Cream Legbar Working Group: Standard of Perfection

[fowlman01]

I have been in and out of this thread for quite some time and I really don't think most folks here have any idea what the type should be. You can read the words etc, but I have been auditing this thread long enough to know you don't really know the type by the comments I read..

Walt

 

[HaplessRunner]

I have been in and out of this thread for quite some time and I really don't think most folks here have any idea what the type should be. You can read the words etc, but I have been auditing this thread long enough to know you don't really know the type by the comments I read..

Walt

Walt,

You may be right. Since I am fairly new to breeding, your comment begs a question. Other than reading and interpreting the specifications on an SOP, where does one gain an understanding of type? Since you also indicated earlier that the discussions here reminded you why you were glad that you left the university, it almost sounds like there may be a need for a Chicken 101 class to enhance the collective understanding.

No offence or disrespect is intended by these comments (Sometimes you need a qualifier/disclaimer on these boards!).

Tony

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Tony- I have gained an invaluable understanding of "the basics" following the CSU (chicken state university) thread as they have discussed and evaluated birds from all the large fowl classes of the APA. You might want to start at page 1 there and see what you learn.

 

[HaplessRunner]

Tony- I have gained an invaluable understanding of "the basics" following the CSU (chicken state university) thread as they have discussed and evaluated birds from all the large fowl classes of the APA. You might want to start at page 1 there and see what you learn.

Thanks!

 

[fowlman01]

No offense taken. I gave an in person lesson on type to one of the earlier contributers and I can do it again if someone in CA goes to a CA show. It is a matter of having a knowledgeable person show someone what the descriptions mean. Most people can't apply the information without seeing what it means. Once you see and understand you still have to understand how to breed to make the necessary corrections. Anyone serious about this should have an APA Standard and read the first 40 pages until it makes sense. Most here don't know the vocabulary that breeders need to know. The SOP is where you learn this.

Faculty have meetings that never go anywhere,that was what I was referring to. They make full circle after many side trips.

W

I think most of the people posting have a lot to learn about chickens and a ton to learn about breeding. Making baby chick's is something anyone can do. Breeding to a Standard is another thing. Is there anyone involved in this that lives in Sonoma County CA?

 

[GaryDean26]

In catching up on this thread I was going to volunteer that I don't really understand the CLB type, but Fowlman01 already made that point for me. The first thing that popped out at me from the UK standard was the "wedge type body". I still am not 100% clear on how that should look or be achieved. Then I got hung up on stiltiness and high legs. I assumed that long legs were not desirable, but in recently following some thread on another forum the exhibition Leghorn breeders said that the Leghorn type requires more vertical height (i.e. long thighs) to achieve the grace of the bird. So, yes I am concerned that I may not be doing the best I can at improving my Legbars for type. I am breeding out major defects (and there are a lot of them) and trying to get rounder breasts and a low tail that sweeps from the line of the back and fans out but that is about it at this point. I would have loved to have been in Fowlman01's class on type with Redchicken9.

Yes, there are a few Cream Legbar owners in or near Sanoma County. I can think of 4 off the top of my head, but only one of them have taken any part in this thread and now that she is going back to school and is chickenless is lessoning her roll in the establishment of the breed. Two are people that have tons of chickens and sell and ship chickens all over the country but don't seem focused on improving any one breed or interested in trying to achieve exhibition quality stock. The last is just a backyard owner who doesn't even keep a rooster. I know there was other one that I saw post right before I was in Sonoma, but I remember the name or know that individual personally.

I DID talk to the West Region Director of the Cream Legbar Club when I got back from the Napa Valley Relay two weeks ago and suggest that the Sanoma area might be a good location to have their 2014 regional club activity. Since I have family in the area, and after being there for 2 days want to go back again soon, I would probably even try to travel back out to take part with our west area members.

 

[fowlman01]

In catching up on this thread I was going to volunteer that I don't really understand the CLB type, but Fowlman01 already made that point for me. The first thing that popped out at me from the UK standard was the "wedge type body". I still am not 100% clear on how that should look or be achieved. Then I got hung up on stiltiness and high legs. I assumed that long legs were not desirable, but in recently following some thread on another forum the exhibition Leghorn breeders said that the Leghorn type requires more vertical height (i.e. long thighs) to achieve the grace of the bird. So, yes I am concerned that I may not doing the best I can do in the selection of type. I am breeding out major defects (and their are a lot of them) and trying to get rounder breasts and a low tail that sweeps from the line of the back and fans out but that is about it at this point. I would have loved to have been in Walt's class on type with Redchicken9.

Yes, there are a few Cream Legbar owners in or near Sanoma County. I can think of 4 off the top of my head, but only one of them have taken any part in this thread and now that she is going back to school and is chickenless is lessoning her roll in the establishment of the breed. Two are people that have tons of chickens and sell and ship chickens all over the country but don't seem focused on improving any one breed or interested in trying to achieve exhibition quality stock. The last is just a backyard owner who doesn't keep roosters.

I DID talk to the West Region Director of the Cream Legbar Club when I got back from the Napa Valley Relay two weeks ago and suggest that the Sanoma area might be a good location to have their 2014 regional club activity. Since I have family in the area, and after being there for 2 days want to go back again soon, I would probably even try to travel back out to take part with our west area members.

If you can set up something here in Sonoma County and bring some birds to work with, I will take the time to go over these with the group...or just you. You understand the rounder breast concept and that is a very good thing. Is the body supposed to be the same as a Leghorn?

Walt

 

[GaryDean26]

I will contact the people in the area and touch base with the West Regional Director of the Cream Legbar Club. I am sure that there will be people that are able and willing to bring birds and we should be able to get some interested Club Members there to learn too.

The weight on the Legbar standards are higher than the Leghorn standards which makes me think that the Legbar have to deviate in some areas from the Leghorn, but in reading the UK Leghorn Standard and the UK Legbar standard it is very obvious that they just copied over most of the Leghorn standard on type. I looked at the Silouette on the CLB club logo and compared it to the 1921 illustration idealized illustrations commissioned by the Brown Leghorn club and the shape on the club logo is a meatier bird. Yep...I am the one that is always trying to copy someone else's bird. Being able to paint an image in my head from the standard rather than relying on examples from imperfect birds or others idealized illustrations is a skill I hope to one day have.

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
do you really think everyone has a good idea on how to correct some of the Type Flaws?....

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
I agree with you.....