Cream Legbar Working Group: Standard of Perfection

[blackbirds13]

@ M: On the subject of melanizers, have you been culling all traces of the whitish "dots" or breeding them forwards? I would like to learn about them since I have multiple pullets displaying them prominently. Lucy's did disappear or blend in drastically after 1 year though...my answer for everything these days, I need to learn more.

I have 3 juvie pullets with some spotting but I am not culling them at this point. I will take a look at them in the Spring as that's when I'll start hatching again and make decisions then. If they turn out good for type they'll stay depending on the others. I like to breed and decide when I'm in doubt and I'm in doubt a lot. I think if they blended in they may molt out? I know.... I need to learn more to. Don't forget we are going to make a great bird together.

 

[WHmarans]

Looking forward to the pictures that you will post and info after you weigh them.!!  And remind us of their ages too. 

here's bachelor #1 Merlin. Profile sorry but his wings are trimmed. I don't know his weight yet. He's 9 months old and the larger of the two. He's taller and broader across the shoulders.

 

[WHmarans]

Looking forward to the pictures that you will post and info after you weigh them.!!  And remind us of their ages too. 

here's Merlin again you can see his not straight comb.

 

[WHmarans]

Looking forward to the pictures that you will post and info after you weigh them.!!  And remind us of their ages too. 

here's bachelor #2 Elvis. He's in a friends mixed pen right now and he's scuffled a little sorry this isn't the greatest picture. Hoping I can catch and weigh over the weekend and take a pic looking down at their backs. He's 6 months old.

 

[chicken pickin]

here's bachelor #2 Elvis. He's in a friends mixed pen right now and he's scuffled a little sorry this isn't the greatest picture. Hoping I can catch and weigh over the weekend and take a pic looking down at their backs. He's 6 months old.

He looks much younger than 6months old. Are you sure on his age?

So far I like #2 better than number one. His coloring has less red which is good, his back looks longer and his tail looks low. His comb looks less messy also. I also like that his breast has a smooter line if that makes sense, the 1st roo didnt have a smooth profile line from breast to legs. I am a newbie though and I don't have a trained eye. Just my thoughts.

 

[WHmarans]

He looks much younger than 6months old. Are you sure on his age?

So far I like #2 better than number one. His coloring has less red which is good, his back looks longer and his tail looks low. His comb looks less messy also. I also like that his breast has a smooter line if that makes sense, the 1st roo didnt have a smooth profile line from breast to legs. I am a newbie though and I don't have a trained eye. Just my thoughts.

His comb has a big zig zag in it even though it is still small. He hatched in April definitely. Though he does look immature still for some reason.

 

[chicken pickin]

His comb has a big zig zag in it even though it is still small. He hatched in April definitely. Though he does look immature still for some reason.

Wow he does look very young. I think I would be hesitant to use him as a breeder if he is maturing so slowly.

 

[KPenley]

@ M: Thanks for the input. I think I'll choose keepers based on type, and see how the girls turn out next year like you're doing. Thanks for the reminder...it's a bit easier when we know we're not working totally alone

@ WH: Can you wait until Elvis fills in to choose? I think both boys will have strengths and weaknesses but it's hard to tell in just a couple of pics, you know?

 

[blackbirds13]

Quote: He is very small for his age and I would hesitate to make him my primary rooster despite his good qualities but I'd probably test breed him to see what he produced at least once if I had the space. Even as the junior roo his size is really off. If you can keep him I'd mate him at some point to your best hen and see. It may indeed be a waste but it may turn out otherwise. You have some good girls so mating the bigger boy to them may get you where you want to go. If you culled/rehomed him I'm sure someone would take and breed him so why not do it yourself. I bred everything I had because it was what I had and it was not like there was a ton of 'better' stock out there and even now it's slim pickings . Now I'm at the point where I have to cull really hard but at first I needed to simply build a flock the best way I could with what I had unless I wanted to spend a ton more money with no guarantee of getting anything better. If you could combine the two you might have a great rooster, separately not so much but they each do have some redeeming qualities. It won't hurt to try both of them out.... you may end up with a boy nicer than both to take back to the hens or you may have to do what you could do now and find another boy.

 

[WHmarans]

T

He is very small for his age and I would hesitate to make him moncey primary rooster despite his good qualities but I'd probably test breed him to see what he produced at least once if I had the space. Even as the junior roo his size is really off. If you can keep him I'd mate him at some point to your best hen and see. It may indeed be a waste but it may turn out otherwise. You have some good girls so mating the bigger boy to them may get you where you want to go. If you culled/rehomed him I'm sure someone would take and breed him so why not do it yourself.  I bred everything I had because it was what I had and it was not like there was a ton of 'better' stock out there and even now it's slim pickings . Now I'm at the point where I have to cull really hard but at first I needed to simply build a flock the best way I could with what I had unless I wanted to spend a ton more money with no guarantee of getting anything better. If you could combine the two you might have a great rooster, separately not so much but they each do have some redeeming qualities. It won't hurt to try both of them out.... you may end up with a boy nicer than both to take back to the hens or you may have to do what  you could do now and find another boy.

Thanks for the helpful thoughts. I think ill do what you suggest by going fo an option "C" and look for a different rooster from either of these. But I think I prefer the big roo merlin over this one so ill let him stay with the hens for now until I find option C.