Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[Wappoke]

would it be best to mix her with J.B., or do you see a potential better match of the cockerels in the above pics?
we also have the overly white silver boy in the pics a few posts back.

From what I can see in your birds is that they are segregating for different genes. At the E locus you have the brown allele and birchen, some of the birds have only the columbian gene, while others have a combination of the columbian gene and the dark brown gene, they also have the pattern gene in them.

If you get the pattern gene homozygous in your birds then you can begin to get better autosomal barring.

The columbian male (overly white male) would not be a good candidate if you want to breed for secondary patterns ( the autosomal barring and lacing) in your birds. He does not carry the pattern gene needed for the secondary patterns,

Also the brown colored chick in this string carries the dark brown gene and is also birchen at the e locus. Birchen birds normally have some form of black down but birchens that carry the dark brown gene have the brown down like the chick in the photo. The amount of brown can vary from what is seen in the chick to a brown head and black body.

 

[Dirt Farmer]

I still don't have a good grasp of what I'm looking at or for with regard to color. I'm not too worried about it right now as I've decided to focus on muscling and temperament to start. I ordered 20 chicks from Sand Hill a couple months ago, to be at the head of the line this coming spring. I snapped a picture or two of my pair a couple weeks ago after they've recovered from a light molt in this past Fall. They've been under some stress recently, being from Iowa and living in Stanford country. Doesn't stop him from crowing, and nobody in that coop is going to give him any argument.







HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Are IBCC memberships due?

 

[HenHoneyGirl]

Hello! I was thinking of getting Iowa Blue's through Ideal Hatchery to see if I might want to take a little plunge and start breeding them. Is ideal a good place to get them or should I get them from Sandhill? Does anyone know how much they are from Ideal? They don't have prices listed yet.

 

[Dirt Farmer]

Hello! I was thinking of getting Iowa Blue's through Ideal Hatchery to see if I might want to take a little plunge and start breeding them. Is ideal a good place to get them or should I get them from Sandhill? Does anyone know how much they are from Ideal? They don't have prices listed yet.

If you want to breed to the proposed standard, I would look at the breeder directory on the Iowa Blue Chicken Club website. Having said that, I love the personality of my Sand Hill birds, lively but not flighty, plucky but not aggressive, they run out to greet me and follow me around curiously. My birds from Sand Hill are Charcoals, not Silvers. The latter is probably the more sought after by people serious about the restoring the breed. While you're on the IBCC site, check out the wealth of information there. Membership is very reasonable and then you get the newsletter as well. The club, like the IB, is friendly. Good luck, these are some of the most enjoyable birds I've owned.

Add: I'm not familiar with the Ideal line.

 

[SFogg]

Beautiful Iowa Blues you have Dirt Farmer!

 

[trailrider330]

Hello! I was thinking of getting Iowa Blue's through Ideal Hatchery to see if I might want to take a little plunge and start breeding them. Is ideal a good place to get them or should I get them from Sandhill? Does anyone know how much they are from Ideal? They don't have prices listed yet.

Does Ideal still sell Iowa Blues? I just checked their website and could not find them. I saw that Welp and Country Line Hatcheries do, but these appear to be the Birchen variety of Iowa Blues. Based on historical accounts, birchens to not meet the breed’s original appearance and characteristics. So, if your intent is to help restore the breed, as Dirt Farmer mentioned, you might be better off starting with Silver Iowa Blues. If on the other hand, you prefer the appearance and characteristics of the Birchen variety, then perhaps you want to go that route. Ultimately, it is up to you and your preferences. Just be aware that there is typically a huge difference between most "hatchery quality" birds and "breeder quality" birds. So, if your intent is to ultimately breed any variety of Iowa Blue, you might want to start with breeder quality birds from one of the breeders you will find on the IBCC website. Either way, I strongly suggest that you visit the IBCC website: http://www.iowabluechickenclub.com to learn more about this great breed before making any decisions. Good luck!

 

[karimw]

I started with Ideal and Privett birds, all birchen. I don't recommend going that way if you want to breed and market them. I got lucky and found the smokey and silver genes, but it's the long way to go.

 

[karimw]

From what I can see in your birds is that they are segregating for different genes. At the E locus you have the brown allele and birchen, some of the birds have only the columbian gene, while others have a combination of the columbian gene and the dark brown gene, they also have the pattern gene in them.

If you get the pattern gene homozygous in your birds then you can begin to get better autosomal barring.

The columbian male (overly white male) would not be a good candidate if you want to breed for secondary patterns ( the autosomal barring and lacing) in your birds. He does not carry the pattern gene needed for the secondary patterns,

Also the brown colored chick in this string carries the dark brown gene and is also birchen at the e locus. Birchen birds normally have some form of black down but birchens that carry the dark brown gene have the brown down like the chick in the photo. The amount of brown can vary from what is seen in the chick to a brown head and black body.

Good assessment, Wappoke, This breed also has some e+ lurking at the E locus. Makes for some confusion while restoring this breed.

 

[karimw]

Happy New Year from Dark Horse Acres! Now that the restrictions are lifted on shows and swaps, I look forward to a good year for Iowa Blues chickens. To start with, share your picks and stories!

I have a good one. As you know, all chickens are feather eaters to some degree, and this particular birchen Iowa Blue hen has figured out a clever, and annoying, way to separate the tasty fluff from the litter.

 

[Dirt Farmer]

Happy New Year from Dark Horse Acres! Now that the restrictions are lifted on shows and swaps, I look forward to a good year for Iowa Blues chickens. To start with, share your picks and stories!

I have a good one. As you know, all chickens are feather eaters to some degree, and this particular birchen Iowa Blue hen has figured out a clever, and annoying, way to separate the tasty fluff from the litter.

My hen wants her recipe.