Cream Legbars

[TherryChicken]

If anyone is here in Texas, I have alot of very nice 6 week old cockerels available

 

[Exotica]

Aside for watching the feathering like this I weighed my chicks weekly to determine growth rates
It was interesting to see individual birds go through growth spurts

That sounds like a GREAT idea! I just need to buy something to weigh them.. what would you recommend?

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

That sounds like a GREAT idea! I just need to buy something to weigh them.. what would you recommend?

I am raising some Naked Necks and New Hampshires (23 total) for a meat flock and needed to get weights every week to plot growth curves (to pick the breeders to keep). I got a little flat kitchen scale on Amazon that works well (it sort of works for the big chickens, too, if I can get them to stand still). Also below are the weights for these chicks tracked over the first three weeks (they're MUCH bigger than CLs). The ones growing faster are the males - there are a few really big ones, including #56, "Tank", a Naked Neck who weighed 10.3 oz at three weeks (yesterday). He's a little brick.

This is the weighing station - scale partially covered with a towel (snips are for swapping out their zip tie leg bands for looser ones)


This is the graph (Tank is the biggest one in the middle):


And, for fun, this is Tank:



Anyhow, that's how I've been keeping weights - and it's a good opportunity to give each chick the once over to be sure there are no injuries or issues.

This is the scale I have:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PHMHKOK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Edit to clarify - the graph only includes the Naked Necks, not the New Hampshires.

- Ant Farm

 

[Exotica]

I am raising some Naked Necks and New Hampshires (23 total) for a meat flock and needed to get weights every week to plot growth curves (to pick the breeders to keep). I got a little flat kitchen scale on Amazon that works well (it sort of works for the big chickens, too, if I can get them to stand still). Also below are the weights for these chicks tracked over the first three weeks (they're MUCH bigger than CLs). The ones growing faster are the males - there are a few really big ones, including #56, "Tank", a Naked Neck who weighed 10.3 oz at three weeks (yesterday). He's a little brick.

This is the weighing station - scale partially covered with a towel (snips are for swapping out their zip tie leg bands for looser ones)


This is the graph (Tank is the biggest one in the middle):


And, for fun, this is Tank:



Anyhow, that's how I've been keeping weights - and it's a good opportunity to give each chick the once over to be sure there are no injuries or issues.

This is the scale I have:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PHMHKOK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Edit to clarify - the graph only includes the Naked Necks, not the New Hampshires.

- Ant Farm

What a great set up! I just bought the scale and will be weighing my chicks as well!!
Thank you so much for the recommendation! Although I'll only be weighing them for fun!

Tank is SO adorable!! One of the reasons why I wouldn't be able to raise broilers is because I just get so attached.
I can't get over how cute Tank is! I'm usually not one for Naked Necks but there really just something about him!
Perhaps it's his coloring or the way his feathers cut off.. he is stinking cute!

The graph is also so cool! What program did you use?

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

What a great set up! I just bought the scale and will be weighing my chicks as well!!
Thank you so much for the recommendation! Although I'll only be weighing them for fun!

Tank is SO adorable!! One of the reasons why I wouldn't be able to raise broilers is because I just get so attached.
I can't get over how cute Tank is! I'm usually not one for Naked Necks but there really just something about him!
Perhaps it's his coloring or the way his feathers cut off.. he is stinking cute!

The graph is also so cool! What program did you use?

Thanks - this is part of my "If I can't handle being intimately part of the process, I shouldn't eat meat" personal journey - and they will likely have much better lives than most chickens I could buy at any store or market. Even if I wasn't raising (some of) them as meat chickens, I can't keep all the boys - they'd kill each other (and if you just order pullets, you have to realize that the little cockerels are often killed at the hatchery, you just don't have to be directly involved). I haven't named any of them intentionally, and am maintaining emotional distance (easier with 23 of them) - Tank got his name because he's SO big (and I'll likely keep him unless he turns out to be a jerk), and Puppy got her name because, well, she's the sweetest little chicken I ever met. No way am I not keeping her - she'll be a pet/breeder. Actually it looks like I'll keep all the girls (among the Naked Necks). The Cream Legbars are not really dual purpose at all, and they all have names and cuddles. Egg and meat flock separate (though, honestly, NNs are great layers). (Original idea developed after reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle".)

I just used Excel - nothing special, just created a chart with the data (the three columns of data being treated as three "series" and plotted as separate lines).

My Paula is getting ready to lay very soon - I'm so excited!!!!!!

- Ant Farm

 

[Exotica]

Thanks - this is part of my "If I can't handle being intimately part of the process, I shouldn't eat meat" personal journey - and they will likely have much better lives than most chickens I could buy at any store or market. Even if I wasn't raising (some of) them as meat chickens, I can't keep all the boys - they'd kill each other (and if you just order pullets, you have to realize that the little cockerels are often killed at the hatchery, you just don't have to be directly involved). I haven't named any of them intentionally, and am maintaining emotional distance (easier with 23 of them) - Tank got his name because he's SO big (and I'll likely keep him unless he turns out to be a jerk), and Puppy got her name because, well, she's the sweetest little chicken I ever met. No way am I not keeping her - she'll be a pet/breeder. Actually it looks like I'll keep all the girls (among the Naked Necks). The Cream Legbars are not really dual purpose at all, and they all have names and cuddles. Egg and meat flock separate (though, honestly, NNs are great layers). (Original idea developed after reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle".)

I just used Excel - nothing special, just created a chart with the data (the three columns of data being treated as three "series" and plotted as separate lines).

My Paula is getting ready to lay very soon - I'm so excited!!!!!!

- Ant Farm

I respect that so much and honestly wish that I had the guts to do what you're doing. I also am a strong believer in not supporting the animal industry and believe that harvesting your own animals is beyond humane since they have wonderful lives. I just get so darn attached though. I end up naming them all and they all become pets! It's impossible for me to try to not become close to them. I'm a softy

I am the first to admit that I LOVE meat.. nothing gets me more excited than super tender and juicy carnivorous meals. Sadly, I've been eating less meat because I don't have the balls to humanely harvest my own meat but do not support the animal industry. I'm in a weird gray area where I sometimes eat meat but mostly survive on eggs or live fish that I've caught and humanely kill. I've been searching for places to buy meat that has been raise and process humanely but I don't really want to order online and there aren't many farms in Southern California.

I'm glad that Tank will be kept! He is super adorable! And Puppy is such a cute name for a chicken! Are Naked Necks really great layers? What color are their eggs? I might add a few to my flock since they are so cute! I'll also check out "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle," as it sounds like an interesting read!

Congrats on Paula! Do take pictures of her first eggs if you are able to separate them from the rest!

Also, here is Eden on day 6:









Just for the sake of comparison, here is Avery (Rest in peace, sweet girl) who was my hatchery Cream Legbar that did not make it after my Mom let my dog out.. then as I was feeding her pureed fermented feed with Save-A-Chic Electrolytes.. asphyxiated and passed a few days ago..







^ Last pictures of her.. taken the day before she died.. I'm so sorry.. I failed you.. My inexperience caused you to die.
I now know how to feed chicks using a syringe and know how easily they can choke. Those that have not done that yet, please beware.
I fed her half a CC and she choked on that. Seemingly out of nowhere, as I fed her using a syringe earlier in the day and she ate everything with gusto.
She was eating fine but choked after the fourth time. I did not know she was choking at the moment so I did not think to use the syringe to suck the liquid back out.. By the time I figured to do that it was too late.

She had great auto-sexing qualities compared to Esmé who is, as mentioned, "

from the first Greenfire Farms Import" (taken directly from SHR). Don't get me wrong, Esmé also has great auto-sexing qualities, but I would've liked to see no breaks in her stripe. Anywho, they're both way too young to really tell and sadly, I will never be able to know with Avery.​

Instead of getting my next batch of chicks containing the Hale Cream Legbars on Wednesday, I noticed it was my birthday and asked Kaylee to please send them on Monday so I get them by Tuesday. No promises but hopefully I can start on my little comparison project soon!​

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I'm glad that Tank will be kept! He is super adorable! And Puppy is such a cute name for a chicken! Are Naked Necks really great layers? What color are their eggs? I might add a few to my flock since they are so cute! I'll also check out "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle," as it sounds like an interesting read!

I don't want to hijack the CL thread with all my NN talk, but VERY briefly they are very good layers, do well in hot weather, and are known to be very friendly to people. I have both Naked Necks and New Hampshires in the brooder - from babyhood, when I would walk in, the Naked Necks ran TOWARD me (the others run away). My CLs are very sweet, but more stand-offish. Think of CLs like cats and Naked Necks like dogs - I always had both, so I'm ok with that.

There are good reviews in the breed section, and a very long, active Naked Neck/Turken thread - you might enjoy adding one to your colorful assortment. I woke up and found Puppy standing on top of the brooder this morning. No idea how she got out this time. She wanted a cuddle (or maybe just a change of scenery). Crazy chicken...

Congrats on Paula! Do take pictures of her first eggs if you are able to separate them from the rest!

She's older than the other two by a week, so her eggs will be my FIRST eggs!!!

I think she's really close.

Also, here is Eden on day 6:




All three of my girls came from Meyer Hatchery (via My Pet Chicken), and my Paula (one hatching group) had head markings like your Eden (did you mean Esme?), while my other two (a different hatching group) had more classic markings like Avery. While some lines may or may not have more instances of good vs. poor auto sexing, there will probably always be some chicks of any line with poor auto sexing - the important thing is not to breed from them. If you plan to breed CLs, I wouldn't breed from Avery (unless it's just for your own backyard birds or olive eggers). Otherwise, enjoy her sweet self. I'm sure she'll be lovely as she grows.

This is Paula, at about a 2 weeks (she's also in my avatar, looking after another sick chick):


This is Jenny (at about 1 week) - her head markings look like Avery (though more grey/cream and less brownish than Avery):


I'm so sorry.. I failed you.. My inexperience caused you to die.
I now know how to feed chicks using a syringe and know how easily they can choke. Those that have not done that yet, please beware.
I fed her half a CC and she choked on that. Seemingly out of nowhere, as I fed her using a syringe earlier in the day and she ate everything with gusto.
She was eating fine but choked after the fourth time. I did not know she was choking at the moment so I did not think to use the syringe to suck the liquid back out.. By the time I figured to do that it was too late.

You did your best to take care of her, and that's what's important. Don't beat yourself up. I lost three CLs chicks - two had obvious issues when they arrived, but for the third (respiratory issue), I will always wonder if there was something I could have done differently.

Instead of getting my next batch of chicks containing the Hale Cream Legbars on Wednesday, I noticed it was my birthday and asked Kaylee to please send them on Monday so I get them by Tuesday. No promises but hopefully I can start on my little comparison project soon!​

I love vicarious baby chicks (and they're so much less work!) - I can't wait to see!​

- Ant Farm

 

[GaryDean26]

Are all Legbar Roos agressive??? I saw that it was part of their behavior.I just wanted to double check.

No....My first CLB cockerel was. He became chicken enchilada.

My second cockerel was a lot better but I still didn't trust him.

My 3rd one didn't have a mean bone in him. This week I had three of his 6 months old grandsons in a run that I entered and my young children came in with me. My 1 year old when right over to one to try to pick him up and he didn't have any problem with her at all. He just did the duck and dodge, got out of reach and that was it. For cockerels they are about as good of temperament as it gets.

So...eat the mean ones, keep the good ones and your flock will be a delight.

I haven't had any aggressive cockerels in a long time.

Note: Even though I had some aggressive cockerels it is NOT a breed thing. Anyone that has worked with cockerels from a lot of breeds knows that even the breeds with the best reputation can have a few aggressive cockerels. Just cull them and move on. There are lots of nice ones to take the mean ones places.

 

[GaryDean26]

I'm currently in class but I'll be back in a few hours to post pictures of my new baby!

She's from Secret Hills Ranch in Norco, CA and is a Rees line Cream Legbar.

I'm also purchasing one from the Curtis Hale line that will be here next week so I can see the differences for myself!

I will be very intrested in the Secret Hill Ranch Rees line vs Curtis Hale line comparison.

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I will be very intrested in the Secret Hill Ranch Rees line vs Curtis Hale line comparison.

Me, too!