Cream Legbars

[Flaming Chicken]

Thank you! I like the silvery one the best, I am very glad to hear that he is the most correct! I also thought the last one didn't look pure, so it's nice to have that confirmed Here is the hen, I think she is so pretty: She is 24 weeks old, I'm hoping for an egg any day now... Is she a good color? I'm trying to read up on the various Legbar threads, but it's a lot of pages! I gather that silver is also desirable in the hens and she looks fairly gold to me. Does it work that the gold is dominant to silver and so hopefully she is heterozygous and will produce some silver colored hens with the silver rooster, who is homozygous for the recessive silver?

She is very pretty. I like her expression and she has a nice crest. You are correct though that she is too gold and hopefully you get some cream off spring from her and your cream rooster.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Thank you! I like the silvery one the best, I am very glad to hear that he is the most correct! I also thought the last one didn't look pure, so it's nice to have that confirmed

Here is the hen, I think she is so pretty:











She is 24 weeks old, I'm hoping for an egg any day now...

Is she a good color? I'm trying to read up on the various Legbar threads, but it's a lot of pages! I gather that silver is also desirable in the hens and she looks fairly gold to me. Does it work that the gold is dominant to silver and so hopefully she is heterozygous and will produce some silver colored hens with the silver rooster, who is homozygous for the recessive silver?

Although she is gold hackled, you are correct that cream is recessive (cream is a dilutor gene, it dilutes the gold-base which all Cream Legbars carry to a cream color). It will take some test mating, hatching, and growing the offspring out to about 6 or 8 weeks before you will know if she carries cream. If none of the offspring show cream, she does not and would need to go to a layer-only flock. If she is cream, hatch as many as you can and keep the cream pullets, then breed them back to their dad and your cream gene will be fixed. Then you can start fixing the next trait, whether it is body type, tail angle, comb, crest, etc.

 

[harriedhomemaker]

Although she is gold hackled, you are correct that cream is recessive (cream is a dilutor gene, it dilutes the gold-base which all Cream Legbars carry to a cream color). It will take some test mating, hatching, and growing the offspring out to about 6 or 8 weeks before you will know if she carries cream. If none of the offspring show cream, she does not and would need to go to a layer-only flock. If she is cream, hatch as many as you can and keep the cream pullets, then breed them back to their dad and your cream gene will be fixed. Then you can start fixing the next trait, whether it is body type, tail angle, comb, crest, etc.

My CLs are 4 weeks old and I am starting to notice some differences in the color the hackles are growing in. I'm not freaking out just yet, but it looks like I may end up with only 2 of my four pullets cream and I will have to follow the above procedure.



We'll see how the darling on the left grows out.

 

[tbird9]

Although she is gold hackled, you are correct that cream is recessive (cream is a dilutor gene, it dilutes the gold-base which all Cream Legbars carry to a cream color). It will take some test mating, hatching, and growing the offspring out to about 6 or 8 weeks before you will know if she carries cream. If none of the offspring show cream, she does not and would need to go to a layer-only flock. If she is cream, hatch as many as you can and keep the cream pullets, then breed them back to their dad and your cream gene will be fixed. Then you can start fixing the next trait, whether it is body type, tail angle, comb, crest, etc.

Ok, got it! Hopefully at least one of the three younger pullets will be cream. I looked at my dates again and they are actually 6 weeks old, so I should be able to tell soon.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Ok, got it! Hopefully at least one of the three younger pullets will be cream. I looked at my dates again and they are actually 6 weeks old, so I should be able to tell soon.

My CLs are 4 weeks old and I am starting to notice some differences in the color the hackles are growing in. I'm not freaking out just yet, but it looks like I may end up with only 2 of my four pullets cream and I will have to follow the above procedure.



We'll see how the darling on the left grows out.

Look at these two side by side, they are only 4 weeks old so you may be able to tell on yours. The one on the left will probably have gold hackles, the one on the right will probably have cream hackles.

 

[tbird9]

Look at these two side by side, they are only 4 weeks old so you may be able to tell on yours. The one on the left will probably have gold hackles, the one on the right will probably have cream hackles.

Hmm, well it is not looking good for my three little girls in terms of turning out cream. I will try to get them separated from my other chicks tonight and get a better look.

I did just find an ad on my local Craigslist for Cream Legbar Chicks, (http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/grd/3853844482.html). The people offering them are C&L Hatchery in Oregon City. I can't find a website for them, but they supply chicks to Naiomi's Organic Farm Supply, which is a store I like/trust a lot. I just sent an email asking about their female hackle colors. Maybe I will get a cream girl, yet.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Hmm, well it is not looking good for my three little girls in terms of turning out cream. I will try to get them separated from my other chicks tonight and get a better look.

I did just find an ad on my local Craigslist for Cream Legbar Chicks, (http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/grd/3853844482.html). The people offering them are C&L Hatchery in Oregon City. I can't find a website for them, but they supply chicks to Naiomi's Organic Farm Supply, which is a store I like/trust a lot. I just sent an email asking about their female hackle colors. Maybe I will get a cream girl, yet.

Wish they had pictures on that ad.

Odds are not good that they are breeding towards cream as they simply refer you to Greenfire Farms to learn more about the breed. But if they will let you come pick and choose what you take home from their hatchery you might get lucky.

 

[Bama1]

10 weeks old. Such different looking CLB girls. (Ignore the Sulmtalers in the background, they are photo hogs!)


He crowed for the first time this morning, so cute and pitiful.

Bad comb but not leaking red yet on his back. See the barring on the tail of my CLB girl in front of him!

 

[lonnyandrinda]

10 weeks old. Such different looking CLB girls. (Ignore the Sulmtalers in the background, they are photo hogs!)


I wouldn't breed the girl in front. Girl in back is a little dark but she may turn out OK once she matures.

He crowed for the first time this morning, so cute and pitiful.

Bad comb but not leaking red yet on his back. See the barring on the tail of my CLB girl in front of him!

I think he looks pretty good so far! Remember a lot of people as saying that a crooked comb sometimes straightens as they mature so he may yet be a good choice! It is a VERY good thing there's no red leakage yet!

 

[Bama1]

I think he looks pretty good so far! Remember a lot of people as saying that a crooked comb sometimes straightens as they mature so he may yet be a good choice! It is a VERY good thing there's no red leakage yet!

Thanks, I will keep posting pics, and yes that girl in front is nothing but gold gold and more gold. She will go in my daily layer pen.