Cream Legbars

[blackbirds13]

Gary,

Great advice! I am a new breeder and practical advice is always the most appreciated.

I have 3 male cockerels that are now breeding age (hatch date 4/15/13). These are from earlier generation GF stock. One is a really big boy and the lead rooster but he has heavy red bleed through across the shoulders and onto the wings. The second cockerel appears to be a bout a half plus pound smaller has better color with less red. This second guy is very aggressively chasing hens and does not back down from a fight with other roosters. He has not shown any people aggression yet. The third rooster is the smallest but has the best color. About 3-4 weeks ago he got sick and his comb paled but I was able to get him back to health. His comb and other features returned to health but he was set back in his growth.

I have two pullets (hatched 4/7/13) which have yet to start laying. One of which is obviously on the gold side and appears to be getting close to POL. It is unknown whether she carries the cream gene or not. The other appears to have a very good cream color and appears to have very good breeding stock potential. The pictures are shown below.




CCL Roo#1



CCL Roo#2



CCL Roo#3 and Gold Pullet



Gold Pullet



Cream Pullet



Same Cream Pullet




Based on the pictures above, recommendations are appreciated. My intentions are to gradually work toward the standard. Others are welcome to provide their thoughts as well. Any roosters not selected will culled or go to another project I have in mind.

I like Rinda's points on the birds.
I'd keep #1 and #2. I'd mate each to the hens separately and see what came of it. Keeping 2 boys is a good idea for just in case. #1 has a nice looking form so far but I'd be hesitant to toss out what could be a creamier boy (as everyone knows). If you could find some more cream girls you'd be set I think.

 

[1muttsfan]

At this point I would not eliminate a bird for anything less than DQ's or poor type. Color, comb and crest can all be improved through selective breeding (easier to do with the crest and the color cream as these can be fixed in one generation, comb issues while harder to fix can certainly be worked on and are minor point deductions). Poor type is VERY hard to fix and requires generations of selective breeding to get back to size and form. If you can let your birds mature before selecting, you will have a much easier time identifying the best breeders among them. Remember that size and type are related to egg productivity as well - we want good layers as much as we want birds that are cream colored.

If you want to evaluate type alone, change your color photos to black and white - easy to do with a simple photo program on your computer. This eliminates the distraction their color presents.

 

[CibolaChooks]

If you want to evaluate type alone, change your color photos to black and white - easy to do with a simple photo program on your computer. This eliminates the distraction their color presents.

ChicKats technique of black and white photos only works for posting pics that others will judge. If someone wants to evaluate type they should cage them next to each other and spend some time there looking at them. Its next to impossible to get the same photo of two birds , same distance with the same angles with birds standing still in there natural stance. I have Am's with a great stance and body angle but trying to get a pic of it is next to impossible with all the movement they do once a camera comes out.

 

[sweetdreaming]

i've been trying to upload pics of my 3 roos. Here's #1: he's 16 weeks, the largest of the 3, with a giant comb and wattles, but has what I think are "thumbprints". He also has more color over wings and saddle feathers are gold-chestnut.

 

[sweetdreaming]

Ok, that upload looked like it worked. Here's Roo #2: he's 16 weeks, in the middle for size/weight and I think he has the best cream color, esp his cream saddle feathers. Has a nice straight comb except for a "scoop" at the back, Darn! (BTW, it was really windy when I took these pics so their feathers are all every-which-way and they were very flighty--it was hard to get good pics)

 

[1muttsfan]

Anyone can evaluate a bird using black and white photos. It is an excellent way to look at type without the distraction of color, and its mentioned often on breed threads. Caging two birds next to each other works great if you are picking between them (assuming you have two), but not maybe so much if you are looking at judging them against the standard.

 

[Jessica Lynn]

I have fallen in love with the look of these chickens! I don't have any yet, but I have a friend who might hatch out some for me!

I have a question. I have read several auctions stating they lay a blue green egg. I have also read where the egg should be blue!
I have a copy of the online auction color chart for reference. What is the desired color for the eggs?

 

[sweetdreaming]

Here's #3 roo: he's also 16 weeks, but the smallest. He has a perfect straight comb and the points are filling out nicely. But, he has the same coloring as #1 with the gold-chestnut saddle feathers. It was very windy when i took these pics, his tail is really attached very smoothly over his back. None of these roos have anything that looks like a crest (are they supposed to?) I wonder how you can tell if they're homozygous for the crest gene or not? Only by test breeding them? thanks!!

 

[KPenley]

I could be wrong but I think #1 and #2 might have a small comb. I'd grow them all out and compare then if I were you. Cresting is dominant so it should nt be hard to add if they are truly missing it.

 

[KPenley]

I have fallen in love with the look of these chickens! I don't have any yet, but I have a friend who might hatch out some for me!

I have a question. I have read several auctions stating they lay a blue green egg. I have also read where the egg should be blue!
I have a copy of the online auction color chart for reference. What is the desired color for the eggs?

In the UK blue, green, and olive are accepted. We were thinking of only putting blue in our Standard, but then many people would be disappointed to find what looks to some as green and some as blue. So...blue or green (blue green) are fine. We don't have an ideal number currently since there is a range, but mine are OAC 151 and OAC 123 if that gives you an example. Someone recently reported getting OAC 178! I think that color is beautiful.