Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[WVDan44]

Well the way I look at it, I have other birds here that I will be showing this fall, and I may have birds coming and going. I don't much like vaccinating either, but in this case, I would definitely consider it. I too think a drinking water administration of the medication would be a more safe alternative to nasal injestion.

 

[WVDan44]

Hey Guys and Gals

One of my darkest chicks (which are two weeks old tomorrow) has interesting feathers coming in and perhaps you may be able to school me on this. His wing feathers are coming in brown/black checked in a larger pattern than the silver penciled chicks wing color pattern. I tried looking back on this thread to see if I can find any photos or conversation about this, but haven't come up with anything as yet. Could someone tell me what I'm getting with this chick? There's another one that is a bit smaller and less developed that may have the same pattern emerging. I assumed they are birchen but now I'm not sure what I have. Any help would be appreciated.

Dan

 

[Hurley]

I have seen this in a number of birchen chicks, the brown mossiness. It disappears in adult feathering from what I've seen. I've also seen it more pronounced in the ones with early lacing showing.

 

[karimw]

Hey Guys and Gals

One of my darkest chicks (which are two weeks old tomorrow) has interesting feathers coming in and perhaps you may be able to school me on this. His wing feathers are coming in brown/black checked in a larger pattern than the silver penciled chicks wing color pattern. I tried looking back on this thread to see if I can find any photos or conversation about this, but haven't come up with anything as yet. Could someone tell me what I'm getting with this chick? There's another one that is a bit smaller and less developed that may have the same pattern emerging. I assumed they are birchen but now I'm not sure what I have. Any help would be appreciated.

Dan

Gotta see a picture Dan

Do you mean the black chicks or a dark brown chick? There are many shades in the brown chicks. You will see kind of a Campine barring pattern when they start to feather out, but that will change as they get older.

 

[WVDan44]

Gotta see a picture Dan

Do you mean the black chicks or a dark brown chick? There are many shades in the brown chicks. You will see kind of a Campine barring pattern when they start to feather out, but that will change as they get older.

No it is in the blackest chicks, I only have the one brown partridge looking fella. In fact, it is in the stoutest and healthiest looking black/grey chick. The wing feathers are coming in as a sort of brown and black hounds tooth pattern. The little tyrants are two wks old today. I plan on posting a few photos at three weeks, and you can see it then. I think you can Connie have explained it though.

 

[karimw]

Yep, I believe she did. I agree that the ones with more brown will be heavier laced. You will still see some of the brown on the hens soometimes, but mostly they molt all that out.

 

[Jake Levi]

As with the Icelandics I really think that the only sure guide to what the coloring is to be is to wait until after the first molt.

Usually the initital colors can be a good suggestion but I would never cull based on that. Give them time to mature and have their first molt, then you can make a good call on cull or not.

 

[Jake Levi]

A little clarification, ref culling,

often a better solution then culling is to match the roosters and hens with what they need to make them better. Culling from the flock is a permenent thing. Thats why I prefer keeping two roosters to each flock. I dont have space or facilities to keep two separate breeding lines so I have to do it based on the flock 'average'. This works for me.

 

[Hurley]

Haven't been able to post, busy at work, but just wanted to say I am so happy with my new trio of silver Iowa Blues from Kari. Lovely babies, being quite spoiled hanging out indoors in isolation and enjoying the good life. My birchens out in the growout building with our 8 degree morning are jealous (though they do have their lights to bask under).

It was so great to meet Kari, Jim, Trish (again), and Curt this past weekend. I so wish I could have stayed and chatted longer, but two toddlers were not going to be patient any longer. Wonderful getting to see Kari's flock and fun discussing the merits of various birds with a group of such enthusiastic and great people. Can't wait to meet up again (hopefully with hubby or grandma watching the boys this time, lol) and hoping I get some more great chicks from the three dozen eggs Kari collected for me.

Also got in my electronic thermostats, rigged up the first one last night to the hatcher and already and delighted with how it is performing. Once that is stable, I will move the eggs over while I work on the larger incubator, replacing the (expletive) wafer thermostat with a digital and revamping the airflow to hopefully make that sucker stable as a rock. So far it's cooking the eggs nice and even at 99.3-7, but I don't trust it as it can be temperamental at the strangest times. Soon will have everything converted over to digital and am excited to have more success in the future.

Now can't wait for the next standards meeting to start hitting the color section.

Waving from frozen freezing windy drifting Wisconsin with more snow on the way!

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Connie!

It was a blast getting to meet with you all as well. Kari has a great flock of silvers and fantastic groups of young birds she's hatched out. I'm really excited to see how that trio works out for you and maybe you'll have some little ones by late summer hatching out!!!! Keep us posted on how many you get to hatch.

I just finished my first hatch from eggs I recieved from Kari. 10 strong, healthy chicks! 7 birchen and 3 silvers. I'll try to get some picks posted, but it's been so cold it's difficult to get pics without letting all the heat out of their brooder box.
I have another hatch due in a little less than 2 weeks. so far 43 fertile eggs. I'll be candling them again in a few days to see how may are sill cooking!