Arizona Chickens

[cyborg]

Quote: I just looked at their site, and the Ideal 236 and CW have pretty much the same description, and they reserve the right to substitute one for the other. Their description of the CW says it is a cross between a leghorn and a production black, which is not really true unless they consider a California Gray to be a production black. Not sure of the parentage of a "production black" but the whole idea is to introduce the barring gene to leghorns, to produce sex linked chicks. So maybe their production blacks carry the barring gene. Either way, I don't think I'd order from anyone that tells you right up front that they will substitute as they see fit.

EDIT: Cross your mystery birds with a barred Rock and see what happens. Hybrid vigor is real!

 

[ejcrist]

Yup, they look like CW's.

Cyborg - Just another tidbit of info, but I looked at them very carefully when I got home a few minutes ago and only two have the black flecks; the other 7 are all white 100%. I don't know if that means the 7 are pure leghorns or not but I'd guess it's a fair bet. I guess the only way you know for sure is if you start with APA certified breeds and keep good records. That's what I'm planning to do in the future.

Also I was reading more about those California Whites and they sound like a truly outstanding bird for what I like and also for our climate. I've read they lay a little better than pure leghorns so that says a lot. And having the sleek body and medium-small size I'd bet they could thrive in the worst heat wave. That sounds like a very good bird to have. Gosh now you got me trying to figure out how I can fit a couple of them in my chickenin' hobby. I might have to build a third coop and run. You're gonna get me in trouble.

 

[ejcrist]

I just looked at their site, and the Ideal 236 and CW have pretty much the same description, and they reserve the right to substitute one for the other. Their description of the CW says it is a cross between a leghorn and a production black, which is not really true unless they consider a California Gray to be a production black. Not sure of the parentage of a "production black" but the whole idea is to introduce the barring gene to leghorns, to produce sex linked chicks. So maybe their production blacks carry the barring gene. Either way, I don't think I'd order from anyone that tells you right up front that they will substitute as they see fit.

EDIT: Cross your mystery birds with a barred Rock and see what happens. Hybrid vigor is real!

Oh yeah, you're absolutely right about ordering from a place that substitutes - not my cup-o-tea. This was my first flock so I was on the fast-track learning about what I was doing and that was one of the things I never thought about. I'm still largely ignorant about a lot of it but I've learned tons of great info mostly from people on here and I think I read about 10 books on everything chicken in the last couple of months. People like you and DesertChick really taught me a lot of great info - I'm really grateful for that. DesertChick told me stuff about my birds that I never would've learned in any book. But yeah, from now on any new birds I buy will come from a reputable breeder or birds that I breed myself. I think hatcheries are great if you just want birds and aren't too particular about what you get, but since I put so much work into my boy and girls I really like to have the best that can be had.

 

[MagicChicken]

Quote:
Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl thread is a gold mine of information on breeding birds to APA standard. The thread was closed when Bob died a few years ago. It is worth reading from the beginning. There is a Part 2 version that is still somewhat active if you want to ask questions, but I found that most of my questions were answered later in the original thread. I just had to keep reading. Here's the link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/400344/bob-blosls-heritage-large-fowl-thread

 

[ejcrist]

Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl thread is a gold mine of information on breeding birds to APA standard. The thread was closed when Bob died a few years ago. It is worth reading from the beginning. There is a Part 2 version that is still somewhat active if you want to ask questions, but I found that most of my questions were answered later in the original thread. I just had to keep reading. Here's the link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/400344/bob-blosls-heritage-large-fowl-thread

Gosh - thanks for the link. That's of great interest to me! Really appreciate it.

 

[cyborg]

Quote:
I AM "THE ENABLER". True CW's are crosses between leghorns and barred Rocks. (with an intermediate step, California Grays). You have everything you need.

 

[DesertChic]

I just looked at their site, and the Ideal 236 and CW have pretty much the same description, and they reserve the right to substitute one for the other. Their description of the CW says it is a cross between a leghorn and a production black, which is not really true unless they consider a California Gray to be a production black. Not sure of the parentage of a "production black" but the whole idea is to introduce the barring gene to leghorns, to produce sex linked chicks. So maybe their production blacks carry the barring gene. Either way, I don't think I'd order from anyone that tells you right up front that they will substitute as they see fit.

EDIT: Cross your mystery birds with a barred Rock and see what happens. Hybrid vigor is real!

Is there a difference between the CW and the Austra-White, because my AWs are supposed to be a cross between White Leghorn and "production black" and they too have both splashes of black and grey and even an occasional barred feather.

 

[cyborg]

 
I just looked at their site, and the Ideal 236 and CW have pretty much the same description, and they reserve the right to substitute one for the other. Their description of the CW says it is a cross between a leghorn and a production black, which is not really true unless they consider a California Gray to be a production black. Not sure of the parentage of a "production black" but the whole idea is to introduce the barring gene to leghorns, to produce sex linked chicks. So maybe their production blacks carry the barring gene. Either way, I don't think I'd order from anyone that tells you right up front that they will substitute as they see fit.

EDIT: Cross your mystery birds with a barred Rock and see what happens. Hybrid vigor is real!

Is there a difference between the CW and the Austra-White, because my AWs are supposed to be a cross between White Leghorn and "production black" and they too have both splashes of black and grey and even an occasional barred feather. 

It sounds like the Ideal 236, and maybe the Austra Whites, are bred along the same lines as the CW, but using "production blacks" instead of California Grays for the sire. production blacks have very vague parentage, but I seem to remember crossing barred rocks to something else to get a black bird that carries the barring gene (1 copy only, or they would be barred).

 

[twinsmom6]

Arizona chickens - I am in Tucson. Have 7 chickens 3 BO, 2 EE, 2 Cali White - keeping them cool has been a challenge in the 117 scorchers.. but they made it.
"it's a dry heat" I have questions about having a roo in the flock... Wondering if I have one and he is not too mean.. does having one inspire the girls to lay more?
then if so do I need to candle all the eggs?

 

[BlueBaby]

I was wondering... does anyone here in Arizona have an extra younger Blue Australorp rooster that they could part with? I have a 10 week old Splash one, but I really want a blue one. You can pm me if you do so that arrangements can be made.