Cream Legbars

[ChezPoulez2]

She is an odd 'duck'. ;-)

 

[ChezPoulez2]

Thanks for the welcome! I have kept her this far because I don't see her as adding any appreciable additional expense to my daily feed bills. If she were being aggressive/fighting the other girls that would be different, but they've all been raised together, so together they will stay.

 

[ChezPoulez2]

Hi ChezPoulez2 - glad you have come to the thread.

Your hen sounds like she may have hormone issues - I guess crowing or attempting to would be the tip off . There are unknown genetics in Cream Legbars - but I never hear regularly of females attempting to crow, soft shells and spurs. I think that from time to time this pops up in all breeds of chicken

Soft shell layers will self-select out of the gene pool for the future.

I have a hen with spurs...although not desirable - not considered a big deal in the UK where Cream Legbars originate (I think it knocks off 1/2 point in the Poultry show) and considered desirable on females of some breeds, one of them is game fowl if I understand correctly. Despite spurs she is a good layer.

Once I had one that had difficulty producing a shell. She was a Craigslist purchase, and I suspect that the person from whom I bought her and two others gave the chicks no nutrition after they were out of the brooder, and expected that they would get all their nourishment from free ranging. In the case of mine it could have been nurture not nature.

Since this one of yours hasn't endeared herself to you -- you could eliminate her from your flock.

Oh geez, I just realized I posted comments without the appropriate quoted comment to show who I'm responding to... gah. Sorry all, I'll get with the program soon!

 

[Sylvester017]

My White Pavlov is only 4 (?) weeks old. She is among 24 other chicks ages 2 months to 4 weeks old and she has not shown aggression or attitude towards any of the others. I have a New Hampshire Red and 3 black jersey giants in there in there among the group and I watch them all pretty closely for aggression.

A friend of mine won these chicks at the Rarebreedauctions.com site and they shipped her 16 chicks. Given that most eggs don't sit around for more than a week before being incubated, either GFF has a whole slew of White Pav hens that all laid at least 3 eggs in a week or they lay more than 50 per year. I haven't done the actual math here, just guestimating the probablilities.

She is a beautiful bird but she does have one toe that is severely curved. I did not catch this in time to fix it when I worked with her spalyed leg. I don't think it would turn correctly at this point even if I put a shoe on her. I could try though.

I worked with a white orpington with a ligament issue along with a curved foot on the right leg, curved foot on the left leg, and is now hobbled at 2 weeks old for splayed leg. He/She will never be perfect either but I couldn't cull her and couldn't let her starve to death. He/She is coming along nicely and has developed quite the attitude at the food dish.

Yes, it's best to catch toe/leg problems as chicks but I was informed that as long as a chick is still growing there's always the chance to fix the toes although as a day or 2 old is the best. Don't stop trying and GL! I know the Pavies are pretty mellow as I've received 3 owner feedbacks on them but no one's pullets have started laying or have a year-long count yet. No one has confirmed an egg color yet either. PM me info when you start getting eggs and the number per week. Maybe Pavies are good layers in short bursts and then like Silkies will take long breaks in-between.

 

[gootziecat]

Many breeds have a laying life span of 3 years, ie barred Rock, Welsummer. How long can one expect the CL to produce well? Thanks.

 

[ChicKat]

I have a 3 1/2 year old hen that is just now beginning to slow down a little. She is now down to maybe 4-5 eggs a week. She has been a pretty phenominal and reliable layer for the entire time I have had her. She was domiciled elsewhere for a period of time when she may have had a broken bone and didn't lay well. Otherwise, except for molting and broodiness -- she is very reliable -- daily -- and her clutches are 14+ eggs generally then a day off ---then back on the job.

ETA temps here are in the 90's with heat indexes 105-112 so that may be a factor.

 

[ChicKat]

For people with Cream Legbars -- my question is specifically about the hackles and the effect of UV rays on the chickens.

I have two that darken in the sun -- and it seems like most of the rest bleach. If you have one that you think is gold or golden, does the sun lighten the hackles? Does the sun turn cream to white-looking? Anyone else experience a darkening of the hackles or is it just my chooks?

Thanks!

 

[gootziecat]

Thank you ChicKat. Very helpful.

 

[chicken pickin]

For people with Cream Legbars -- my question is specifically about the hackles and the effect of UV rays on the chickens.  

I have two that darken in the sun -- and it seems like most of the rest bleach.  If you have one that you think is gold or golden, does the sun lighten the hackles?  Does the sun turn cream to white-looking?  Anyone else experience a darkening of the hackles or is it just my chooks?

Thanks!

So far in 2.5 years haven't noticed any noticeable changes in my CLs hackles due to sun exposure. Though my entire chicken yard is shaded by trees but they do free range daily.

Maybe there are changes that i just haven't caught yet?

 

[fowlman01]

Many breeds have a laying life span of 3 years, ie barred Rock, Welsummer. How long can one expect the CL to produce well? Thanks.

This is kind of a general statement. I t depends on how the breeds mentioned were bred to begin with. As an example : all barred Rocks are not bred the same way nor do they perform the same.

Walt