all hashed out!

I always thought so too Teresa but its so confusing! The site that specifically says Birchen is Ideal Hatchery, which is I'm sure is how they are breeding them.  But in their correspondence with me they did state their birds come in more than one type. The Wikepedia quote says brown or black with lacing/penciling, so I think in that sense they are contradicting themselves by saying one type! 

 

I stumbled on the thread with 51 pages; took hours to read!  This discussion seems to have faltered.  I'll retire in a year so I'll have time to look after a flock. Have the land but no coop, fence, etc so I get to take advantage of all the experience I find here.

My experience has been having a Portuguese Water Dog shown so I look for a standard to compare my animal against whether dog or chicken. 

What is the decision regarding tail angle?  Not in favor of allowing a squirrel tail. Rather not see 90 deg as preferred because when you try to breed to that you'll end up with some squirrel tails. Do chicken standards allow a fudge factor such as "tail angle 80 deg. is preferred".

Bear with the newbie but shouldn't angle of neck and head be discussed along with tail angle?  What is the ideal side view?  Been browsing all kinds of chickens and some are just too extreme.

 

It seems the consensus may be against squirrel tail, but perhaps we could call it a fault instead of a disqualification?

Also on the tail I'd like to ask about the phrase "well spread". Does anyone have an example of a tail meeting this discription?

 

If viewed from the rear, most of my birds have a closed tail and from the side they seem quite compact compared to my other breeds.

 

 

 

This is a rooster from my very first flock, though I never did raise babies from him because of his light legs and eyes.He seems to have a wider tail than the ones I've raised.

I think this last roo that is pictured, though not perfect, is a good example of what to strive for, in my opinion. (Remember that I'm new to all this though, so my opinion very well may not qualify for much. lol) I also think that when you have a nice specimen that might have disqualifying faults, but overall is fairly representative of the breed, you should go ahead and use that bird. You  just have to cull later. This is what will keep the genetic diversity going in this breed and keep us out of falling into the problems that happen as genes basically breed a strain/species out of existence.

 

Kari, the boy I have here doesn't seem to have a very open tail at all. I know he's young yet, but I'm doubting it'll change as he gets older. If you look at the pics of good Sussex birds, you'll see the open tails. That is a requirement in that breed as well.

He isn't bad, but he's REALLY small. I think I may put him with the hens after I set the Easter hatch just to see what I get.

Comment re Karimw question about fault vice disqualification.  Yes, fault for the squirrel tail rather than flat out disqualification.  Keep an otherwise worthwhile specimen and breed to correct the fault.  When storage disease showed up in the PWD, otherwise worthwhile specimens were shunned.  Their gene package is lost forever; genes from the remaining PWD's were concentrated resulting in a different disease showing up.  Outcrossing to another chicken breed may be necessary but what unknown attributes/genes will be introduced into an already limited gene pool?  I'm guessing that genes from other chicken breeds are already circulating in the Iowa Blue.  At what point is a line drawn and no further outcrossing is condoned?  Now back to lurking.

Personally, I think the male and female should have the same tail angle. I'll look more at tails but I think an open tail results in a wider back (or vice versa) resulting in more meat. That would make a better dual purpose breed. JMO

Hurley, how did boards go?