Cream Legbar Working Group: Standard of Perfection

[duluthralphie]

I have decided to cut down on birds. I want to have 4-5 good breeds.

I am not sure Legbars will make it as much as I like them, especially the whites. The SOP that is proposed with a large comb is a deal killer for me.

I joined the legbar club, I have visited the site, I have not even gotten a confirmation back from the club my membership was received.

There is no decent discussion on the webpage, the webpage as a whole is worthless, (IMHO) at this point. I understand it all takes time..

But I feel my "dues" where about the same validity as helping a Nigerian Prince get his money to the USA.

It does not appear there will be any attempt to change from the English SOPs to fit our colder climates. I feel bad about this. It would be simple enough to write an either or standard for those of us in the north.

Because I need to cut back (age and health of myself and my spouse) I will only keep breeds I have a chance of winning with. The current SOP excludes that.

I am truly disappointed.

 

[GaryDean26]

If the comb is your biggest hang you could work on rose comb Legbars? The former Cream Legbar Club President, Michael Baker, has been working on them for 6 years. In my opinion they are as legit as the white legbars. Neither have accepted standards anywhere in the world but both have people working on them. It also is okay to breed to your own preferences. I don't know if it really matters that much if the standard calls for 6 points on the comb or 5. I don't know if it matters if it calls for English leghorn tails or for APA Leghorn tails. I don't know if it matters if it calls for large combs or medium combs. I don't know if it matters if it calls for 5 lbs hens or 6 lbs hens. I don't know if it matters if it lists chestnut on the crest as an allowance or as a requirements, etc. because changing the standard doesn't change my flock. I know what I like in my flock and if I have to take a creative licence to keep the flock the way I feel makes it the best i do.

 

[duluthralphie]

If the comb is your biggest hang you could work on rose comb Legbars? The former Cream Legbar Club President, Michael Baker, has been working on them for 6 years. In my opinion they are as legit as the white legbars. Neither have accepted standards anywhere in the world but both have people working on them. It also is okay to breed to your own preferences. I don't know if it really matters that much if the standard calls for 6 points on the comb or 5. I don't know if it matters if it calls for English leghorn tails or for APA Leghorn tails. I don't know if it matters if it calls for large combs or medium combs. I don't know if it matters if it calls for 5 lbs hens or 6 lbs hens. I don't know if it matters if it lists chestnut on the crest as an allowance or as a requirements, etc. because changing the standard doesn't change my flock. I know what I like in my flock and if I have to take a creative licence to keep the flock the way I feel makes it the best.

I understand all of that. I have decided because of some health issues (me being a klutz and DW having legit issues) I have to cut back on birds.

I want to show birds with an eye towards winning. I cannot do that with legbars and the standards they have now. If you bring something in to get a rose comb, it is not the same bird to me. I understand the SOP really do not care what the parents are as long as the bird looks like a breed. It just feels wrong to me (what did he use to get the rose comb?) I had one appear spontaneously last year in "pure" stock with two single comb parents. I know it is not suppose to happen.

I gave the bird to Jerry Segler (Ameraucana Fame) he wanted it for a breeding scheme of his, but alas a raccoon took it out at his place.


I would be perfectly happy with a "combless" legbar because of our winters.

I know I am beating a dead horse, and I am alone on this. I have good stock in other breeds, and I will just work with them instead. I do not have 10 years like many of you to develop a different bird line.

I will most likely be listing my flock of Colored birds soon and my 50ish some whites shortly after that...

Other than you, it is like yelling into a cave to get answers. Thanks..

 

[SnowTrillium]

I too have serious concerns about cold weather and combs. Despite providing heated winter coops, and vaseline etc, I struggle with frost bit combs. It does seem strange to me that we would develop a standard that makes injury to our birds more common. It seems counterproductive and cruel. I appreciate purists and history, but when it comes to the Legbar, a breed created for the true production for the small holder, with auto sexing, feed economy and a nice crest, that emphasizing a large comb is COUNTER to the spirit in which the breed was developed.

 

[duluthralphie]

I too have serious concerns about cold weather and combs. Despite providing heated winter coops, and vaseline etc, I struggle with frost bit combs. It does seem strange to me that we would develop a standard that makes injury to our birds more common. It seems counterproductive and cruel. I appreciate purists and history, but when it comes to the Legbar, a breed created for the true production for the small holder, with auto sexing, feed economy and a nice crest, that emphasizing a large comb is COUNTER to the spirit in which the breed was developed.

Thank you so much, I feel like I am tilting windmills when I make these concerns. They go unanswered here and with email to the legbar club. I think I wasted my money joining them.

The legbars are such amazing little birds to have their popularity end because of a few people wanting to have their birds or geography be the ones the SOP is written for is so counter productive to spreading a new breed.

With the crest, their relative economical feed requirements and amazingly blue eggs they could be one of the most popular birds in the country. The comb requirement will but the kabash on that.


I am at the point I am about to start a writing campaign to APA about the proposed SOP and the probelms with it and the non-responsiveness of the Legbar Club. It may not do anything other than delay the approval of the legbars, but to me that is preferable to the proposed SOPs and lack of response from them.

They do not even have a "mechanism" in place to take feed back from us peons that were dumb enough to join.

 

[Bantambird]

I'm pretty sure that I will aim for medium single comb. The other benefit to this is the combs will likely be straighter on the cocks than the honkers that push crests on one side and combs on the other. I'm mostly breeding my birds for me. But, I plan on following the other guidelines set forth. Montana weather doesn't support big combs either.

 

[duluthralphie]

I'm pretty sure that I will aim for medium single comb. The other benefit to this is the combs will likely be straighter on the cocks than the honkers that push crests on one side and combs on the other. I'm mostly breeding my birds for me. But, I plan on following the other guidelines set forth. Montana weather doesn't support big combs either.

I have some large combed hens. but even they get touched by frost. I am also going for a smaller comb for the same reason, in addition it makes a nicer crest. The large combed birds might have crests but you really have to look hard to find them.

Maybe we should form a Northern Tier Legbar club and push our own SOP on the APA.

 

[Shilo7]

Could I get advice on the Cockerel I should keep

3 months old

Cream Legbar 1

Better temperament

Little smaller

Has some Carmel color

Small perfectly straight comb

Rounder chest


Cream legbar 2

Bigger comb so I think it might flop when he gets older

Comb not centered on head

Already trying to mount pullets and attempts to crow. This one is more curious about things then the other one. This one also likes to peck at my ankles.

Better color

Not as round chest and the feathers crease a little in in chest sometimes.

 

[duluthralphie]

That, to me, really depends on your goals and plans. I would wait longer myself.

I think the one with the larger comb and smaller crest may lose the crest as it ages. Tail angle and body size might be an issue too depending on your hens.

 

[Bantambird]

If you have only two, I'd grow them out longer before selecting one of them. It never hurts to have a spare.