Cream Legbars

[ChicKat]

One of my hens has started laying the most amazing blue color of egg. It really makes the other ones look a bit lame. The color has just gotten much more intense in the last 2 weeks or so. Has anyone else had a hen whose egg color has gotten deeper over time? I really have to figure out who it is. I thought I had it figured out, but was incorrect. I will have to follow the chickens around some more.

The picture is a little misleading as it makes the other eggs look white. However the other eggs are kinds of a robins egg blue - standard legbar looking eggs. But then there's this one hen that is laying some BRIGHT eggs.

Yes, I see how it is bluer. What a very pretty shade of blue. Nope there isn't a way to really get the best photos, blue is and has been a difficult color to photograph --even back in the days of film. Something about the light wave-lengths maybe.

Bluer egg is a goal that I have --

No feed changes right? Someplace - I read on the world authority - the internet that they did a study of Blue-footed Booby (Pacific coast from California to Peru and Galapagos Islands) An increase in carotinoid darkened the blue of the eggs. Though that was a derivitive of carotine and I tried an experiment and tried some carrots on my birds...and they didn't like carrots (probably too much of a good thing) Can you just hear me "eat your vegetables girls".

Here is a study: http://webs.uvigo.es/avelando/pdfs_archivos/moralesetal2011BESa.pdf

 

[normanack]

Someplace - I read on the world authority - the internet that they did a study of Blue-footed Booby (Pacific coast from California to Peru and Galapagos Islands) An increase in carotinoid darkened the blue of the eggs. Though that was a derivitive of carotine and I tried an experiment and tried some carrots on my birds...and they didn't like carrots (probably too much of a good thing) Can you just hear me "eat your vegetables girls".

Here is a study: http://webs.uvigo.es/avelando/pdfs_archivos/moralesetal2011BESa.pdf

Althou my chickens will eat anything I throw at them, I like to put the carrot peelings and the chunk you slice off at the top and throw them in my Ninja, then mix the carrot crumbles into their feed.

 

[ChicKat]

Thanks..... I think I just didn't present it correctly. -- I may try again to see if there are results -- The study, said, I think that caratinoid (spelling??) is added to some commercial feeds to darken egg yolk color. This would be an easy thing to experiment with.

Good thinking -- I need to get that food processor off the shelf and smash some carrots for them. Just for their health if nothing else. Carrots are good for eyes too--

 

[1muttsfan]

I like to put the carrot peelings and the chunk you slice off at the top and throw them in my Ninja

Ok got to hear more about this

 

[lonnyandrinda]

The Ninja is a type of blender...

 

[KPenley]

Looks like carotenoids are found in orange fruits and vegetables and others like (sweet potatoes, carrots, carrot and tomato juices, pumpkin, cantaloupe, apricots, spinach, kale, collard greens, bell peppers, and broccoli) as well as raw palm oil. Just found that marigold does contain beta-carotene, and it is added into Purina foods for darker yolks.

Out of curiosity, are the yolks darker in the bluer eggs?

 

[newbiechix]

Thank you! It's good to hear his antics aren't too unusual for the breed. He's really a sweet guy and only crows in the morning and evening when he hears me and wants attention (treats). I rechecked the calendar and he was actually 6 weeks in the second picture, not 5, but still seems a bit mature at that age. Apparently it may be a CLB trait. Good to know! I have another roo that's a bit younger at only 4 weeks who hasn't yet made anything other than normal chick sounds so far. It will be interesting to see when that changes.

YES!  My first one started crowing very young.  I called it a "practice crow".  I never knew a rooster could crow that young.  It was sort of a screech.  At first I thought that there was an altercation between him and the pullet...but the same sound was repeated.  Just another example of the amazing qualities of Cream Legbars.  LOL.    

When my first pair was little -- they hung out in the coop -- none of my other chickens did that.  Subsequently I am wondering if the cloudy, shady skies of England contrast sharply with the BRILLIANT sun of South Texas and they were more comfortable indoors.  When they were mature they spent just about all the  time out.  I have some juveniles now-- that follow the same pattern....I don't know if it is the sun or the raw winds that blow here---but my pullet likes hanging around inside.  The cockerel at 22+ weeks, is more likely to be out, and patrolling the area.  He also sitis outside the door for awhile in the evening to make sure things are safe.  Congratulations on your boy growing up. 

 

[RyeRanch]

Looks like carotenoids are found in orange fruits and vegetables and others like (sweet potatoes, carrots, carrot and tomato juices, pumpkin, cantaloupe, apricots, spinach, kale, collard greens, bell peppers, and broccoli) as well as raw palm oil. Just found that marigold does contain beta-carotene, and it is added into Purina foods for darker yolks.

Out of curiosity, are the yolks darker in the bluer eggs?

I. Do not know if the yolks are darker in the bluer eggs. I have been throwing them in the incubator rather than opening them. The hens may have had a bit of change in their diet lately. Spring is in full force here, so there are a lot of new grasses coming up and likely a big increase in the amount of bugs, worms and snails they are eating too. However, it is Justine hen who has the electric blue eggs. The others are still the same regular blue. I will keep you posted if the others change too.

 

[sol2go]

Hi RyeRanch, I'm also in California and have a young batch of Cream Legbars from Phage. I'm interested in adding a few hens that are not related, any chance your source is different? If your eggs are fertile, I would really like to have some of those dark blue ones! (is "Justine" a CL?)

 

[RyeRanch]

PM'ed you.