Cream Legbars

[ChicKat]

lmao

thats exactly what i was saying i need to do. and i said allot of "ifs" becaues i have no clue. Thanks. also most of my complaining comes from people who discourage others and then praise poor quaility. like you said there are allot of newbies so my main problem is people who discourage when they have no clue what someone has(as far as color goes). only that person will know what they have only after they have hatched lots of chicks thats when they will know what their working with.

With a gene pool like we have and allot of us starting out with no cream or single cream gene birds as newbies like you mentioned there needs to be allot of positive reinforcement and encouragement not people who instantly put down what someone else has

Agreed-- Please accept my invitation too for you to join the Cream Legbar Club. Sounds like your thoughts are a match to our goals to get the best. We need strong and excellent opinions packaged positively to help ALL the members newbies and experienced....

Also -- X2 what GaryDean26 mentioned....Please post pictures of the 'correct' type. My thoughts and my chickens are more hefty than Leghorns - especially the roos (although I have to say I haven't owned a Leghorn roo so I could be amiss here) - They are sturdier birds - very well defined muscles, etc. In addition to type - the probably most important trait is autosexing - and blue eggs are a nice bonus.

Keep posting and keep informing. Thanks.

 

[ChicKat]

Here are some recent photos of my flock. Far from perfect, but we didn't think we would be to this point for another 2 years, so we am happy with the progress over the past year.

Very very nice birds. Is that Robin on the far left of middle picture? Love the progress you have made in such a short time. Bravo. Keep up the good work.

 

[GaryDean26]

Yep...That is Robin on the far left with one of the pullets she brooded 2nd to the left.

 

[ChicKat]

Yep...That is Robin on the far left with one of the pullets she brooded 2nd to the left.

Warms my heart!!! :O)

 

[MuckyPuppy]

Oh wow, all of your Cream Legbars are looking great!!

 

[Cadens Farm]

Give Jett some higher protein food. That should get her jump started.

 

[babymakes6]

Quote:

Well said!

Steen-
I volunteered my time (I am the Eastern Region Director) because these birds have the most personality of any chickens I have ever owned-to me that is the most appealing feature, followed closely by the autosexing abilities. My birds are still young, not quite laying, but soon. My friend has my first birds, which are almost a year old and laying well. I have never been involved in breeding birds before (although I DO have experience with dogs), but thought this was the perfect one to get started in, simply because it isn't so intimidating when you are all learning together. I have not been able to put in nearly as much time and effort as most of the others have-partly because I work best when someone gives me a job and says "do it!"

It does hurt to see someone jump on us like this (and I have no clue who you are referring to as "promoting their birds")-I don't feel that has happened anywhere. I do want to help improve the breed, beginning with type and egg color (blue, not green), but it is hard when nobody seems to have a bird that IS the correct type. Everyone says "type could be improved a lot on this bird," but nobody specifically says HOW or WHAT. If you are going to jump on those who have been trying to work on these birds, then have something to back it up-where are the pictures of your flock, and go over the type with us.

 

[ChicKat]

Give Jett some higher protein food. That should get her jump started.

And good old black-pepper -- and some cayenne..... because she will drink more water and eggs require GOOD water. ;O)

 

[ChicKat]

Oh wow, all of your Cream Legbars are looking great!!

X2 -- Thanks for the insights MuckyPuppy!!

 

[blackbirds13]

Since I posted images of my birds within a critique of the birds posted by normanack I thought I would address the recent discussion on self-promotion.

I was in the process of posting my images when I noticed her pictures so I added my critique in at the end.


I am not sure she can get to cream with these birds but unless she breeds them she won't know if the genes exists and even if they do, getting there takes quite a bit of work depending on how much you can hatch (look at the ratios using Punnetts square) - though you can get lucky with just a few of the right combinations of genes. There's debate on whether it shows itself by lightening the color, but I've seen a range of variation in color in this short time, and with the limited hatching I can do as a breeder there are a ton of questions that are not answered perfectly by technical genetics but need actual hatching to really understand.
But since I have sold very few birds to anyone and not shipped a single bird or egg, and only recently (this weekend) sold 8 eggs to a local girl, I personally am not anxious to sell anything until I get my flock right. I have lots of requests from folks but just not ready yet.

I have had my fair share of negativity directed towards my birds. In fact upon posting my original Legbar pair the day I received them in October 2011, I had someone jump all over themselves to tell me how floppy his comb was and I should not breed him and pass that flaw along. It did straighten up a bit a couple of days afterwards but the damage was done. Had I taken that advice I could have culled the rooster. In fact, I got 2 replacement ones from GFF but neither made it to breeding age and my floppy roo threw straight combs so I know not to take anyone's advice without my own research and hatching. Do I think that the words of anyone who claims to be a genetics guru on the internet are something I adhere to like gospel - no. I prefer to learn as I go, do a lot of research and talk to folks who also own and breed the same birds or have been long term breeders and there is disagreement even then. Everyone's an expert just because they say so on the internet. I have had chickens for 3 years so I am a total newbie. Science is not my forte but I'm trying my best to understand and learn. I have my own plan and I'm not too concerned with the plans of others and this whole type versus color debate as I see it all as the same - SOP

I am member of the club but hold no office but I did volunteer some time to work on the logo so I have spent a fair bit of time looking at these birds for type and form. I am no expert when it comes to conformity, but I have to admit I do not think you can call a gold hackle Legbar a 'Cream' Legbar. It is a refrain you do read frequently from the British holders of these birds.

Everyone's got their own take on what breeding plan to follow. Some go type first, some color. I went color first as I saw I had the available gene pool within my flock for that to be a quick easy fix. Will I introduce any gold birds into my flock now just to fix type, probably not as I think there will be a fair amount of correct cream colored birds coming up on the market for me to avail myself to if need be but I can probably get by hatching my own. GaryDead - they look AWESOME can't wait for those eggies!!!!!

Do I think my birds are perfect? I'd be doing myself, my breeding plan and future flock a disservice to think that way. Do I plan to sell birds at some point? I sure hope so as I plan on doing a good amount of hatching this year and I'm not sure how many I can keep in freezer camp.. Would I like to make a bit doing so when I'm ready? ...yep, it would be nice to try to recoup some of the money I put into my hobby and maybe cover food costs but am I doing this to make a killing and for self-promotion...nope, don't have the time. Do I think my birds are junk? nope. I have areas that need attending to but I am not unhappy with where I am today given I thought I was done for last August when I found my rooster dead and stiff as a brick in the pen. I am proud of what my flock looks like with all the flaws and faults and I'm very proud of what so many have done to bring this breed to where it is now and how many 'correct' Cream Legbars there are. I'm not sure why there needs to be this focus on type versus color and why if one puts one in front of the other for their own purposes that there needs to be such push back.

Without the whole package you do not have a Cream Legbar that fits the Standard Of Perfection and that is going to take some doing for me personally but I have to admit I have enjoyed the journey thus far, despite the negatives.

Hope everyone had a great Easter no matter what you celebrate. I did a lot of egg hiding and finding between Saturday in town, Sunday morning at the house and then again at Grandma's for supper.