Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I'm wondering why the drawn pictures of the Iowa Blues are so much different than what people seem to be breeding for. Are they supposed to look so gamey? And aren't they supposed to be a fairly big bird? My rooster is at least 8 lbs.

 

[karimw]

Where did you get yours? I haven't had mine get anywhere near that big. My cockerel was most recently weighted at 5.5 pounds at 7 months old and my older boys are about 7 lbs. They have always seemed to me a pretty gamey bird, though I am trying to select for size and depth of body to get them back to where they need to be. If you have a big breeding flock, you are on the right track!

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

Mine is from Sandhill Preservation center.

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I only have the rooster. I would like to get hens, but I want to make sure they are the "right" hens if you know what I mean.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

I'm wondering why the drawn pictures of the Iowa Blues are so much different than what people seem to be breeding for. Are they supposed to look so gamey? And aren't they supposed to be a fairly big bird? My rooster is at least 8 lbs.

 

[karimw]

There is a lot of variation in the breed. I had a Sandhill trio in my first flock and they were pretty small. All you can do is breed the best of what you have to get better.

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

It's decided. I will be getting eggs from someone in the spring and breed the Iowa Blues. He can pass his size along. I just have to find someone who has hatching eggs from a nice flock to sell

 

[mrheinz77]

I agree Kari. There are so few Iowa Blue out there that we must work with what we have to improve as well as swap genetics. I have a cockerel right now that I love the size of but he isn't pure silver. I have another that I love his color but he is lacking in size. I'll most likely use the big cockerel for a while and cull for color. I also will use the one with good color and cull for size.

 

[pickledchicken]

Simple effective mouse trap ( chicken safe so far )

Just a piece of downspout fastened to some left over wood from the picket fence construction. The downspout is 14" long I put the bait in the middle and a trap at each end. The downspout is tall enough to let the action on the trap do it's thing. Make sure and push the traps into the downspout so the chickens can't step on them. Checked one this morning out in the coop and it got one. He cleared it on the way in but the other trap got him on his way out. No more stolen bait and empty traps from now on.

 

[karimw]

Good idea! I have a place that could use one of those.