IA here

[sammileah]

they are standards and not blue. They are a dual purpose bird started in Decorah IA and not recognized by APA. I would love to have a few.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Thats good, we are starting to generate some interest! I have a total of 4 maybe 5 that are interested. I will keep combing the internet to look for breeders but i have never been disappointed with Ideal's stock.

 

[lisa lisk]

If they are a dual purpose then I would love to have about 6. Let me know when you plan to do this. I would like to get a wellsomer also.

Doty came up to me in the hen house today, it sounded to me like she was fussy at me. She got right up next to me and made long low hen sounds at me. I ask her was she alright and she made one very short good.

Then continued to eat her breakfst. I thought that was to good not to pass a long. Lisa

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Quote:
Lisa;
Are you looking for LF or bantam Wellies? I may be picking up a pr. of bantam in WI., and he might have more!
Let me know.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Get a Widget for this title Poultry breed facts: Iowa Blue
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Write now Article Tools by Angela Pollock
Developed in the state of Iowa during the first part of the 1900s, the Iowa Blue is a rare chicken breed with little known about its short history. The only information passed along is a tale which may be true or only contain half-truths. The Iowa Blue is said to begin from a White Leghorn chicken that emerged from under a building with her brood. The chicks were said to range in color from solid chestnut to pheasant-colored birds. These pheasant-looking chicks had yellow stripes on their cheeks, black stripes on their backs, and yellow under the chin. So the folklore began that the sire of these chicks was a pheasant.

During the 1960s, Iowa Blue chickens could be found in hatcheries but as these facilities closed, interest in the breed lapsed. This chicken breed may have become extinct if not for the interest of Ken Whealy, a Decorah, Iowa man who worked with an organization dedicated to preserving heirloom plants. Since the late 1980s, Mr. Whealy has helped preserve the small flocks he found and has distributed them to breeders in hopes of preserving the breed.

The Iowa Blue is not recognized by either the American Poultry Association (APA) or the American Bantam Association (ABA) so no standards have ever been set for the breed. They typically weigh six to seven pounds with cocks weighing more than hens. The comb, wattles, and earlobes are red and are medium to moderately large in size. The single comb has six distinctive points that stands erect.

Despite their colored name, the Iowa blue has a silvery white head. The neck and breast area of the body has white feathers with a thin black stripe down the middle that alternate to black feathers with white lacing. The lower portion of the breast, body, legs, wings, and tail are black with a bluish tint to gray tone with penciling. The neck of the roosters will resemble their back and saddle portion while hens will have a bluish to gray with penciling on their backs. Beaks of the Iowa Blue are horn, their eyes are dark brown, and the shanks and toes are slate in color.

The Iowa Blue is considered a dual-purpose chicken, being raised for both meat and egg production. The hens lay brown eggs and will go broody without problems. Known as a prolific forager, this breed does well unconfined and makes an excellent choice as a backyard bird. The Iowa Blue is a beautiful chicken breed but due to not being recognized and having standards, many breeders are still trying to improve the breed with crossbreeding.

Finding a reputable breeder to purchase Iowa Blues can be somewhat difficult and the price averages $4 per chick. Those who own Iowa Blue chickens confirm they are an excellent forager but they are sometimes unpredictable with going broody. The Iowa Blue is on the "Study" list of the conservation status.

References:

STOREY'S ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO POULTRY BREEDS, by Carol Ekarius, copyright 2007.


Learn more about this author, Angela Pollock.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

In RE: Iowa Blues;

I have found two hatcheries with Blues available but no private breeders with stock now. It would be my suggestion that we/I order chicks from both places and let them mix themselves up!

Prices range like this:

For both hatcheries; 1-24 chicks is 2.19 ea. at both hatcheries
25-49 range form 2.09 - 2.49 ea.

If just pullets; Approx., .50 - .60 per chick higher.

Shipping appears to be free at one hatchery and it would be about 15.00 at the other, maybe less.

I think no one wants to get just cockerels so the order could be changed also to include some pullets.

As for me, I would be more than happy to order them and grow them out (with a small bump in price to cover room and board), until we could all get to the Iowa City show or if any of you would be able to pick them up here sooner that would be fine as well. I am a certified P/T tester for the State and an NPIP participant. I can also ship birds and chicks but that would add to the cost, that is your choice.

Another option would be if any of you plan to attend the Clay County Fair in Spencer, IA... (one of the 5 largest county fairs in the country) and very popular with folks from all over the State, or know of someone who will be going, we live 12 miles North of Spencer, in Milford, IA.

I would like to order the chicks as soon as possible such as by the end of next week, to take advantage of this warm weather, but I do not want to get more than I would be able to distribute in a couple months!

Whatcha all think?
Let me know, how many you would like and whether straight run or pullets or cockerels, so I can get a tally together
Eric

 

[sammileah]

When is the IA city show?

 

[pbjmaker]

Oh Eric - he is now chasing down the frizzled cochins...

And I got my check today.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Quote:
Eastern Iowa Poultry Clubs annual show is November 27th and 28th. I think this is the 140th show? I might be wrong on the number. It is just off I-80 on the Eastern most end of the City, before West Branch at an auction house. Sorry but I don't recall the name of it.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Quote:
Is he chasing them down for romance or just being mean? What about his other love interest? Has that relationship ended already?
Is P., spending any evenings alone with him? Do we need to call Dr. Phil? ETA: Or maybe Jerry Springer!
Glad you got your check. Maybe ours will be in the mail soon.