Breeding Buff Leghorns

[Birch Run Farm]

I've got a second chick out. Yeah, I know, that's chump change compared to what most of you hatch but I remain excited!

 

[cochinman2005]

Dan, Arie, et al,
Here with some pics of the Buff Minorca crosses.

2009 Black X Buff Male (used him for breeding this year)

2009 Black X Buff females (used these two for breeding this year)

2010 f2 female (Cross X Cross breeding)

Same female

2010 f2 female (Cross X Cross breeding)

Same female (She almost all Buff with light slate undercolor and light blue legs)

2010 f2 female (Cross X Cross breeding) this is the 3rd pullet that carries a good amount of Buff

Same pullet (she's stippled on the chest)

2010 f2 ckl (Cross x Cross breeding) he has white legs

2010 f2 ckl (cross x Cross breeding) very big, big boned, light blue legs, lots of tail

2010 f2 ckl (Cross x Pure Buff) note nice white legs. He's still pretty young so will post pics of this group later.

2010 ckl (Pure Buff Breeding) High tail carriage, but showing some potential in the size department. He's out of the male below so you can see where the tail carriage is coming from.

2009 Buff male (this is one of the two Pure Buff males I used this year) his tail carriage is too high (same male in the photo above with the two cross females), but I am not overly concerned with that right now. I can bring the tail angle down over time, plus as I achieve better length in the tails they will come down naturally anyway. He has plenty of sickle and cushion which is a plus.

I did four different breedings this year with the crosses.
Cross X Cross
Buff X Cross (used two different males)
Cross X Buff

The buff X cross and cross x Buff are the younger birds, but I have a good number with white legs, and solid Buff color, although as you would expect, most are fairly dark.
Pics are a little fuzzy because the 2010 birds are still a bit crazy so I couldn't get as close as I would have liked to with the camera.

 

[danhonour]

Thanks Tom for the Minorca cross project pictures.They are showing progress,but it will still take a few more years.Then you could well have the best Buff Minorca flock anywhere.They are a big improvement over the original hatchery stock.Those Buff males I sent you did help your buff color and will continue onward. However the huge size and frame from the exhibition Black Minorcas,will be what sets your Buff Minorcas apart,as they will be big,have Minorca type (shape),and large white egg size.Hang in there a few more generations and you will have something special,I can already vision them. I bred Buff Minorcas over 20 years and had good buff color and fairly good type,but they could not compare with the best Black Minorcas. I always wanted to do what you are trying and actually got into the f2,then another breeder wanted to continue with them.He later changed his mind and eat them instead.So I am living through it again with you and loving the project too. Dan H.

 

[ArieBLB]

Hello, thanks Tom for the photograph. I like these birds very much. In the past I have done an outcross between Buff Leghorn cock x Black Minorca pullet. It falls me on that the colours are nearly the same as on your photograph. I didn't go further with them because I had to move to another home and need the place for my Buff Leghorns. In the Netherlands I have not ever seen Buff Minorca's. When I have the luck to win a big big price in the lotery I wil buy an old farm with lots of space arround there. Then I wil start over again making large Buff Minorca's and breed large Buff Leghorns.

I think certainly that you will make a large progress.

Take the time Tom, I have a great respect.
Arie

 

[Birch Run Farm]

 

[Buff Leghorn]

WOW haven't all you guys been busy..... Don't worry ive been busy to ive got some hatched and growing so far looking good will get some pic's of them when i can ....

Keep the pictures coming they look great.


When i start this thread i had no idea it would get out to 28 pages lets keep it goin with some great imformation ...


cheers buff leghorn

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
I think this is the first time I have posted on this thread, as I do not have leghorns and to be honest, really do not care for them. Just my opinion. However, this is a most interesting thread on the Buff color. There are many that I have spoken with that have yet to post, yet have been gleaning from the information and experience. We would like to thank you for all the information. This will help me with my Buff Orpingtons (LF/Bantam), Buff Wyandotte Bantams, Buff Colombian Wyandotte Bantams and my Buff Chantecler LF.

I subscribed to this thread when it was page one. the photos are most helpful. The infomation on outcrossing to black is most helpful. Have never done that, but would consider it now.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

I have noticed these leghorn chicks seem more precocious than my other breeds. Nothing bothers them, rain certainly doesn't slow them down and they are quick on their feet getting away from non parent birds. They never chirp looking for their momma, they forage on and don't seem to care if they are by themselves. I have oneBL chick that didn't get a hen momma and I am hand rearing it with an araucana chick. The yellow chick is very fast in taking flies from my hand. I named it Assassin, Sassy for short. It is one of the funniest chicks I have had, it talks back to me and seems to have 'moods'. Very unusual.

Yesterday I noticed the buff minorca hen in the group was on the nest all day. She's still there today so I will look for another hatch later this month.

 

[danhonour]

Jim,Black as a cross with Buff will work,for often black has red or gold hidden under the melanizers.It is possible for black to carry silver hidden ,by it is less common,and you can use it if you have to ( like a gold/silver sex link).Remember with buff you want gold and not silver.Black tailed red is a better variety cross than black depending on your breed,and all red is better yet as you have less melanizers and more red/buff extenders. I was recently mentioning the use of Buckeyes to darken the light lemon Buff Chanteclers.I know of a breeder making use of RIReds in Buff Rocks and I made a cross of an all Red Leghorn on Buff Leghorns. This (Buff x Red cross) takes a few years to work and reduce,but some strength of buff color pigmentation is required when breeding Buff.Anytime Buff is crossed green or slate legs is a possiblity and Black crosses it is most certain.It can be breed out by backcrossing to buffs .It often is (a one or two dosage) of genes,which can segregate.Sex linked can also be a factor.With any crossing be prepared for a 4 generation project ,and raise lots,cull heavy.Most do not have the patience to succeed. Dan H.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Some new pics. This is the chick in the photo above in my hand. I think it is a pullet. She has a little araucana buddy and they are both growing up well, spoiled, but getting big fast. The leghorn has been named Assassin, Sassy for short. She is murder on flies and other insects.

They still like being held at this point

Two new chicks recently hatched