Cream Legbars

[Odelia]

The one on the left looks like his comb is a bit wavy. I would keep them both until they fill out and then decide.

 

[Ruralpearls]

They are still very young so growing them out would be encouraged. The one on the right seems to have some spots of color on the plumage that could mean he will grow out with some gold tones but time will tell. It will be interesting to see how they mature and what happens with the barring also.

I know this is very ignorant of me to ask, but why is it so bad for them to have gold tones? When I look at pictures of the breed I find the ones that aren't 'show quality' because of their color patterns to be more beautiful that the others. What causes them to be more golden? Poor breeding?

 

[ChicKat]

I know this is very ignorant of me to ask, but why is it so bad for them to have gold tones? When I look at pictures of the breed I find the ones that aren't 'show quality' because of their color patterns to be more beautiful that the others. What causes them to be more golden? Poor breeding?

hi Ruralpearls,

You have actually touched on an issue with the breed.......that is somewhat 'controversial'. Some of us think exactly as you do that the ones that are being labeled as 'non-cream' by some folks are fully cream - but in a richer shade. Some of us think that the ones that are being called 'correct' or 'show quality' are far less attractive as roosters. the idea I believe was started in the UK that the only 'good' CL rooster looks like a white-ish Barred Plymouth Rock - with a crest. Any other tones are considered 'inferior' -- which is really sad and divisive IMO.

Sadly, it really and honestly isn't known what genetics a Cream Legbar carries - and when people say that 'that rooster is double cream" or 'that rooster only has one cream gene" - they aren't basing it on genetic evidence but on surmise. JMO but I think a quote from Pease one of the breed founders started the "Cream should look white" trend - with a quote that stated that only the crest can differentiate the Cream Legbar from the Silver Legbar. in the same sentence he said that the chick down should look 'as the gold legbar'. This launched the "Cream Legbars look like silver legbars with a crest movement". My interpretation of Pease statement that is entirely aligned with my chicks is that the Cream Legbar looks identical to a silver legbar until about 12-weeks -- then the differentiation begins and the beautiful plumage of the CL starts to be visible. Prior to that time - it does look like a silver Legbar would look.

Then somehow the UK changed the desired down color from 'as the gold' to looking like the Silver Legbar chick down. So at some point the breed diverged from it's origin.

A large number of folks including Cream Legbar Club Board of Directors members favor silver-looking CLs as the 'proper' CL. I strongly favor the ones that have a more cream-color - and definitely I wouldn't keep one that didn't have a chestnut color showing up on his wings.

There is still a lot of information to find out about the breed.

For my part, I'm holding true to my original pair - and trying to replicate them and improve on their good qualities......like plentiful egg laying and very moderate--not overly pouffey crest.... This view -- sometimes called a 'gold' bird---with no more proof than that it isn't white-looking is the minority, I must say.... And some think that this is a poor horse that has been beaten to death.....but there you have it -- some folks prefer the ones that have no other coloration that black and white in the roosters, very pale almost pink salmon in the females with very large crests---and some don't.

Bottom line, I guess is breed the birds for your own purposes and wishes....I suppose if showing is your main goal...then if the UK version of the CL prevails, you must fall into that group.

Meanwhile -- BTW, Greenfire Farms will have the white-looking or silverish-cream CLs available in the Jill Rees line - and will maintain the original CLs - so the originals that came to the USA will continue to be available.

 

[blackbirds13]

Quote:
The Cream Legbar is a 'gold based' bird genetically as opposed to silver. What gives it its silver look is the double dose of cream (ig/ig genetics). Birds without the double dose will display the gold as a chestnut color over parts of the plumage. As chicks this can happen on the overall body in spots and spurts but will be displayed most prominently in the wing bay Secondary feathers, hackle in both male and female and saddle (and back) areas of the male birds. The chestnut on the shoulders is sometimes confused witht the cream gene but it is separate from it and some is allowable per the standard. Most folks, including myself, do find the colorful birds attractive but the paler cream colored ones are just as beautiful in their own right and are genetically more in line with the SOP and the breed standard demands. Some folks choose to breed the gold birds because they like them, some do it because that may be what they have on hand and some may just not know any better... who knows. The debate over color has been going on since the birds came into the public sphere. I personally prefer the paler birds but that may have a lot to do with the time and work I've put into my flock and the promotion of the breed standard, so I am biased.

 

[DevieLou]

Closer view of boy on left
His comb is crooked but he has a crest.

 

[Ruralpearls]

Thank you both for your informative response.

 

[DevieLou]

Boy on the right, straight comb but no crest and more silvery gray.

 

[Odelia]

Closer view of boy on left
His comb is crooked but he has a crest.

Boy on the right, straight comb but no crest and more silvery gray.

I don't know which is harder to breed for. A strait comb or a crest.

 

[Ashdoes]

Is anyone else having trouble hatching Cream Legbar eggs? I feel awful, we have a bunch go in to lockdown, and then 6 hatch.
Our very first hatch, with our mixed eggs, went great. Hatch rate was about 80%. Our last hatch was crap. Frustrating!

 

[DevieLou]

I don't know which is harder to breed for.   A strait comb or a crest. 

Me neither.. The girls have straight combs so far and one has a crest..