Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[Hurley]

The Silver Penciled trio from Kari, moved into their new breeder coop.

 

[spartacus_63]

I'm envious and still hoping that Kari has a surplus of those SP pullets.

 

[Jake Levi]

I will be tickled pink to get some of her hatchingeggs !

Kari those are gorgeous !

I have to push my egg hatching forward into May because the snowy spring is slowing me in the coop building, its literally taking twice as long as what I had planned. But it is proceding. It will be.

Connie I love that coop, is it a Tractor Supply one? I was admiring some at TS like it.

Mine arenot as pretty but, they are substantial. Everything I build is overbuilt. Lifelong habit. Someday I will learn to build pretty. Maybe. In the meantime I just putter along.

 

[Hurley]

Naw, I picked it up off craig's list. I've reinforced it as it was fairly flimsy when I got it, but I mostly got it as a pattern to build a series of breeder coop individual chalets, so to speak. LOL Mine will be stronger, likely a little bigger, but likely not as pretty. However, for a trio, it's just the right size.

The trio were out and about in their run this morning despite the new snow. LOL

Babies are doing well out in their new digs.

 

[karimw]

I hear ya...I don't normally hatch through the winter, but I think I will this year to get a jump on the next generation.

It's a pain, but it accelerates progress if you do.

The Silver Penciled trio from Kari, moved into their new breeder coop.

Awesome coop! I've been looking up some designs to build some tractors like that. Then I can consolidate the best for precise crosses. i'm going to need my current breeding pens for grow out pens. Well, I'm going to need the whole coop for that.

 

[Hurley]

Just a note that the Iowa Blue Chicken Club website is now up to date. The vote on the standard was approved with flying colors, so we have ourselves an official standard, everyone.

 

[StelleKitten]

I applied to be a member of the Iowa Blue site. I was wondering if anyone knows of any hens in Texas that are available and would help me with breeding out the gold in my roo. Or maybe some that will darken his legs a little (and yes I know this particular bird won't change but I'm looking for what his babies will look like)

 

[WVDan44]

Hello Everyone!

It has been a while since you saw my Iowa Blues that I hatched out eggs from Kari (bless her pea pickin' heart!) so here are some photos for your critique. They were hatched in January around the 29th I believe.




Birchen Pullet - probably 2nd best of the two I have. The better one would not behave for me.




Birchen Cockerel - definitely 2nd of the two I have. The better one would not hold still for a photo although I do have an overhead of him below.




The better cockerel, but photo doesn't show it. He's larger, broader, and not as thin as the one above. But he has lost most of his tail feathers so he's a bit ragged.


Cluster photo - that's the better cockerel on the far right showing his butt.


My only SP - what do y'all think of this one?



The SP is developing a sort of cluster at the very top left side of its comb. Here's a photo that you may have to enlarge to see what I'm referring to. Is this going to be a problem?


Well that's all I have for now. Will try to get pics of the two better ones later. Please give me some good hard critique on these as best you can. Thanks, and have a great day!

 

[WVDan44]

Oh there is one more thing I meant to say. The hormones are raging within my small flock of IBs. It's really funny to watch them. One of the cockerels is crowing or trying to, and he is also displaying dominance and chasing the pullets around as if he wants to mate. The other is after the pullets also, but has to be leery of the bigger cockerel. When should I separate them?

 

[mrheinz77]

Just a picture of a few of my IB.