BLUE ISBARS - Pictures and discussion

[altair]

You have such lovely birds. What state are you located in? It looks like you also have a blue cockerel to go with your blue pullets so 25% of their chicks should be black. Are you wanting black pullets, cockerels or both?

Also has it been decided what ear color Isbars should have? I have seen both red and white. I don't have a rooster so I am not breeding any at present. Though it would be good to know what the right color is if I should choose to get a rooster in the future.

Thank you Odelia, they were from The Old Farm House Chickens in Texas (bet they had culture shock here in Vermont ). I take a lot of pride in my birds. You're exactly right, I should be able to make blacks, but the blue rooster is closely related to the hens so he's not being used for breeding until we get females from a different source or I sell him (I'd hate to, but we often need the room).

As far as I know Isbars don't have any standards in place. Personally, I would focus on temperament, soundness of frame and body, egg color, and good egg production no matter the season. Earlobe color in my opinion is something to worry about when there are millions of Isbar running around

 

[Odelia]

Thank you Odelia, they were from The Old Farm House Chickens in Texas (bet they had culture shock here in Vermont ). I take a lot of pride in my birds. You're exactly right, I should be able to make blacks, but the blue rooster is closely related to the hens so he's not being used for breeding until we get females from a different source or I sell him (I'd hate to, but we often need the room).

As far as I know Isbars don't have any standards in place. Personally, I would focus on temperament, soundness of frame and body, egg color, and good egg production no matter the season. Earlobe color in my opinion is something to worry about when there are millions of Isbar running around

Yes that is true but if I buy a cockerel there is only so much I am going to know about him. So getting the ear color right is one of the things I can look for. I won't really know egg color, egg production or temperament on young cockerel. I don't have any Isbar roosters so I haven't been following the discussion closely. So I wasn't sure if it had been settled as to whether they should have red ears or white ear or red ears with a light tinge of white.

 

[ChicKat]

Yes that is true but if I buy a cockerel there is only so much I am going to know about him. So getting the ear color right is one of the things I can look for. I won't really know egg color, egg production or temperament on young cockerel. I don't have any Isbar roosters so I haven't been following the discussion closely. So I wasn't sure if it had been settled as to whether they should have red ears or white ear or red ears with a light tinge of white.

such a good question -- and I think it is more central to the breed than some others may. I vote for red earlobes....IMO that is the best look and more unique - it diverges from the Legbar and the Cream Legbar which I have heard that Martin Silverudd used to make Isbars. That being said - I have red with a dust of whitish pink on some. To my knowlege the APA doesn't have that designation for earlobe. It is either Red or White -- (all or nothing would make the life of an APA breed judge easier...if red and white then how much red and how much white would be the 'perfection' that the Standard of Perfection calls for?)-----------

-- IF there were a standard, then years down the road when 'millions of Isbars are running around' (and I love that thought altair)....lots of people that have gone one or the other direction - will be very unhappy - when the earlobe color that they didn't choose is the one determined correct for the breed IMO.

IF you have ever wondered if an Isbar can go broody - the answer is YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ChicKat]

Mine fly way way too good. They are almost 6 months old. And they work as a team. I have several hatched on the same date. I have seperated them into 2 seperate pens. But the isbars take any pullet they choose. And then swap out....In whichever pen they land in.

My Isbar roo is definitely harder on the females than my Cream Legbar roo is on his harem. -- I think I will need to take Isbar rooster off because they really don't like the action -- even though he is beside himself trying to do everything he can to win their affections.

 

[altair]

There is no Isbar standard, yet, to my knowledge. I don't think the APA recognizes them, which sometimes isn't always a bad thing IMO.

 

[ChicKat]

There is no Isbar standard, yet, to my knowledge. I don't think the APA recognizes them, which sometimes isn't always a bad thing IMO.

Sorry if what I said was misleading.

The APA is the institution in the USA that measures poultry against the Standard of Perfection (SOP) once the breed is accepted by the APA. There are stringent requirements for acceptance - and a well written standard (SOP) is just one of them. I find it a bit difficult to evaluate what things are best to select for just as Odelia was stating in the post above.

If you want to see some of the steps to get APA acceptance -- and you don't have the SOP book or access to one (seems like libraries should have them) -- you can go to the Cream Legbar Club's website (link in my sig) - and review what is in the left navigation bar - I think it is called "path to APA acceptance". As some on BYC have pointed out -- if it isn't accepted by APA it isn't a breed. (of course that would have to be added in the USA) --- Of course in their native country Isbar IS a breed- no doubt in my mind.

Standard is a lot of work, and a commitment of over 5-years....significant financial costs - and a need for cooperation among breeders just to name a few things needed to get there.

 

[altair]

Oh I agree I think it would take a lot of time and effort. Quite a few breeds I own aren't recognized in the US which definitely has its drawbacks. But as in dogs, chickens, and other breeds I think standardizing has its drawbacks too, mainly focusing on how something looks versus how it performs or acts and how it can narrow the gene pool even more than it is already for rare breeds.

 

[ChicKat]

Oh I agree I think it would take a lot of time and effort. Quite a few breeds I own aren't recognized in the US which definitely has its drawbacks. But as in dogs, chickens, and other breeds I think standardizing has its drawbacks too, mainly focusing on how something looks versus how it performs or acts and how it can narrow the gene pool even more than it is already for rare breeds.

Really good observations -- ideally the performance wouldn't be lost to the show ring qualities -- and if I had to choose one-or-the-other -- I "would rather have a work horse than a show horse" as the saying goes--- and same for chickens -- I expect high performance. Nice to know that others have that view also. On the other hand...what I fear for Isbars--- is that since there is no standard, and since the gene pool is so small -- anyone can cross in anything and tell everyone that it is an Isbar --- the traits that I most love about the breed could be lost -- :O(

 

[altair]

Ideally, but I can't imagine how hard it must be juggling looks and production. I see that in my double-laced silver Barnevelders who pop out cream-colored eggs. Doh.

Spot on about legitimate breeders, too. I always ask people where they received their stock from while taking into consideration they could lie. Another thing I have problems with is selling surplus males. I sometimes hate to say what they are as unless people have females of the same type. If not any breedings are hybrids-- and that's something I regret to see when people use rare stock to make mixes. Yes, that's how a lot of breeds developed, but many don't have goals in mind or the true dedication to develop them resulting in just a mess of breeds.

I think I will do like many Icelandic chicken owners do, their tenacity to keep bloodlines pure is inspiring. They sell excess males as backyard mixes so no one can claim they're Icelandics later on when mixed with heaven knows what.

A bit more back on topic, does anyone have any results on Greenfire Farms newer Isbar imports? The stock I have are prior to their 2013 import, but I would like to incorporate those newer genetics if they'll yield good results.

 

[bamadude]

My Isbars have black eyes. Ive heard the new imports have yellow eyes. I have also heard of some new imports from gff laying pink eggs