Cream Legbars

[sol2go]

Different lighting. Not super dark but mostly grey they all have VERY bright legs and beaks .

The yellow really stands out in these pics! I would like to enrich my CL's.
The frizzle tolbunt polish is just adorable, and the CL's look slightly distracted by all of that =)

 

[sol2go]

First, I want to express my thanks to the wonderful group of people on this and the Legbar thread - I'm so impressed by the way you all have created an environment to support open and considerate yet very thorough communication. I have learned so much from you all.

I am wondering if folks have a sense of by what age you can say definitively that a bird is crestless. I have 7 13-week-olds, 2 without crests so far. I had checked back with the provider of the hatching eggs earlier and she had said definitely her stock was all crested.




One pullet was very, very, very, very slow feathering so I am keeping open-minded about her as it was just a few weeks ago she started growing head feathers. But the roo was normal feathering. Just lately I've seen some hairy eyebrow kind of thing, but that's not the right place! Some weeks back he had looked like the guy with the clearly straight comb. I understand there's that crest-and-straight comb challenge - so in my mind a straight comb kind of supports the notion he might not get much of a crest.

Pics attached; sorry the side pic is fuzzier than I'd like but he keeps moving.

Also, I'm guessing his ears are showing that SOP red-on-the-ears problem - what I'm seeing is red from the face bleeding on to the ear's edge. I'm not breeding - just trying to find homes for some cockerels and pullets and wanting to be very clear about them and identify if they have anything valuable to pass along, or not, given they are already very colorful.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this!

Hi, I didn't see any response to your question so I'll just pop in to say the crest should be showing before 13 weeks, although it can change a bit.
It is possible to have crested parents and crestless offspring if the parents are heterozygous for the cresting gene i.e. they each only have one cresting gene so it is possible for the offspring to get none.

It is entirely possible to have a straight comb and a crest. If the offspring has a straight comb and no crest, a breeder may still want to utilize them in a breeding program to straighten out a problem comb gene. It would require a concentrated effort to also breed back to a homozygous crest (offspring with two copies of the cresting gene) while keeping a straight comb, but the crest can be much easier to add in than it is to subtract a wild comb; I have seen some amazingly awful ones on pullets and cockerels.

The SOP allows for some red in the white earlobes, I believe the current edition is as much as 1/3 - feel free to check up on that and I will too =) The general consensus is to allow cockerels and pullets a chance to mature in the first year as the finer points continue to change.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I was frustrated because mine would pick through feed that had bits of corn and toss out the rest. So I went to a layer pellet which is very uniform, and a side dish of oyster shell, and there is almost no waste. Then I added a high protein/low calcium crumble in another feeder for the chicks, roosters, and anyone who wants it; it does not have the corn issue so not much waste there either.

They go through phases preferring one or the other, but the roosters rarely show an interest in the layer pellets (unless they are trying to sweet talk someone). All my groups free-range and get plenty of bugs and green things. occasionally a mouse or something yucky. I also throw cracked corn and hulled sun flower seeds into their coop/run to entice them back in at the end of the day; I have not had any problems with weight related issues.

I should add, how much effort you put into it might depend on how entertaining it is for you. I have too many chickens to tailor anything, except for individuals that are recuperating from something like a predator attack...

Thanks - that helps. I think I'm going to go to a pure layer pellet with the next batch of feed (current feed has pellets plus seeds and other stuff). I refuse to throw out the current large amount of feed - we're just going to have to work our way through it...

I gave them their feed that wasn't finished from the day before. They pecked at it a bit, then started digging through the deep litter. (sigh)

- Ant Farm

 

[KPenley]

wing bands are fine in a show.

Walt

X2 I actually prefer wing bands to leg bands for appearances and easy of care. If properly applied they don't catch on anything and are easy to clean in a bath, but I don't put them on birds younger than 4-6 months either. Shows require NPIP clean birds and more and more are requiring AI clean status too now.

For toe punching, you simply put the puncher just over the edge (or on the edge if you prefer the cookie bite method) of the web and click together like a paper hole puncher. It's fast, I've never gotten a bleed and they seem to last well. Some people take the time to disinfect the web, some don't.

That's a fantastic idea! Most of what I've read on toe punching is more focused on identifying breeding lines with combos of holes, but I like the idea of this for down coloring in combination with leg bands (which will likely give more detailed breeding info anyway). I suppose you could also do it the other way, punching those without good down markings...

While I have some detailed instructions, has anyone here tried it?

(I'm off to do a BYC search of toe punching in the meanwhile...)

- Ant Farm

Best wishes everyone! I am loving all the new pictures and welcome to all new Cream Legbar breeders and fanciers!

 

[sol2go]

Thanks - that helps. I think I'm going to go to a pure layer pellet with the next batch of feed (current feed has pellets plus seeds and other stuff). I refuse to throw out the current large amount of feed - we're just going to have to work our way through it...

I gave them their feed that wasn't finished from the day before. They pecked at it a bit, then started digging through the deep litter. (sigh)

- Ant Farm

Is it possible that the feed is rancid? I don't think I've experienced that, but have read cautions that chickens will reject old or improperly stored feed i.e. could have been kept in a hot warehouse for too long.

If there is nothing wrong with the "old" feed, starting now with a new feed, you may be able to reintroduce the old feed later, possibly in a different feeder for variety, or toss in the litter if they like to dig around. In any event, they won't starve themselves (unless they are broody and won't leave the nest). Good Luck finding the right fit for your relief =)

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Is it possible that the feed is rancid? I don't think I've experienced that, but have read cautions that chickens will reject old or improperly stored feed i.e. could have been kept in a hot warehouse for too long.

If there is nothing wrong with the "old" feed, starting now with a new feed, you may be able to reintroduce the old feed later, possibly in a different feeder for variety, or toss in the litter if they like to dig around. In any event, they won't starve themselves (unless they are broody and won't leave the nest). Good Luck finding the right fit for your relief =)

I'm pretty sure it's not - fresh when I got it and I even freeze it in multiple ziplocs so it doesn't go rancid since I don't go through a bag that quickly (only have 3 pullets right now). I do toss out uneaten food in the feed bowl each day or so, since it's so hot here - I don't leave it out.

I do wonder if this is totally a manufactured "problem" or issue on my part (me wanting to see them eat well). I don't have a scale, but they seem fine/healthy... I may just be obsessing...

- Ant Farm

 

[KPenley]

I'm pretty sure it's not - fresh when I got it and I even freeze it in multiple ziplocs so it doesn't go rancid since I don't go through a bag that quickly (only have 3 pullets right now). I do toss out uneaten food in the feed bowl each day or so, since it's so hot here - I don't leave it out.

I do wonder if this is totally a manufactured "problem" or issue on my part (me wanting to see them eat well). I don't have a scale, but they seem fine/healthy... I may just be obsessing...

- Ant Farm

Have you ever tried adding a bit of water to make a wet mash? I love it because I don't have leftover feed sitting around, plus the added water gives me a little bit of assurance in the heat of summer. If you are interested, I just add water to barely cover the feed and let it absorb in before feeding.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Have you ever tried adding a bit of water to make a wet mash? I love it because I don't have leftover feed sitting around, plus the added water gives me a little bit of assurance in the heat of summer. If you are interested, I just add water to barely cover the feed and let it absorb in before feeding.

I tried that once or twice. I got the "Are you trying to poison us, Mommy?" look and they wouldn't touch it at all. But I may try again this evening and see if they've changed their minds.

- Ant Farm

Edit to add: I didn't really mean to highjack the thread. We can get back to pretty CLs now.

 

[KPenley]

I tried that once or twice. I got the "Are you trying to poison us, Mommy?" look and they wouldn't touch it at all. But I may try again this evening and see if they've changed their minds. 

- Ant Farm

Edit to add: I didn't really mean to highjack the thread. We can get back to pretty CLs now. 

Ha! That's funny. Ever try adding whole oats? Mine pick them out first because they love them so much.

 

[caychris]

I tried that once or twice. I got the "Are you trying to poison us, Mommy?" look and they wouldn't touch it at all. But I may try again this evening and see if they've changed their minds.

- Ant Farm

Edit to add: I didn't really mean to highjack the thread. We can get back to pretty CLs now.

Try adding Apple Cider Vinigar to the mix as well. I cover the feed in water then add a half cup for about 2 cups of dry feed