Cream Legbars

[soldier]

VERY interesting. By chestnut everywhere do you mean they have heavy chestnut or that almost all offspring have it?

I mean that out of a hatch I probably have 35% displaying the chestnut coloring of the JR pullets posted. Sorry just the number of birds displaying chestnut not amount of chestnut on body.

 

[chicken pickin]

Wow, very interesting and important response. Hmmm, I think all my legbars have gold.

Hard to tell sometimes but looking at the birds in your avatar they do appear to be gold in color. They can still be used to breed forward though with careful selective breeding choices and culling. You could end up with cream offspring from them. If you don't end up with cream offspring you might consider getting a different rooster to cover your hens. That is if breeding them to the proposed SOP is in your plans.

 

[chicken pickin]

Has anyone ever noticed any of their CL males having a beetle green feather on them? I have 2 young cockerels and each have a beetle green feather on the wing. I found it odd but wasn't sure exactly what that meant since I have yet to see it mentioned by others. Is it a DQ or will that breed forward? Should these CL be culled from breeding?

 

[KPenley]

Has anyone ever noticed any of their CL males having a beetle green feather on them? I have 2 young cockerels and each have a beetle green feather on the wing. I found it odd but wasn't sure exactly what that meant since I have yet to see it mentioned by others. Is it a DQ or will that breed forward? Should these CL be culled for breeding?

Is the whole feather beetle green? Or just the barring? I have one young boy with black/beetle green barring on one feather. I am watching him to see what happens. Sometimes odd things pop up! I'd keep an eye on it and see if it comes in correctly with the next set of feathers.

P.S. Doesn't sound like a DQ, but maybe a deduction cut.

 

[chicken pickin]

Is the whole feather beetle green? Or just the barring? I have one young boy with black/beetle green barring on one feather. I am watching him to see what happens. Sometimes odd things pop up! I'd keep an eye on it and see if it comes in correctly with the next set of feathers.

P.S. Doesn't sound like a DQ, but maybe a deduction cut.

I haven't really taken a good look to see if it is the whole feather or not. But I did look through some pics and found a few that might help. Both pics are of the same cockerel each pic a different side.

 

[Kaylish]

Excellent question! 

Those that are trying to "breed the color out" are working to preserving a historical breed.  The "cream gene" is a recessive trait in chicken.  The gene dilutes the gold pigments on the bird making its color what is called lemon, citron, or cream.  This cream gene was discovered during the creation of the Legbar and the "Cream" Legbar was the first variety of chicken in the world to receive a written standard for Cream Plumage.  Dozens of breeds have a crele variety that make the adorable flower looking birds with their salmon breast, but the Legbar is unique in that it is a Cream based wild type bird with salmon breast and barring.  So were are preserving something unique for future generation to enjoy. Additionally by standardizing the breed it can be submitted for breed recognition by the American Poultry Association where as it currently has not breed status in with the APA and won't ever be recognized if not standardized.  The flower like birds with gold neck are in no danger of becoming extinct.  The Cream color how even is much more difficult to maintain in a flock since it is recessive so it must be actively selected for or else it will disappear.

Wonderful information! Thank you.

 

[KPenley]

In the second pic, it looks like there in some cream on it. I'd just watch it, or you could always yank the feather on one side and see how it grows back in (6-8 weeks).

 

[GaryDean26]

Has anyone ever noticed any of their CL males having a beetle green feather on them? I have 2 young cockerels and each have a beetle green feather on the wing. I found it odd but wasn't sure exactly what that meant since I have yet to see it mentioned by others. Is it a DQ or will that breed forward? Should these CL be culled from breeding?

Yes...I have three Cream Cockerels under observations. They are about 5-6 months old and I have found beetle green feathers on all of them. I have not seen this before this year. It is quite common in the Olive Egger cockerels we grow out, but something new in the CLBs. I am not sure what causes it but have seen photos of the genetic hackle Grizzles with all types of beetle green, chestnut, purple sheen, black melonizers, etc. going on. An APA judge mention something about judging birds with these type of flaws so I know it is something that we will want to work away from but don't think it is a DQ. I am guessing that if it is just one feather that it may molt out and not be anything in the color genetics but rather a growth problem that causes the feather to not color properly. I am going to watch this, but don't feel at this point that it is anything to be too concerned about.

 

[KendyF]

I have recently added cream legbars to my flock. They have all come to me from different farms ranging in age from 3 months, to 1 year. I find these birds to be especially shy, both of me and my other chickens. I am wondering if this is their "nature".

Thank you,
Kendy

 

[lonnyandrinda]

I have recently added cream legbars to my flock. They have all come to me from different farms ranging in age from 3 months, to 1 year. I find these birds to be especially shy, both of me and my other chickens. I am wondering if this is their "nature".

Thank you,
Kendy

I actually find them quite curious and nosy. Much better than my psycho Ameraucanas!