Cream Legbars

[duluthralphie]

Who would know if you plucked it?

Me, I would know.

 

[sol2go]

Hi, all.

I am trying to pick out a CLB pullet for the Minnesota state poultry show. I am finding way too many "errors" with my pullets.

I have one bathed and ready to go, but her comb is too large to make me happy.

The ones I have with good combs have barring that looks more like penciling than barring.

I had lots of good cockerels to pick from, I am very happy with my choice there.

Does anyone else notice the pullets/hens looking like penciling instead of barring?

Ideas, suggestions and help appreciated.

With either gender, start with the best body type first and then sort them based on their overall appearance.

By that I mean, without analyzing anything specific, just identify the ones that catch your eye.
Then figure out if the whole bird seems balanced to you - body, color, feather quality - and then analyze the specific items.

Regarding the pullets/hens - a flop in the comb is okay and might not be a big factor for scoring. Yes I also see penciling in my flock as well as barring, but it helps the overall appearance if the under fluff around the legs has distinct barring.

You can clean under the leg scales with those flexible brush/toothpicks or regular wooden ones. Coat the legs, comb and wattles with a vetericyn product to perk up the color and the texture looks velvety. There's lots of great tips, you can search online for the ones you like.

Since you are introducing Cream Legbars to a broader audience, it helps to take the SOP with you for the judges to look at. If you feel like you are not exactly where you want to be with your flock, take birds that are good examples of specific elements in the SOP as that will be helpful for discussions with APA members as well as the general public. Make sure you are referring to the most recent revision of the draft SOP.

Good luck! Enjoy your adventure!

 

[GaryDean26]

I found the proposed SOP and re-read them. I went with the less barred because of the better crest. They will not be judged as a breed anyways, I just wanted people to see them and hopefully like them. I thought the crest was a better sales tool.

The one I picked has one white feather on the wing, I am trying to figure out if I can legally pluck it.

One of my mentors told me to always take two pullets to any show. Take the one with the best type and the one with the best comb and color. That way if you get a judge that is big on type youwill be showing the bird that he.she likes best and if you get a judge that is big on the comb and color you will have the bird they like best. My mentor also told me that the most important thing is for the bird to be in good condition.

I took three pullets to my last show. Two were nearly identical in shape/size/color and the third one was noticeably smaller and had almost cuckoo barring, but I felt she was the best "type" in the flock. Well the two larger hens two best of breed and reserve of breed and the smaller on that had better type took 4th place.

The judges at the shows I have been to have been favoring the bigger better conditioned birds.

No...plucking feathers is not allowed. Some judges do count wing feathers. If feathers have been plucked they will know. Yes I have had a bird DQ'd for white wing feathers before, but if you are not entering the bird against other Legbars in an open class then they probably won't be as strict and still judge the bird. I have taken birds with flaws that I thought might get DQ's only for them to get 1st place in their category. I also have taken birds that I though had a good chance to take 1st place in their category that got DQ'd. It is all part of the learning process.

 

[duluthralphie]

Thanks to both of you.

I am taking 2 CLB's and 2 CLB white sports. The white sports are beautiful. The CLB rooster is not bad, the crest is a tad small but he is a truly impressive bird. The hen with the white feather is great too, a tad small, but good barring on the under side and a great crest.

I never thought of taking 2, I should have done that. DUH. Next year I will bring two of each. I did that with my SS and PC, for some reason I never thought of it with the CLB. DUH.

I know the white sport are not talked about favorably on this thread. I happen to like them and when I see Meyers selling them at 75 bucks with less than perfect combs, I think they might be good for me in the next couple years. I just like the looks of them myself.

You both gave great advice. this is my first show, so I have been doing everything I can. Also I am glad I did not pull that feather!

 

[sol2go]

Thanks to both of you.

I am taking 2 CLB's and 2 CLB white sports. The white sports are beautiful. The CLB rooster is not bad, the crest is a tad small but he is a truly impressive bird. The hen with the white feather is great too, a tad small, but good barring on the under side and a great crest.

I never thought of taking 2, I should have done that. DUH. Next year I will bring two of each. I did that with my SS and PC, for some reason I never thought of it with the CLB. DUH.

I know the white sport are not talked about favorably on this thread. I happen to like them and when I see Meyers selling them at 75 bucks with less than perfect combs, I think they might be good for me in the next couple years. I just like the looks of them myself.

You both gave great advice. this is my first show, so I have been doing everything I can. Also I am glad I did not pull that feather!

In my experience, the white sports are viewed favorably within the CL community. Applying to the APA for acceptance as a new breed with multiple varieties seems to benefit by submitting one variety at a time, which may look negative. However, it's just a process, with some uncharted territory for the multiple varieties of Legbars. The more authentic the interest in the breed & the varieties, the better for all. Thank you for showing your birds, participating in the conversation, and helping to improve general awareness.

In my very limited show experience, it would seem that white feathered birds are closely examined for condition as it relates to feather quality and overall cleanliness. Perhaps that interest also translates to consumer purchases? I will add, that I have seen judges count tail feathers, looking for an extra feather/fuller fan; something to keep it interesting when they spend hour after hour walking up and down aisles of caged birds. Hope to hear back about your experience.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I got this really weird egg from one of my CCL girls today. It looks like it has a little chimney! Since I'm collecting their eggs for incubation, I'm going to try to hatch it. I sealed the top of the chimney with clear nail polish, just in case it isn't solid. If i get a chick from it, I'm going to have to come up with some kind of clever name. Just to be clear, this is a total fluke and my girls never lay eggs like this so I don't think it's anything genetic that I need to worry about with trying to hatch. I'm definitely curious though to see if it will work.

 

[GaryDean26]

The 2016 Catalog for the Shawnee, Oklahoma APA Show was released this week. Click on the image below to see it. This show in the 2nd Saturday in December and will be be used as the Southern Regional Activity for the Cream Legbar Club. We are encouraging every that can show Cream Legbars at this show to do so. We would like this to be the first APA show to make the numbers for a Pre-Qualifying meet for APA acceptance. That will require a minimum of four cockerels, four pullets, four cocks, and four hens to be judged. If you don't have birds to show but would like to see Cream Legbars and meet club member, breeders, etc. the come with out your birds. If you are coming please PM me to let me know I will try to keep track of how many people plan to show Legbars so that we have a good idea if we will have the required numbers for a Pre-Qualifing meet.

 

[Barbara L]

What do you think of mine?

 

[ChickenGrass]

The rooster or the hens?
Just to let you know the hens in that picture are not cream legbars
But the rooster is

 

[Barbara L]

The rooster! I dont have any hens in this breed. The hens at Marans.