Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[WVDan44]

Some pics of mine at one week. Kari you were spot on re: slow feathering of the darkest chicks. Note tail feather development in the silver and the lighter grays vs the darkest.

 

[karimw]

Love the little spriggy tails! Very cute - nice round heads

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

I agree with Kari, great looking heads on those guys, especially that silver chick!

 

[Hurley]

Nice chicks, congrats a lovely bunch!

I have seen quite a split in my birchen chicks, with some feathing out fast, some exceptionally slow, and some in between. It seems like the slower feathering ones are also the ones that trend towards the smaller in size/poorer growing end of the scale, as well, for what that's worth.

 

[WVDan44]

and yet one of the two that have not developed any tail feathering is on a par with the silver pencil in size, type, and vigor at this early stage.

 

[Hurley]

I can't say much about the tail feathers. The "tailless" ones ended up being the ones I marked at day 1 as males, seeing if feather sexing works with them. It was reasonably accurate, had one or two that were off. The slow feathered ones I'm talking about are the ones (male or female) that have bare patches over their shoulders when everyone else is feathered in. Those did trend towards being smaller/skinnier/slower growing.

 

[snowpetals907]

Hi I had a failed hatch with only one little Iowa Blue. My incubator is on the fritz.
So I'd like to buy some chicks. Are the hatchery IB "decent" quality?
I love this breed and would really like to help preserve them. Out of Privett, Sandhill, and Ideal which have the best quality?
Or if anyone here would be willing to ship chicks even better

Here's my little loner, hatched Dec 15!

 

[WVDan44]

cute little bugger!

 

[WVDan44]

I can't say much about the tail feathers. The "tailless" ones ended up being the ones I marked at day 1 as males, seeing if feather sexing works with them. It was reasonably accurate, had one or two that were off. The slow feathered ones I'm talking about are the ones (male or female) that have bare patches over their shoulders when everyone else is feathered in. Those did trend towards being smaller/skinnier/slower growing.

Ah, I had a hunch that's what you meant with regard to slow feathering. It's at the later stages when feathering is more complete. I understand. So those without an early-developing tail may not necessarily be slow feathering. It will be interesting to see what develops. I do like the heads, especially on two of them. If head size is any indication, I have at least two males and maybe three which would include the silver, but heck, I don't know at this stage.

They are fiesty little punks, I do know that, with a lot of survival instincts built in. They are very entertaining.

 

[WVDan44]

I agree with Kari, great looking heads on those guys, especially that silver chick!

Looks like a Bob White Quail to me. LOL