Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[mrheinz77]

I have created interest in Georgia and Florida. Somebody is trying to get a flock of 15-20 built up in Florida. I have also sent quite a few eggs to Florida and NC. I now have somebody very interested in Arkansas. The swaps have allowed me to offer eggs to others that have not heard of Iowa Blues before and now they want more. Hopefully this will really help the breed come along.

 

[Jake Levi]

That sure will !!

I hope to do the same here in the NW.

 

[karimw]

I finally selected a roo for my flock. I like most things about him, but his comb isn't great and his legs are too light. Still, I think he will do well on my dark hens. Now if they would just start laying....

Don't mind the little blue hen, she is half pure Ameraucana/half Ia Blue. I've got a bunch of these and they are as cute as can be. Curious to see what they lay.

I've got some younger ones that show some promise, so we'll see what happens in another couple months.

 

[Jake Levi]

Very nice flock Kari, and I like the pen too!!

I do like the roo ! How old is he?

 

[karimw]

A broody hatched him about the end of April. He's a nice boy. Kind of timid in the big flock, but he thinks he's in heaven now

 

[Jake Levi]

He is really developing nicely !! I like his upright stance. Your pullets also show very nice conformation, I do like the brick type. Your chicks from these should be very nice.

 

[Myabcs3]

Karimw,

Can you help the newbie in the crowd? When you mention that your roosters legs are too light, what is ideal? Same with the comb, does it need to be bigger? smaller? more points?

Also, where did your flock come from? (edited to add - figure I would get all my questions in at one time!)

Thanks!

Sandy

 

[karimw]

According to Stories Guide to Chicken Breeds the Iowa Blues should have red face and wattles, dark brown eyes, slate legs and the rooster should have 6 distinct points on his comb. I know this information roots from the original recovery efforts, but I think it makes sense to work toward that. I can tell by what I am seeing in my off spring there have been a variety of different birchen genes introduced. I even have a rooster sprout the duckwing pattern with white instead of black on his wings. I'll try to get a picture of him. He also looks more spangled than laced. If he wasn't the same age as the Silver Laced Wyandotes I had I'd say he was sired by one of them

On a good note, I found a pullet egg in the run this morning. My flock is starting to lay!

 

[karimw]

Quote:
My flock is from a variety of places now. I raised all the birds in my current flock but the original stock came from Ideal and Privett. I also had a trio from a local breeder who got his birds from Sandhill. I think I only have a 1 or 2 pullets from those hens and I never used the cock - too much red.

 

[karimw]

Quote:
Thanks! I see a lot of squirrel tail in these birds, so I hope he isn't too vertical in that area. I think he has good width though. There seems to be some strong game bird influence in them. When I start hatching this spring I'm planning to take out the narrow bodied hens.