Cream Legbars

[ChicKat]

The blue eggs website belongs to Sue, not Jill, but they are both considered top CL breeders in the UK.

Whoops -- sorry Jill, Sue and all. Check out Jill's website for another variation on the crest that won all the prizes in the UK.

 

[ChicKat]

Thanks ChicKat et al for the crest/comb discussion.
1) Lines: I understand that it is important to breed to a standard, so how that standard is set is important too. I hadn't really thought of CCL's as a heritage breed, more of a university experiment to prove that the pea comb could be separated from the blue egg gene and create the convenience of an autosexing line. Just a discussion point.
2) Crest colors: if it is up for discussion, and if it is genetically possible, I'm all for variations in crest color. While there are many favorable aspects to the CCL, at a distance, the hen color is not very striking. In fact, I was admiring how well they blend in with the tree trunks and shadows in my orchard when they are free-ranging. To appreciate the feathering and patterns requires a closer inspection. A little variation on the crest, whether due to fullness and/or color, might be fun to breed, "showy" to look at, and helpful to differentiate individual birds.
3) thanks for reminding me! my OAC chart is here...somewhere! I need to pull it out and see what I have =)

Interesting thoughts..... can't wait to hear about your egg colors.

Actually I guess that CLs can't REALLY be a heritage breed for a couple of reasons.... they need to be established prior to 1950 - but I think that it requires APA acceptance and can only reproduce naturally - hence no incubator babies---

 

[Laingcroft]

E-Bay is always a huge gamble or any of the bid places. You have no way of checking the reputation of the person or the quality of the birds you might get. Best thing is to purchase from a reputable breeder. Before I buy any eggs I talk to the person a lot and if I feel like they are on the up and up then I would send off for hatching eggs. The thing with hatching eggs is you may get 24 eggs and lucky to get 6 chicks.


Rob
In Idaho

This doesn't always work either. I spent an entire day at a swap across the aisle from a North Carolina breeder who has nice stock from Greenfire. Talked a bit when things were slow and so I felt very comfortable sending him a money order on April 5 for a dozen eggs. A week later I was told the eggs would be shipping and a tracking number would be provided. When I hadn't rec'd the eggs two weeks after that, I sent email asking if eggs were shipped and did he have tracking number yet. Response was -- I sent them but lost the tracking number. When I told him I never rec'd the eggs (after checking at my PO which couldn't give me any info w/out the tracking number and my neighbors to make sure the package wasn't mis-delivered) he promised to send a replacement order right after he sold the current batch on ebay. It's June 3rd, I'm still waiting...and probably will still be waiting until you-know-where freezes over. All my emails since the beginning of May have been ignored.

It was an expensive lesson, especially when I ended up throwing out a batch of silkie eggs I'd planned to hatch with the legbars. So to save some financial headaches, I'd recommend only using something like a credit card or pay pal that can help with dispute resolution even when you feel you "know" the seller. Asking for post office pkg insurance probably wouldn't hurt either, that way you can at least get your money back if package is lost or seriously damaged.

 

[HaplessRunner]

If he was a reputable breeder, he would have gotten the NPIP certification for his flock. That may provide a means of following up with the State, etc. Prolly more trouble than it is worth but like you, I hate to get ripped off.

 

[Rancher3535]

Sorry you had a bad experience. Not sure if he is close to you or not but that would make me very mad to the point I might just show up on his door step.

I always have to have more than just one conversation with a person before I send off money for eggs or chicks. I check them out with people I know who are deep into the poultry business (APA etc) to see how reputable they seem to be. Do as much talking and seeing how well they really know the breed or do they just have some and trying to make a quick buck like so many people are doing. If they do not talk and walk the walk I say bye, bye.

Breeders should be willing to tell you about their flock and how they breed. Do they run more than one pen of them or do they just have one male and a few females. So really get to know the person and pick their brains about their birds. Even then you can get burned but usually you don’t because you have made such a strong connection and friendship.

 

[Laingcroft]

If he was a reputable breeder, he would have gotten the NPIP certification for his flock. That may provide a means of following up with the State, etc. Prolly more trouble than it is worth but like you, I hate to get ripped off.

Yes, he is NPIP. That's the only way I could get eggs sent to Virginia and we're NPIP too. Unfortunately that venue won't work for business/sales problems.

His stock, what few I saw, were nice if more gold than I'd prefer - it's not that he has bad stock. I'm just angry that I spent $76 and have NOTHING to show for it other than an email promise. I'd love to pursue it through the courts, but sometimes we just have to cut our loses.

Funny thing is, he said this was the second time it had happened - losing shipped eggs. I can't help but wonder how many more times it might happen in the future. In any case, he is OFF my breeders list.

 

[har]

No luck in starting my CL flock so far. I bought three different dozen eggs on E-Bay. The first one I got a pair but the pullet died, the second got two Roos and the third would you believe I got seven Roos. That has got to be some kind of record. LOL

 

[lonnyandrinda]

LOL Wow that is terrible odds. Sorry to hear that!!! I just had a 10:2 and a 14:7 hatch, both cockerel heavy. I'd better get some good pullets next time!

 

[1muttsfan]

I did get some very nice eggs off ebay from huckleberryfarmchicks - the eggs were large and uniformly nice blue, 5/7 hatched under a broody, although their color appears more gold than cream the birds are healthy and so far good layers. You have to really do some research before getting eggs from online auctions, though. I never buy from sellers unless they have top ratings with enough sales to make it meaningful.

 

[KPenley]

I did get some very nice eggs off ebay from huckleberryfarmchicks - the eggs were large and uniformly nice blue, 5/7 hatched under a broody, although their color appears more gold than cream the birds are healthy and so far good layers. You have to really do some research before getting eggs from online auctions, though. I never buy from sellers unless they have top ratings with enough sales to make it meaningful.

I've picked up eggs from Susanne before. She is very sweet and has the coolest set up (playhouse coops)! Her new rooster is definitely cream!