Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[IowaBlueCurt]

Elmtree- you are pretty fortunate to obtain an Iowa Blue with so much silver on her from Ideal! Most of what we are seeing from Ideal are hens that are nearly solid black. Your light colored pullet looks like she's inbetween a silver penciled and birchen. We have seen this from time to time and isn't unheard of. Kari currently has a pullet that is colored in a similar pattern. What is unknown, is whether the hen in question is an over melinized silver penciled, or an under melinized birchen. Time will tell as breeders join these pullets with cockerels of both types. My guess is that they are over melinized silver penciled and I believe you would be greatly pleased with the result of putting her on a silver penciled cockerel. Particularly one that is "too" silver so to speak. It should level out the melinization on the pullet some to have a cockerel that is too light in his silver.

Jake- I am greatlyl pleased with the news! Congratulations on your new additions. And to have all three come out Silver Penciled so far! That has to have you thrilled!!! Keep us updated on any additional arrivals!

Update- I had ten chicks hatch this weekend. 5 Birchen and 5 Silver Penciled! My little SP flock is slowly but surely getting bigger!!!! It sure is an exciting time for this breed.......

 

[karimw]

Hello! I bought 4 "Javas" from Ideal in February. Turns out they aren't Javas but something else. Someone mentioned that they might be Iowa Blues. It's ok with me if they are. We love our girls! They are so friendly and sweet and beautiful. Here's a pic of one of them. Ill have to get a pic of the other 2, as they are a bit differently colored (one passed away). Is this an Iowa Blue pullet?

I suppose it could be an Iowa Blue of the Birchen Variety. The brown stippling would support the heavy lacing. It's odd how this one does look blue! If they were black with yellow or white throat and belly, I would guess that's what they are. Sorry you didn't get the Java's you wanted, but I hope you like them.

 

[karimw]

Pictures:
Birchen Chicks


Birchen rooster (Rex)





Silver Penciled chicks:


Silver Penciled hens


Silver Penciled Pullet





mixed group of pullets



Partridge/Duckwing chicks


Partridge Pullet
:


Partridge Cockerel



For some reason I can't upload new pictures today

 

[karimw]

Good morning all

I am going to "try" to get an Iowa Blue Flock started down in Georgia at my FILs place this Fall (going to get eggs from Deb, so pray for a good hatch)

I see a lot of conversation regarding birchen and silver penciled. I am very familiar with Silver Penciled in LF Rocks as well as Brahmas (dark brahmas)....is the Iowa Blue "silver penciled" the same? Or does it look different?

Just curious more than anything and if someone has pix of both that they could point out I would appreciate it

Thanks yall

Keep in mind the birds you see are in the early stages of the third or fourth attempt to restore the Iowa Blue as a viable useful breed. When I started my project there was no standard. Now we have one so the NEXT generation will be created with the Proposed Standard in mind. If you are interested in the breed be sure and check out our website in my signature line.

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Thanks for posting the pics Kari!

 

[Hurley]

Correction, I got TWO pullet eggs yesterday, so looks like pretty Birchen and the oldest SP pullets are laying.

Need to check fertility, but woop, the next generation can commence soon!

I can try and get some updated photos if I can get home before dark sometime this week. They're certainly getting more and more lovely with age.

 

[elmtree]

You guys really have been great! I was shunned on the Java thread for even suggesting they might be Javas lol. I am very happy with my Blue girls. I would love to put her with a IB roo. Maybe next year I can look into that. I might also try to get some eggs and either have a broody incubate or try my hand at it. So a few questions then on this breed... When do they usually start to lay? Does the molt change their coloring at all? So they go broody often? Has anyone else experienced super friendly Blues? My girls are very chatty and love to hang out with my DH and I when we are in the yard doing stuff. Again, thank you all so much for your help.

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

I'll see what I can do as far as answering your questions. And hopefully others will jump in with their experiences too. As far as age of laying, my Sanhill birds of long ago were around 6-7 months when they began to lay, however I think others with Ideal's line are experiencing 5.5-6 months at the begining of lay. Each molt phase until adulthood will see a change, with the Silver Penciled seeing the most change in feather color. Usually, you'll see more silver with each molt (this will happen with both color varieties). My old line would broody at least one brood/year with a couple hens giving it another shot in the fall. Kari has had quite a few broodies and I'm sure her experiences would be greater than mine. Not super friendly, however very inquisitive. When I enter the pen they will keep their distance, but if I sit still in the pen with them, it'll only be a few seconds and everyone of them are at my feet pecking at my shoes and clothes. They have very unique personalities for chickens, and I find them not only comical, but quite enjoyable as well.

We are glad to have you here with us Elmtree! We are all still in the learning phase ourselves, and although some on the thread have years of experience with the breed, there is still so much to learn about them. I personally hope your enthusiasm for the breed continues and that you will become as hooked on the breed as we are!!

 

[Jake Levi]

Yes Elmtree, we are in a 2nd and 3rd generation here, seeing a lot of progress, and a lot of learning,

my 3 prime posters to read carefully are Hurley, Curt and Kari. Much to learn from them, but everyone has much to offer/

Kari keeps us in eye candy, like these posts today. Whats not to love?

I am going to be watching close the POL, and six mos size, other production factors, with the Iowa Blues and the Icelandics and Delawares. My Delawares are also in early generations of development. Its a fascinating project watching them all progress. I am also going to be looking for broodiness, and longevity.

Thanks Kari for this eye candy ! Its a joy to look at, and to study.

Jake

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

An update on The Poultry Hatchery's claim to possessing a pure strain of Iowa Blue that was not outcrossed........compare the photos below. The first photo is from page 56 on this thread and was posted by Kari on 4/24/12. The second photo is a "copyrighted" photo posted on The Poultry Hatchery's website. This cockerel, from my understanding came out of an Ideal breeding pen. (Kari can add greater detail to the bird's ancestory). The owner told me that this was a picture of HIS birds and that in the "original" picture the cock doesn't have autosomal red, that his website picture has red on it because of cropping issues............ I have informed him of this theft and instructed him to take immidiate actions to remedy the issue.