Cream Legbar Working Group: Standard of Perfection

[dretd]

They did not put the leg bands on. I had first thought the lighter one was the Legbar cockerel and so chose that color for him. Now I am not so sure I assessed them correctly day one. So the band color means nothing. Thanks for the congratulations. Very excited to see how they all turn out and who we like best. I have gotten breeds before thinking I was going to love them to find out later they weren't to my liking. The Legbars were at the very top of the list for me so I hope we love them as much as I think we will.

Well, the other two things I mentioned still hold, and I really was going by the leg color, so I will be anxious to see if that is correct!

I know what you mean about the different breeds only to find out you are not as enamored as you thought. Sort of like having an crush on someone until you actually go out with them and realize they have onion breath and pick their nose all the time..and leave the toilet seat up!

I recommend that folks do a starter laying flock with several different breeds they like and then see how they like them over time. I started with an assortment and found for instance that my Speckled Sussex is an aggressively friendly bird but bossy to the other chickens and just a mediocre layer, and that my Faverolles is incredibly sweet but far too socially awkward (she has Chicken Aspergers) to fit in so I highly recommend the breed as long as you have a flock of only Faverolles. That sort of thing.

Cream Legbars are a breed that I have wanted since before GFF imported them, but I held off getting any until after they had been in the States for a couple of years to see if they settled in ok. I am delighted by them thus far. Love the blue eggs, autosexing and sheer beauty;both the cocks and the hens are striking to look at. Their personalities are a little flighty but friendly...about the same as my Welsummers and my EE.very good free rangers, so I think they fit in well.

 

[ChicKat]

Hi Odelia,

I'm in agreement that the second picture of boy chick is probably the Bielfelder...... Especially if the chick is a bit bigger..... Or maybe the photo is closer? Fully, I understand your wanting to know so you can determine their growth -- Congratulations on getting your chicks!

 

[Rancher3535]

I just put 6 short video clips on my face book page of what I think I am going to use for breeders next year. Would love to have you go look at them and tell me what you think. My sink is pretty thick so just be honest as to what you think. Wish it was easier to put clips on here.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rockin-R-Ranch/539810502704477

Rob

 

[Odelia]

I just put 6 short video clips on my face book page of what I think I am going to use for breeders next year. Would love to have you go look at them and tell me what you think. My sink is pretty thick so just be honest as to what you think. Wish it was easier to put clips on here.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rockin-R-Ranch/539810502704477

Rob

They were back lit so it was a bit hard to tell their colors as clearly. The second pullet in the group of three looks like she has a very dark crest. Personally I would skip her. Hope you post more photos when they have finished filling out.

 

[speedy2020]

I purchase and put 24 eggs into the incubator today. It is a 21 long days wait until hatching date. Here is a very clear information about Cream Legbar Standard Perfection with good example of photos.
http://autosexing-poultry.co.uk/wordpress/legbar/

 

[Odelia]

Here are my two cockerels together. Do you still think the one on the left is the Cream Legbar and the one on the right is the Bielefelder?

 

[ChicKat]

Cute chicks!! I think the one on the left is CL.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

I agree, the left one is cream legbar.

 

[faykokoWV]

Hi Odelia,

I'm in agreement that the second picture of boy chick is probably the Bielfelder...... Especially if the chick is a bit bigger..... Or maybe the photo is closer? Fully, I understand your wanting to know so you can determine their growth -- Congratulations on getting your chicks!

its been my experience that my CLB chick hatch out smaller than my other breeds - but they seem to mature faster through the "teen" years than the other breeds.

 

[rockyspringsfarm]

I am a crested cream legbar owner/breeder "in waiting" so to speak and have read with tremendous interest the bulk of this thread. Having come through the fire of supporting, hauling, and showing 3 varieties of Marans toward their APA acceptance since 2011 I want to commend this group for the discussion and endeavor being made to get this breed APA approved. You have gone forward with a draft SOP with help from Mr. Leonard which is great. It's a long road to the finish but it is worth it......

I may have missed this in the discussion and if I did, I apologize, but the suggestion of looking at what the Marans group did is a sound one. We had to backtrack on a couple of things and re-group because we did not pay close enough attention to the APA "way of doing things". I had to throw out a whole year's breeding program and basically start over due to a change in what was proper for the BCM male in color..... It appears to me, and this is simply my personal opinion (worth what it's worth), that you have One breed (Legbar) but Three varieties(Cream, Gold, Silver with distanct differences such as egg color and plumage color)...very similar to the Marans. We drafted a General SOP which covers the Marans type, structure, DQ's, Faults, etc that applies to every variety of Marans. Then as each variety came closer to being ready for a qualifying meet we drafted a standard for that color variety....We now have 3 varieties APA approved and two more gaining ground. I said all that to say this.....Draft a General SOP (I think you already have) that covers the Legbar breed....then pick a color Cream, Gold or Silver. Push that variety toward acceptance while still working on the other varieties. We were showing Wheaten Marans the whole time we were pushing the Black Coppers for acceptance. I had the BV Wheaten at the Black Copper qualifying meet in Newnan, GA in 2011 along with the Black Copper hen that was judged Best of Breed in that qualifying meet. Then we were showing White Marans while pushing the Wheatens for acceptance.....now we have the Whites accepted as well....

I'm sure the DQ's at the Dripping Springs Show were a disappointment......EDUCATION is the key. I have a great deal of respect for judge Pat Malone. have shown under him many times. He's always been willing to discuss with me any decision he made on one of my birds....It has to be hard for the best of judges to be very familiar with such a new breed. But his advise to show even though the birds may not be where you want them is sound. You've got to make that "years of showing" thing with APA. Also, and I have not seen it mentioned but APA has a 2/2/2/2 rule.......2 cocks, 2 cockerels, 2 hens, 2 pullets at a show for it to be counted......The Marans group communicated with each other to see who was going where and what they had so that we could make that 2/2/2/2 rule. Legbar breeders need to do the same....working together is the key to getting this done. Do the paperwork, cross your t's, and dot your i's.....that will go far with APA.

Having probably worn out my welcome by now......I would like to say that I intend to pursue the Crested Cream Legbar with the same determination in the breeding pen and at the shows that I have with the Marans.

I can readily see the difference between the Cream and Gold hens but could someone take pity on me and post a picture of what the ideal Cream male should be as close to as possible. Or, direct me to a site with one on it......I tend to operate better with a visual experience. Thank you for your tolerance of my long post....

Peggy Taylor
Rocky Springs Farm
Huntington, Texas