Cream Legbars

[soldier]

Hi ya'll, I know it's been awhile, I had a very busy summer! I thought y'all might want to see how my JR chicks are doing. Above is a pic of the JR roo at 15 weeks. He's bigger/stockier than the Line D roo I got at the same time. His tail angle better than I've had on any roo thus far. Color? Well, y'all know I'm a fan of more than less, BUT he's not as light as some JR's I've seen. And he has a visible crest, but, alas, a wickle comb!! And it's actually gotten worse as he ages (I guess this supports the idea that u can't hv a good crest and straight comb at the same time?). Sigh. But he's gonna be a nice cross w/ my foundation hens (and the 2 line D hens that are too gold) that need a little meat, a better tail set and bigger crest. And my foundation girls seemed to produce straight combs....


Here's a pic of JR #1 girl at 15 weeks. She's bigger than the JR#2 (actually bigger than the 4 Line D girls, too).


Here's JR#2 at 15 weeks. (Sorry! I couldn't get a good side shot! She's shy!). I am kind of surprised at her color. LOTS of chestnut, but not really gold, right? She's the smallest compared to JR#1 and the 4 Line D girls. I can post pics of Line D Roo and 4 Girls, if y'all want, too. Thanks for lookin!

Last year I won some eggs from GFF and my roo I hatched out was very light. I hatched several chicks out this year and some of my pullets have the exact same chestnut markings as yours. I need to post photos but will not get to for a couple of weeks yet.

 

[soldier]

Last year I won some eggs from GFF and my roo I hatched out was very light. I hatched several chicks out this year and some of my pullets have the exact same chestnut markings as yours. I need to post photos but will not get to for a couple of weeks yet.

Opps, I should probably note that none of my adult birds have this chestnut coloring. Last year, I also purchased CL eggs last year from a BYC member. I hatched 8 pullets. So in all I had 9 CL pullets, one from egg hatched from GFF and roo was from GFF egg hatched. Other eggs purchased from BYC member were from birds they purchased from GFF. NONE of these adult birds display chestnut coloring. I incubated the eggs from these birds this spring/summer. Now this year I have chestnut EVERYWHERE. I wonder if my roo is carrying a chestnut gene.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Opps, I should probably note that none of my adult birds have this chestnut coloring. Last year, I also purchased CL eggs last year from a BYC member. I hatched 8 pullets. So in all I had 9 CL pullets, one from egg hatched from GFF and roo was from GFF egg hatched. Other eggs purchased from BYC member were from birds they purchased from GFF. NONE of these adult birds display chestnut coloring. I incubated the eggs from these birds this spring/summer. Now this year I have chestnut EVERYWHERE. I wonder if my roo is carrying a chestnut gene.

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

 

[GaryDean26]

You all can give me your Legbars with "too much gold" I think they are adorable ! They look like flowers with their salmon breasts , gold necks, and silly crests . Why do we want to breed the color out of them ?

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.

 

[KendyF]

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.

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

 

[sweetdreaming]

@speedy2020: re: you thought Line D was more cream. All I can say is, ME, TOO. But this is the roo and 4 girls that I purchased and received on 5/20/14. The girls aren't so bad, but the roo looks basically like what I started with 2 yrs ago. I wish I would have kept the last roo I raised... He was as close to SOP as I've had. But, I sold him b/c he was a brother to my girls and I couldn't breed back. Soooo, I'm starting over! I'm not going to buy chicks "sight-unseen" anymore... I'm gonna visit breeders and pick them out myself!!!

 

[SuperClucker]

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.

Ahh. That makes sense then. Thank you for the response.

 

[SuperClucker]

Hi SuperClucker!

What a fabulous avatar.

There is a thought that colorless ones are more in line with the UK's and hence the draft of the SOP in the USA. I think that a lot depends upon how one will define 'cream' -- :O)

I hope that we don't breed the CL so that it lacks all color. It is very difficult just looking at photos to tell what a chicken looks like in real life---just as it is so hard to capture the actual shade of the eggs...(especially the eggs, because because cameras don't handle blue well. )


here's my idea of cream.
;O)

so when I read the SOP and it says 'cream' - I see a shade more like this than I do like white. The SOP draft is on the Cream Legbar Club's website BTW...
www.CreamLegbarClub.com

Hi ChicKat,

The cream color you posted is definitely pretty, and the pictures that you all have posted of the roosters with the cream hackles are undoubtedly gorgeous. I just happen to like the chestnut and gold and it's of no worry since I'm not a breeder ( I'm in it for the eggs!)

Thanks for the compliment on my avatar. That's my little CL, Nugget, when she was about two days old. No worries though, we have no intention of actually turning her into a McNugget.

I really like this breed. I have three Australorps and Nugget, and she definitely dances to the beat of a different drummer. Such a kooky little thing. I'd get more of them if I had room.

 

[ChicKat]

Hi ChicKat,

The cream color you posted is definitely pretty, and the pictures that you all have posted of the roosters with the cream hackles are undoubtedly gorgeous. I just happen to like the chestnut and gold and it's of no worry since I'm not a breeder ( I'm in it for the eggs!)

Thanks for the compliment on my avatar. That's my little CL, Nugget, when she was about two days old. No worries though, we have no intention of actually turning her into a McNugget.

I really like this breed. I have three Australorps and Nugget, and she definitely dances to the beat of a different drummer. Such a kooky little thing. I'd get more of them if I had room.

glad to know that Nugget is "just visiting" in the MacDonald's box. ;O} There is nothing quite like a chicken with personality to brighten up your day!!

 

[ChicKat]

Looks like cream I use to get from my Jersey cow. WOW, excellent ice cream!!!