Breeding Buff Leghorns

[math ace]

Here is a picture of this cockerel's brother.... His color is darker. Is his chest full enough? Is his back more like what I should be looking for in the breed?
His ear lobes were more creamy colored. Is that a DQ or just a fault for the breed?

 

[mschlumb]

[COLOR=800080] [/COLOR] [COLOR=800080]Here is a picture of this cockerel's brother.... His color is darker. Is his chest full enough? Is his back more like what I should be looking for in the breed?[/COLOR] [COLOR=800080]His ear lobes were more creamy colored. Is that a DQ or just a fault for the breed?[/COLOR]

From the picture his front end doesn't look bad. Kind of hard to see length from the angle of the photo but looks similar to his brother. His tail needs to carried higher, but again maybe he is just relaxed in this photo and isn't "showing" The yellow in the earlobe a is only a defect not a DQ. If a leghorn cockerel or pullet has more than 1/3 red in the earlobe it would be a DQ or if a cock or hen has more than 1/2 red it is a DQ. Yellowing in the earlobe can , keyword can, be caused by feeding too much corn. But there is definitely a genetic contribution to that. Again select away from it, but don't sacrifice your type or color for it.

 

[mschlumb]

.

 

[mschlumb]

.

 

[math ace]

THANK YOU ArieBLB and Mschlumb. I have a much better idea of what to cull for and what direction to take my breeding program in the next few years.

 

[danhonour]

The birds appear to have nice heads and color.Birds worth using.Since the birds all appear similar you may have to raise lots to select from or introduce birds different in type to change them.The things I notice that could be improved is more length of leg,body width (to avoid tendency toward narrowness and knock knees),more breast,longer tail coverts and lesser sickles and more saddle.The longer lesser sickles and more saddle will help fill in the area between the back and main tail and make the concave sweep (curved back outline).These things are small things that will add up to type improvement and Leghorn style.Also feather width and tighter feathering will help.Type is shape and both body structure and frame along with feathering,influence type.Get an APA Standard of perfection,old copy from 1940 up to new ones and study the Leghorn sections.

The second cockerel is slightly better in breast but the first one is nicer in many other areas.The creamy earlobe is not a big deal,try feeding less corn more oats (dry oats they may not eat readily,try soaking them overnight in a pail of water.). Red in lobe or white in face are more of a problem. Dan Honour

 

[math ace]

The yellow in the earlobe a is only a defect not a DQ. If a leghorn cockerel or pullet has more than 1/3 red in the earlobe it would be a DQ or if a cock or hen has more than 1/2 red it is a DQ. Yellowing in the earlobe can , keyword can, be caused by feeding too much corn. But there is definitely a genetic contribution to that. Again select away from it, but don't sacrifice your type or color for it.

Here is another thought.... I don't see the yellowing of the ear lobe in the pullets. Is the yellow of ear lobe -Genetic, environmental OR Hormonal? Could the male hormones cause the yellowing of the ear lobes just like it causes the pinking in the legs ??

 

[danhonour]

I see the birds go back to my line.The tail and saddle genes should be there,so multiple feathering should appear in some of the offspring.I wait until cockerels are 10-12 months old to rate them in tail length.I prefer the darker buff but at least select for eveness.I prefer higher tails rather than low tails. Wide birds with big shanks are usually larger birds with more frame. Longer legs with some thigh length showing will add style ,gets you away from the squatty ,low set ,dumpy look.Loose feathering (fluffiness) takes away from sleek lines of tighter feathered birds.Creamy lobes have a lot to do with feeding,but white skinned birds with white lobes have an advantage (Buff Minorcas).If your birds range outside provide lots of shade (trees ,vines,bushes) the sun fades the buff color.

 

[math ace]

. . ,longer tail coverts and lesser sickles and more saddle.The longer lesser sickles and more saddle will help fill in the area between the back and main tail and make the concave sweep (curved back outline).These things are small things that will add up to type improvement and Leghorn style. . . Dan Honour

Thank you Dan for taking the time to do such an excellent and detailed critique. I appreciate it so much. It sounds like I need to keep an eye out for BIGGER birds - i.e. taller birds with wider backs and fuller chests.




I am a little unsure as to what you are describing with the above quote. Does anyone have a photo of a leghorn ( any color) that illustrates what Dan described as " longer tail coverts and lesser sickles and more saddle". I am sorry, but I am a visual learner... Feel free to use my picture and PAINT on it, if you are a techee type of person.

 

[math ace]

If your birds range outside provide lots of shade (trees ,vines,bushes) the sun fades the buff color.

Very good tip since I live in SUNNY Florida.