Cream Legbars

[caychris]

caychris provided a lot of good information!

My cockerels are about 5.5 to 6.5 pounds right now. One hatched at the end of April just weighed 6.5 last weekend. In fact somewhere I posted his photo when he was all legs - and predicted that he would get some weight on him and some heft... and he definitely did by 8-9 months old.

The females weigh less - but my current adult females are around 5 to 5.5 pounds.

They are not pet birds and mine have an aversion to being picked up and being held...even the brooder babies---but if you allow them to sit on your hand -- they will sit on your hand walk up your arm get on your shoulder -- and by that time I put them back in the brooder... They aren't pet type birds IMO-- but they are calmer than Leghorns IMO. I used to say that the cockerels are as sweet as pie and they are safe around children...and I don't say that any longer. They are typical roosters and they are tremendously protective of their hens. They are better with their hens than any other rooster I have seen -- They really are good in that respect..it is amazing. Once I thought one was going to starve himself to death he was so busy finding food and treats for the hens he never ate any himself.... LOL He is still surviving so he must have evened it all out.

They are generally good producers. I have heard that the show-lines don't produce as well as the ordinary ones-- and that may be to be expected. I get a lot of eggs -- but not jumbo or extra large eggs... It suits me since I would rather have a large or a medium daily than an extra large every-other or every second or third day. It partly depends upon what you want for your flock. They are great foragers if allowed to free range. They have a good feed-conversion ratio. Mine have been doing well for a couple of years now - and I appreciate the longevity. Laying usually starts when the pullet is around 24-weeks old. Depending upon when that occurs - they will most likely lay through the first winter with not much attention paid to the weather... I'm in TX and we seldom get snow and the cold spells usually don't last long -- it is a matter of overnight temperature dips then milder days. After they reach 18-months they will generally molt and lay off the egg production until they have fully refeathered.

Correct Cream Legbars should all have crests - each and every one. A nice CL could be lacking a crest -- but please don't put non-crested ones in Poultry shows. For the showing circuit - it is a disqualifier to lack a crest on a breed that has a crest in the Standard of Perfection.

I don't doubt that a Cream Legbar male would get along fine with polish hens -- but I don't think that they would tolerate Polish roosters around JMO -- I don't ever let roosters in the same pen together once they have started breeding. Just the way I do it.

The cream Legbar Club Board of Directors is just now discussing some things about CLs - and the Club VP does bring up the topic that CLs are new to the USA and are still considered a 'work in progress' -- so one person's experience with their line - may not necessarially reflect what everyone is experiencing. HTH

Yeah as for size I would definitely say they are not big and get most of their growth later. I culled my June hatch cockerels in Nov for other reasons but I should have waited because the fully processed birds were just over 2 lbs. (what was there tasted great)

 

[losttexan]

If you have a bator, i could sell you some eggs. I haven't started shipping chicks yet, so it's a little daunting. lol How does $2/egg, plus $15 shipping sound? I have had about a 95% hatch rate with these guys. You can see my pics on my page. If you want to wait 6 months, i'll also have Reese line eggs. Let me know if you're interested.

I do have a bator setup and have hatched a few clutches (usually from a first-time broody quitting on me). I appreciate the kind offer, but for now I am steering clear of hatching eggs. Shipping companies are notorious for rough handling, and successful hatch rates are usually very low for eggs received through the mail. I don't feel like spending the electricty and three weeks of waiitng only to be disappointed. I want to give my babies every advantage up front, not add to the odds against them. If you and I do eventually get to a future point, however, I may be contacting you if I need the genetic diversity.

 

[esme13]

caychris provided a lot of good information!

My cockerels are about 5.5 to 6.5 pounds right now. One hatched at the end of April just weighed 6.5 last weekend. In fact somewhere I posted his photo when he was all legs - and predicted that he would get some weight on him and some heft... and he definitely did by 8-9 months old.

The females weigh less - but my current adult females are around 5 to 5.5 pounds.

They are not pet birds and mine have an aversion to being picked up and being held...even the brooder babies---but if you allow them to sit on your hand -- they will sit on your hand walk up your arm get on your shoulder -- and by that time I put them back in the brooder... They aren't pet type birds IMO-- but they are calmer than Leghorns IMO. I used to say that the cockerels are as sweet as pie and they are safe around children...and I don't say that any longer. They are typical roosters and they are tremendously protective of their hens. They are better with their hens than any other rooster I have seen -- They really are good in that respect..it is amazing. Once I thought one was going to starve himself to death he was so busy finding food and treats for the hens he never ate any himself.... LOL He is still surviving so he must have evened it all out.

They are generally good producers. I have heard that the show-lines don't produce as well as the ordinary ones-- and that may be to be expected. I get a lot of eggs -- but not jumbo or extra large eggs... It suits me since I would rather have a large or a medium daily than an extra large every-other or every second or third day. It partly depends upon what you want for your flock. They are great foragers if allowed to free range. They have a good feed-conversion ratio. Mine have been doing well for a couple of years now - and I appreciate the longevity. Laying usually starts when the pullet is around 24-weeks old. Depending upon when that occurs - they will most likely lay through the first winter with not much attention paid to the weather... I'm in TX and we seldom get snow and the cold spells usually don't last long -- it is a matter of overnight temperature dips then milder days. After they reach 18-months they will generally molt and lay off the egg production until they have fully refeathered.

Correct Cream Legbars should all have crests - each and every one. A nice CL could be lacking a crest -- but please don't put non-crested ones in Poultry shows. For the showing circuit - it is a disqualifier to lack a crest on a breed that has a crest in the Standard of Perfection.

I don't doubt that a Cream Legbar male would get along fine with polish hens -- but I don't think that they would tolerate Polish roosters around JMO -- I don't ever let roosters in the same pen together once they have started breeding. Just the way I do it.

The cream Legbar Club Board of Directors is just now discussing some things about CLs - and the Club VP does bring up the topic that CLs are new to the USA and are still considered a 'work in progress' -- so one person's experience with their line - may not necessarially reflect what everyone is experiencing. HTH

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me all that wonderful information. It has made me think that as beautiful of a bird they are they may not be the best for us. Totally bum about that, but better to know for the future. Thank you chickat

 

[ChicKat]

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me all that wonderful information. It has made me think that as beautiful of a bird they are they may not be the best for us. Totally bum about that, but better to know for the future. Thank you chickat

Does this mean I prevented them from getting a good, happy home?

 

[esme13]

Does this mean I prevented them from getting a good, happy home?

Yes, it stinks!! lol. My kids would be all over them and I remember dealing with leghorns which IMO are neurotic. Thank you though Chickat, as mention better to know than not to.

 

[ChicKat]

I do have a bator setup and have hatched a few clutches (usually from a first-time broody quitting on me). I appreciate the kind offer, but for now I am steering clear of hatching eggs. Shipping companies are notorious for rough handling, and successful hatch rates are usually very low for eggs received through the mail. I don't feel like spending the electricty and three weeks of waiitng only to be disappointed. I want to give my babies every advantage up front, not add to the odds against them. If you and I do eventually get to a future point, however, I may be contacting you if I need the genetic diversity.

Consider this--- there are a number of Poultry Shows-- in TX. You could possibly get started chicks or hatching eggs at a show. One in Dripping Springs in the Spring - maybe would have chicks or eggs...

In the fall - the Texas State Fair...I'm thinking of going and could possibly bring some hatching eggs up (That's a long time away)--- There are shows in March - but they are down here -- LaGrange and then one in Beaumont (from one end of the state to the other)---

Or reconsider trying for hatching eggs. I have had some success with mailed eggs where I got hatches and they were super healthy chicks. You wouldn't have to wait the whole 21 days in mystery -- you could candle sometime in the first week and if you see development (veins) -- then you would have a chance for the full term chickies..... that is if you are the impatient type like I am. ;O)

 

[BeachBumBiddies]

Yes, please contact me if you change your mind. I will also contact you if I decide to sell chicks. I really need to find out more about it because people keep asking me to ship live birds. lol Unfortunately, there are people out there that just see $$ signs. They know a few names behind a few of the lines & just put a name to their flock, even if their birds are def not from those lines. I had an experience awhile back with some Blue Copper Marans. This lady's lines were supposed to be "Bev Davis" lines, blah blah..(I'm sure Bev Davis & the like see their name all the time & just roll their eyes). Well the chicks turned out to be hatchery crap, which ****** me off because I paid good money for good stock. I basically just chocked it up to a learning experience because i didn't know much about the Marans breed. If people would just be honest, I'm sure they would still sell their birds. I used to buy 300 chicks at a time WAY back in the day, which gave me a better price & I could sell at a lower price, BUT I told people the chicks were hatchery stock. I didn't BS them about where the birds came from. Most people didn't care because they just wanted some backyards chickens & didn't want to have to buy the minimum you have to buy from most hatcheries. I made pretty good money too.

 

[ChicKat]

I'm definitely upset enough that I'd like to shout out her name but it just doesn't feel right. I will tell you that she is not a big breeder here and I don't see her selling anything right now or recently.
I truly believe that it was an honest mistake. However, she should have been willing to make it right when I first contacted her instead of insinuating that I was lying. It was absurd to tell me they couldn't be/weren't roosters as I sit here looking at roosters!
She eventually said she'd replace the chickens if I mailed back the roosters. Way too much work and well, I think I'm to blame here as well. I should have done my homework.
I guess I bought into the fact that the birds were from quality lines therefore should be quality birds. I see that isn't how it works. There's many lessons to be learned in chicken raising
and I am learning them. Some the hard way.

I have to say that this is truly an amazing community. I have received several PM's from members here feeling awful for what's happened to me and even some offering me chicks and/or eggs.
I feel very supported. Thank you all.

Probably mailing wouldn't have felt too good to the roosters either.

So glad that you do feel supported -- Cream Legbar people should stick together...and it kind of sounds like they do.

Stick with the breed -- and someday looking back it will be things that you can do for other CL people.

I think that Chamber94 - kind of nailed it that the rooster used lacked a barring gene - and so the white head splotch (aka the indicator for a male chick) was missing so the seller did think that she had sent females....but then where ever their CLs originated needs scrutiny. If that person continues to sell CLs they are doing a disservice to the breed and eventually to themselves - they will ruin their reputation as a seller.......

 

[losttexan]

Yes, please contact me if you change your mind. I will also contact you if I decide to sell chicks. I really need to find out more about it because people keep asking me to ship live birds. lol Unfortunately, there are people out there that just see $$ signs. They know a few names behind a few of the lines & just put a name to their flock, even if their birds are def not from those lines. I had an experience awhile back with some Blue Copper Marans. This lady's lines were supposed to be "Bev Davis" lines, blah blah..(I'm sure Bev Davis & the like see their name all the time & just roll their eyes). Well the chicks turned out to be hatchery crap, which ****** me off because I paid good money for good stock. I basically just chocked it up to a learning experience because i didn't know much about the Marans breed. If people would just be honest, I'm sure they would still sell their birds. I used to buy 300 chicks at a time WAY back in the day, which gave me a better price & I could sell at a lower price, BUT I told people the chicks were hatchery stock. I didn't BS them about where the birds came from. Most people didn't care because they just wanted some backyards chickens & didn't want to have to buy the minimum you have to buy from most hatcheries. I made pretty good money too.

And that approach you describe is exactly why I reached out to the folks here - I get so frustrated at people who buy a few birds, breed them like crazy, stick "Greenfire" somewhere in the description and then "pump and dump" as fast as they can with no regard to what they are selling. I agree with you - if your birds are hatchery quality, fine - there's nothing wrong with that. If you are up front, the average amateur beginner backyard chicken keeper isn't going to care, and you will still make money, while having intact ethics and reputation.

 

[caychris]

My girl (June hatch) just started laying over the weekend and I will say the egg color is greenish (Turquoise) I don't have a chart yet to compare to my phone pics definitely come out sky blue though.

Seeing as we had winter in the middle not to bad egg is so far close to large and if gets bigger Ill be really happy.