Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[karimw]

Quote:
I've been doing this cross since I got the Iowa Blues. Great little chickens - very cute, bolder than pure Ameraucanas and lay a lovely green egg all year round I do a batch every year. This time I thought I'd try to incorporate the self blue like Connie is with her Bantams. I have a Lavender Am rooster with an ugly tail that I hope will cross well with my pure AMs and I just tossed in my second string IaB birchen hens to help keep him company. I have a few in the incubator for next week. I don't expect anything exciting to look at though - they should all be solid black.

 

[Hurley]

Surprisingly these little pullet Iowacanas split to lavender (self blue) have some lacing of the hackles, anyway. I held back a couple, figure I'll backcross them to IB and see if I can get any blue egg layers out of it that are 3/4 Iowa Blue Iowacanas.

 

[karimw]

Quote:
Some of mine do, but nothing worth getting excited about. My crop last year was with an SP IaB roo over black and blue AM hens. The SP made some beautiful birds! I'll plan to cross an SP over these IaCs in the bator now.

 

[karimw]

One thing I've noticed about my IaB/SPPR crosses is they have an interesting eye color. Both the SP and the ER have eyes about the same color as thier willow legs. Kind of a chartreuse color. Have you noticed this on your babies Curt?

Connie, have you seen any that might be SPPR crosses in the last batch of eggs you got from me? I have been looking at my Valentine Hatch, which was set just before those and I do have some still. They have much thicker legs, greenish yellow eyes, fluffier feathers, slower growing short puffy tails (like a bun on a woman's head and longer heads.

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Kari- I have been noticing the same things you are noticing in your IaB/SPPR crosses. The legs on the crosses that I have are still a distinct yellow, maybe somewhat faded than a purebred rock. Feathering appears much slower than the IaB, with some of my crosses only half feathered at over a month old. My IaB are totally feathered out ("teenage" tail and all! hahaha) However, some of the crosses are mostly feathered out. It's been interesting to watch them develop. They definately have a more "laid back" personality.....

 

[Hurley]

Nope, these ones I have are all Iowa Blue, appearance and personality wise. They remind me of lotto balls boinging around in there.

Would love to see some updated photos of the IB/SPPR crosses.

 

[User105877]

I'm from southern Illinois. If anybody ships eggs send me a pm. Would like to get a couple dozen, from different breeders. Thanks

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Maybe this weekend I get get some pics of my IB/Rock crosses taken and uploaded.

 

[karimw]

Ugg - another broody in my Iowa Blue pen. Nothing to do but give her eggs i guess. I think that's the quickest way to break them. All the Iowa Blue eggs are spoken for the next six weeks so I'll let her do a "magic hatch". I picked the 7 prettiest eggs from the coop and she is super happy about it! She is now the only adult bird in the pen with the New Years Day Hatch chicks. It is so funny to watch them. She marches like a queen to the food and water and the babies, that are all bigger than she is, scatter like rabbits to get out of her way. She is teaching them to use the nipple waterer and to roost like big birdies. I opened up the pop doors today, we'll see if they go out despite the snow on the ground.

 

[Hurley]

11 of 12 Iowacanas hatched a day early (typical as mom was a bantam Lav Am), waiting on the IBs hatching today!