[COLOR=333333]The 1st line is just much more uniform. The second line has many undesirable characteristics that need to be removed through careful breeding. I have 1st, 2nd and mixed line birds. It is easy to tell the 1st line are Isbars. The 2nd and mixed line birds show influences of what look like Marans and Ameraucanas to me. My guess is whoever GFF purchased their 2nd line from was working on egg color and crossbreeding. On the FB page, we have had discussions with members of the preservation group over in Sweden about some of the characteristics that are showing up in the 2nd line. I don't think all the preservation group Isbars in Sweden are as uniform as the 1st line birds we have here, but they don't have the odd characteristics that are showing up in the 2nd line here - red or copper hackles, saddle and wings; small pea-like combs; lack of wattles; larger body type; others that are not coming to mind at the moment. Some of the birds from the 2nd line do appear very similar to the 1st line, but it is hard to say what their genetics are hiding.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=333333]Some things that I am not fond of in the 2nd line, but we haven't directly addressed if it shows up in the preservation flocks are higher incidences of brown egg layers and lighter eyes.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=333333]The 2nd line does add much needed diversity, but trying to breed a flock uniform enough to be recognized as a breed from them alone would be a very long project, IMO. With conscientious breeding, I think we can restore vitality to the 1st line.[/COLOR]
