Cream Legbars

[cutipatooti]

Here are some pics of my chicks

I'm believe these are all girls

I believe these are all boys

Not entirely sure on these... I put them as girls but the "eyeliner" is not as strong on these. Maybe the lighter one is a boy? Also the girls do seem to have a slight spot on their heads. Is that ok?

 

[ChicKat]

Not entirely sure on these... I put them as girls but the "eyeliner" is not as strong on these. Maybe the lighter one is a boy? Also the girls do seem to have a slight spot on their heads. Is that ok?

Yes the tiny spot on the girl's heads is okay -- infact it is mentioned in UK stuff. Some of ours in the usa have it, some don't seem to have it. Eyeliner is a nice addition but according to what I have read from Punnett's era - it is the chipmunk stripes with clear definition that will signify a girl. I think that you sexed them all correctly - the two with question marks..I think are girls. You will be able to tell if their feathering comes in and begins to show barring that they aren't.

congratulations on the nice chicks!!

ETA - the one in the girl group with the figure 8 on it's head... If the chipmunk stripes are really well defined...good and clear girl-- if they are diffused... I would wonder a bit. ETA - enlarged the picts in a new window-- I'm thinking that the last two are girls and the figure-8 a girl also.

 

[cutipatooti]

Thanks ChicKat! I'm glad to know that I pretty much got it on my first try. The parents of these chicks came from GFF's 2013 line. I'm hoping to get a few good breeders out of them. I did notice one boy with split wing ( I think). I know not to breed that one but heard you should not breed any chicks that are not clearly defined or that you have to guess at. Is that valid? I have over 50 chicks right now so if anyone with experience has any pointers on any chicks in my pics it's very much appreciated. Has anyone used their CL's for dinner. I know they are not meat birds but has anyone done it. I just can't bring myself to kill unwanted chicks yet. Thanks.

 

[KPenley]

Thanks ChicKat! I'm glad to know that I pretty much got it on my first try. The parents of these chicks came from GFF's 2013 line. I'm hoping to get a few good breeders out of them. I did notice one boy with split wing ( I think). I know not to breed that one but heard you should not breed any chicks that are not clearly defined or that you have to guess at. Is that valid? I have over 50 chicks right now so if anyone with experience has any pointers on any chicks in my pics it's very much appreciated. Has anyone used their CL's for dinner. I know they are not meat birds but has anyone done it. I just can't bring myself to kill unwanted chicks yet. Thanks.

Yes, if you're choosing breeders stay away from any health issues or disqualifications ( ie. split wing, wry tail, etc). And marking the easy to tell pullets and cockerels will help to ensure that the Autosexing feature continues strongly!

Curtis mentions it more often than others, but he waits to butcher until 8-12 weeks for small tender Cornish size roasters (I think, hopefully he'll chime in).

 

[chicken pickin]

Thanks ChicKat! I'm glad to know that I pretty much got it on my first try. The parents of these chicks came from GFF's 2013 line. I'm hoping to get a few good breeders out of them. I did notice one boy with split wing ( I think). I know not to breed that one but heard you should not breed any chicks that are not clearly defined or that you have to guess at. Is that valid? I have over 50 chicks right now so if anyone with experience has any pointers on any chicks in my pics it's very much appreciated. Has anyone used their CL's for dinner. I know they are not meat birds but has anyone done it. I just can't bring myself to kill unwanted chicks yet. Thanks.

I recently processed a few of my CL boys at 14weeks old. They were a great size and still young enough to roast in the oven. Taste and texture was delicious.

Cream Legbar on the left

after roasting, Cream Legbar on the bottom

 

[KPenley]

Wow! Those look amazing chicken pickin!

 

[ChicKat]

Thanks ChicKat! I'm glad to know that I pretty much got it on my first try. The parents of these chicks came from GFF's 2013 line. I'm hoping to get a few good breeders out of them. I did notice one boy with split wing ( I think). I know not to breed that one but heard you should not breed any chicks that are not clearly defined or that you have to guess at. Is that valid? I have over 50 chicks right now so if anyone with experience has any pointers on any chicks in my pics it's very much appreciated. Has anyone used their CL's for dinner. I know they are not meat birds but has anyone done it. I just can't bring myself to kill unwanted chicks yet. Thanks.

I think that it was 11-weeks or so, I had some growing exceptionally large, very fast, but they weren't breeders. around 3 pounds to 3.5 at 10 weeks. they were superb!

I recently processed a few of my CL boys at 14weeks old. They were a great size and still young enough to roast in the oven. Taste and texture was delicious.

Cream Legbar on the left

after roasting, Cream Legbar on the bottom

wow Chicken Pickin - I'll be right over to help you eat them. ;O)

Yours look better than mine...I pieced mine out and put in slow cooker...made a couple of meals.

Wow! Those look amazing chicken pickin!

X2

 

[cutipatooti]

My mouth is watering! Glad to know its worth it to grow them out.

 

[ChicKat]

This is a question regarding first eggs!!!

Remember back when we were anxiously waiting to even see what COLOR the Cream Legbars we had would lay? I do.....

In 2012 - it was always just about like clockwork once the pullet was 24-weeks maybe plus a day or two. Is anyone keeping track lately?? Has the time of first egg gotten earlier? I haven't kept pullets for awhile, and the chicks that go from me to others, I tell "expect eggs at 24-weeks"...but the pullets, I'm retaining now are starting to get some pale red in their faces and they are only 13-weeks tomorrow. I know that they could hover here for another 11-weeks - and probably will.

It helps too, IMO to know when that first egg is due. -- Like Isbars 8-months or so, and you aren't disappointed when it is 7 1/2....etc. You are thrilled.

Anyone see age at first egg decreasing?

 

[KPenley]

This is a question regarding first eggs!!!

Remember back when we were anxiously waiting to even see what COLOR the Cream Legbars we had would lay?  I do.....

In 2012 - it was always just about like clockwork once the pullet was 24-weeks maybe plus a day or two.  Is anyone keeping track lately??  Has the time of first egg gotten earlier?  I haven't kept pullets for awhile, and the chicks that go from me to others, I tell "expect eggs at 24-weeks"...but the pullets, I'm retaining now are starting to get some pale red in their faces and they are only 13-weeks tomorrow.  I know that they could hover here for another 11-weeks - and probably will.  

It helps too, IMO to know when that first egg is due. -- Like Isbars 8-months or so, and you aren't disappointed when it is 7 1/2....etc.  You are thrilled. 

Anyone see age at first egg decreasing?

Yes! But I think much of it has to do with when they hatch. Lucy didn't lay until 31 weeks. Her daughter Rose laid at 26 weeks. While the rest are still a week or two away, Rose's daughter Cream Puff just laid her first egg at 18 weeks yesterday!