I have heard that too....
BLUE ISBARS - Pictures and discussion
- Thread starter Phage
- Start date
You have to go back and look at the history of the Isbar to understand where it is today. Originally, the "Isbar" was simply a "green egg laying chicken", similar to our term "Easter Egger". I believe the term "Isbar" is still used for a barnyard mix green egg laying chicken in Sweden today.
Martin Silverudd developed a particular Isbar that we know today as the Blue Isbar. (He also developed a White Isbar, but it is thought to be extinct.) Martin Silverudd developed the Blue Isbar to be a production breed - part of his quest to develop high production breeds that layed colorful eggs. It is my understanding that not only did he not develop the Blue Isbar to be a show breed, he did not want it to become a show breed. No official description of the Blue Isbar was recorded before his death.
Given that his aim was production and not an SOP, it is difficult to determine how uniform the flock that he developed was in things like earlobe color, eye color, leg color, etc. Even the description today developed by the Swedish Culture Hens Group, the group responsible for the preservation of the Blue Isbar in Sweden, is quite general and the main focus is on the high production of large, green eggs. I will have to find the actual description that I was translating so I can post it here.
There is a group of breeders in Sweden that adhere to a more narrow description of the Blue Isbar that closely matches the more uniform characteristics found in at least one of the "clean" flocks of Blue Isbars that formed the basis of the preservation effort. I believe the original import line matches up with the description that this group of breeders holds. It is my understanding from my readings and conversations with the breeders in Sweden that not all 3 of the "clean" flocks were as uniform.
Without knowing exactly which breeders that GFF imported their stock from (and what country), it is hard to say whether they actually originated from part of the preservation flock or not.
So, if we are to develop an SOP for the Blue Isbar in this country, we will be breaking new ground. Quite honestly, it will most likely match the characteristics most admired by those who choose to do the work to get it written and accepted.
Martin Silverudd developed a particular Isbar that we know today as the Blue Isbar. (He also developed a White Isbar, but it is thought to be extinct.) Martin Silverudd developed the Blue Isbar to be a production breed - part of his quest to develop high production breeds that layed colorful eggs. It is my understanding that not only did he not develop the Blue Isbar to be a show breed, he did not want it to become a show breed. No official description of the Blue Isbar was recorded before his death.
Given that his aim was production and not an SOP, it is difficult to determine how uniform the flock that he developed was in things like earlobe color, eye color, leg color, etc. Even the description today developed by the Swedish Culture Hens Group, the group responsible for the preservation of the Blue Isbar in Sweden, is quite general and the main focus is on the high production of large, green eggs. I will have to find the actual description that I was translating so I can post it here.
There is a group of breeders in Sweden that adhere to a more narrow description of the Blue Isbar that closely matches the more uniform characteristics found in at least one of the "clean" flocks of Blue Isbars that formed the basis of the preservation effort. I believe the original import line matches up with the description that this group of breeders holds. It is my understanding from my readings and conversations with the breeders in Sweden that not all 3 of the "clean" flocks were as uniform.
Without knowing exactly which breeders that GFF imported their stock from (and what country), it is hard to say whether they actually originated from part of the preservation flock or not.
So, if we are to develop an SOP for the Blue Isbar in this country, we will be breaking new ground. Quite honestly, it will most likely match the characteristics most admired by those who choose to do the work to get it written and accepted.
Good views and it would be superb to see the translation that you are working on. I have also heard that Silverudd was aiming to make Blue Isbars autosexing but didn't accomplish that before his death.
I think that when you say that an SOP would match the admired characteristics of those who do the work--- it is kind of that way with every breed.
For example cuckoo Marans had a group that wanted feathered legs and a group that wanted unfeathered legs. -- In the UK Marans have clean legs -- in France feathered-- All cuckoo Marans with unfeathered legs -- were no longer considered Marans when the dust settled -- Since I don't like feathered legs, the 'rejected' Cuckoos are the only ones that I would have ever been interested in - (to get dark eggs) -- but they will evaporate into thin air because there isn't enough support. Some folks put a lot of effort into their chickens (non-feather legged cuckoo Marans) -- and a lot of fine stock - became unsupported as a result of the feather-leg decision.
I just GAVE away a cuckoo Marans hen with clean legs.
because she had clean legs? -- at anyrate, that is the only kind of Marans I would ever want.
I just had to go into the coop and lift up may Isbar and see how many eggs she was sitting on. And now I think she has abandoned her being broody. It is always so interesting - because when they are broody they don't lay -- so my stellar layers - are now either molting or hormonal or both -- and only 1 Isbar is left laying.....
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because she had clean legs? -- at anyrate, that is the only kind of Marans I would ever want.
I just had to go into the coop and lift up may Isbar and see how many eggs she was sitting on. And now I think she has abandoned her being broody. It is always so interesting - because when they are broody they don't lay -- so my stellar layers - are now either molting or hormonal or both -- and only 1 Isbar is left laying.....
I had her in the pen with my blue isbar cockeral. In hopes of a blue cuckoo OE from the cross. I put several brahma hens in there with them. The cuckoo stopped laying when we moved her. A few days later she was bleeding from being over mated. I did not have a chicken ER set up. My wife insisted we put her in our brand new screened in porch.
I listed her on craigslist free to a good home. Told my wife we made $50
That is a good solution. My blue Isbar rooster is like a pet to me -- but I think that he tends to over mate the hens -- sometimes he is so conscientious -- every treat I give him he drops makes a big fuss over -- everything flying through the air he makes the 'hawk' call -- he sometimes just over does everything. I have to say though that his beauty exceeds all the other chickens here -- he is even more beautiful than the Cream Legbars IMO --
Yep.
My phone is a hunk.o.s..
They all are! But I do like the way they tell you driving directions.
ETA - back on topic.... really like the rooster in the lower left... that is the way mine looks -- except tail not as dark. Beautiful birds.
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