Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[IowaBlueCurt]

Use GREAT caution when purchasing Iowa Blue's from hatcheries!!! I cannot stress this enough. When you decide to purchase stock, ask the breeder where they obtained their flock/flocks from. If they are hestitant to share, or are unwilling to answer, that should send up a red flag. Breeders who are dedicated to the preservation of this breed are open and honest about the start of their flock and are eager to share their experiences with complete transparency.

There is currently only one "known" hatchery that sells the Silver Penciled Iowa Blue and that is Glenn Drowns and his flock is verified with the breed club. He does however have a few off types still occuring in his flock and that needs to be taken into account. I suspect that in time, the Birchens that Ideal is producing will no longer be able to stand against the work that the private breeders have done to the Birchen variety. We have seen an incredible improvement in color and type in our Birchen lines (Particularly Kari's and Connie's flocks) with the silver coloring expanding nearly the full length of the hackle on the hens and silver lacing extending down the breast on the hens as well.

On the breed club website, there is a fantastic list of current breeders that are working diligently to develop their stock to the Standard, which is something no hatchery is currently doing. The importance of our Standard is that it creates a solid and definable breed identity that secures the promotion of breed traits (color, type, and characteristics). If this breed is to survive for future generations, then the Standard must be diligently sought for by breeders who value the breed more than their pocket books.

Anyone seeking to participate in the promotion and advancement of this breed would do well to get their start from a reputable breeder who knows what they are doing, and aren't afraid to admit the limits of their knowledge. For those who are wanting to get a taste of the breed without commiting to the breeding of the Iowa Blue, would be well served, I would think, with obtaining some chicks from a hatchery. The hatcheries have their place, and that place deserves respect. But there are limits to what a hatchery can devote their resources to, and that is where the private breeder plays such an important role in breed identity preservation.

It is important that the club identify which stock sources are in line with the Standard as well as which sources can claim legitimacy to breed identity. We have a very active breed leadership who eagerly hunts down every lead and does the best they can to assure those who are getting started with the breed, or are looking for additional stock, have a place to go to get the stock that will best serve the needs of the breed as well as the needs of the individual.

Best

 

[mrheinz77]

I went away for 5 days and the broody bug hit. I have 3 hens on the same nest. I know from last year that Iowa Blue make excellent mothers.

In regards to pullets laying, mine usually start by 5-5.5 months, some sooner, some later.

 

[karimw]

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.

Well that's nice. He is one of my very first SPs in my 2nd generation. I assure you it's not the camera. It IS autosomal red. Maybe his birds don't have it, but mine sure did. Though if was going to steal a picture, why would he choose that one? As I said - shallow chest, squirrel tail, light eyes and off color. Not what I would choose to represent the breed.

 

[elmtree]

Ok guys and gals, where can I find the SOP info? On this thread? I'm almost at the 5 mo mark so I guess I'm close to eggs. I have two girls that are getting pretty red but not much comb enlargement yet. The eggs are a cream color? Are there folks on this thread who sell IB eggs? How much do chicks and/or eggs run for this breed? So my Penelope, with the sp is a birchen? Birchen is a color, correct (pardon my ignorance lol)? What would my blacks with the neck penciling be called? The same, but obviously of poor quality? Thanks to all who have answered my questions patiently!! IB cocks are soooo beautiful. I'm hoping to talk the DH into getting some chicks/eggs next year and hopefully getting a roo. Are they a dual purpose breed?

 

[elmtree]

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!!

I am hooked for sure! Yes, I find my girls always at my feet chatting to me lol. I love that they are so chatty. My DH went out the other day to do a check on everyone and our most friendly IB, Gertrude, and our BO, Butter, both pecked his leg to be picked up!! So he had a chicken in each arm lol. What a riot they are. Anyways, we will definitely do our part to keep the breed true once we get a bit more chicken breeding knowledge under our belts.

 

[Hurley]

http://www.iowabluechickenclub.com/standard.html:

(Copied from the Iowa Blue Chicken Club's website)

The Iowa Blue was originally founded in the Silver Penciled variety, which is considered the preferred color for the breed and is the variety being petitioned for SOP acceptance by the APA.

A Birchen variety is also in existence and may also be petitioned for SOP acceptance in the future. A standard for this variety has been created for future petitioning for acceptance.

​

Approved 04.01.2013​

Iowa Blues​

The Iowa Blue was developed in the early 1900's near Decorah, Iowa. Little is known about its origins, but a folk legend tells the story of a white Plymouth Rock hen emerging from under a building with a clutch of chicks colored solid chestnut to striped. Old-timers tell the tale that the chicks were sired by a pheasant. The breed was carried by several Iowa hatcheries through the 1960s, but was nearly lost when the hatcheries went out of business. The breed was rescued from a few remaining flocks and has been bred and preserved through the efforts of a few breeders since the late 1980s. The Iowa Blue grew in popularity in 2011 with a group of dedicated breeders working to preserve and return the breed to its original type and purpose.

With its plucky attitude and proud carriage, the Iowa Blue is a dual-purpose homesteader chicken, known to be an excellent forager. Hens will go broody, exhibiting good maternal characteristics. Males are noted to be excellent flock guardians and are talented hawk fighters. They are vigorous breeders and are early to mature. Though very aware of their surroundings in a free-range situation, the breed is fairly docile and not particularly flighty.

ECONOMIC QUALITIES​

A dual purpose fowl and active free range forager. Color of skin, yellow; color of egg shells, lightly tinted brown.
​

DISQUALIFICATIONS​

(See General Disqualifications and Cutting for Defects)
​

STANDARD WEIGHTS
​

Cock –
Cockerel –
​

7 Pounds
6 Pounds​

Hen –
Pullet –​

6 Pounds
5 Pounds​

SHAPE – MALE ​

COMB: Single; bright red, medium to large, tight to the head, thick at base, with six well defined, evenly spaced points, those in the front and rear slightly shorter than those in the middle, blade not conforming too closely to the shape of the head.

BEAK: Dark horn shading to yellow at point, moderate in length, slightly curved

FACE: Bright red, clean-cut, skin fine and soft in texture, clean face around eyes and cheeks

EYES: Large, round, and prominent; dark brown

WATTLES: Bright red, medium to moderately large.

EAR LOBES: Bright red, medium.

HEAD: Medium in size, rather deep, neatly curved.

NECK: Moderately long, mild arch, forward and erect carriage
Hackle – Abundant, flowing well over shoulders

BACK: Medium length, strong, broad, and level, blending well into the tail.

TAIL: Medium length, full, carried at an angle of eighty degrees (80˚) above horizontal.
Main Tail – moderately long, broad and overlapping

Sickles – moderate in length
Lesser Sickles and Coverts – moderate, abundant, extending onto main tail

WINGS: Medium in length, folded loosely with primaries overlapped but visible, carried close to the body under the saddle.

BREAST: Strong, moderately deep, and well-rounded.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body – full, rectangular in shape, moderately deep.
Fluff – moderately full.

LEGS AND TOES: Legs set well apart, straight when viewed from the front.
Lower Thighs – large, medium length, well feathered, smooth.
Shanks –medium in length, smooth.
Toes – four on each foot, medium length, straight, well-spread.
​

SHAPE – FEMALE ​

COMB: Single; bright red, medium to large, tight to the head, thick at base, with six well defined, evenly spaced points, those in the front and rear slightly shorter than those in the middle, blade not conforming too closely to the shape of the head.

BEAK: Dark horn shading to yellow at point, moderate in length, slightly curved

FACE: Bright red, clean-cut, skin fine and soft in texture, clean face around eyes and cheeks

EYES: Large, round, and prominent; dark brown

WATTLES: Bright red, medium.

EAR LOBES: Bright red, medium.

HEAD: Medium in size.

NECK: Moderately long, mild arch, forward and erect carriage, blending well into shoulder

BACK: Medium length, strong, broad, and level, blending well into the tail.

TAIL: Moderately long, dense, carried high at an angle of 80* above horizontal.

WINGS: Medium in length, folded loosely with primaries overlapped but visible, carried close to the body.

BREAST: Strong, moderately deep, and well-rounded.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body – full, rectangular in shape, moderately deep.
Fluff – moderately full.

LEGS AND TOES: Legs set well apart, straight when viewed from the front.
Lower Thighs – large, medium length, well feathered, smooth.
Shanks –medium in length, smooth.
Toes – four on each foot, medium length, straight, well-spread.​

SILVER PENCILED IOWA BLUES​

COLOR – MALE

HEAD: Silvery White.

NECK: Hackle – web of feather, lustrous black with wide lacing of silvery white; shafts black.
Front of neck – black.

BACK: Back including saddle – web of feather, lustrous black with heavy lacing of silvery white, shafting of silvery white permissible. Silvery white predominating on surface of upper back; saddle matching with hackle in color.

TAIL: Main Tail – web, black.
Main and Lesser Sickles – lustrous black with bluish sheen.
Coverts: lustrous black with bluish sheen, laced with white.

WINGS: Fronts – black
Bows – silvery white.
Coverts: lustrous black with bluish sheen, forming a distinct wing bar of this color across entire wing when folded. Silvery white markings permissible.
Primaries – black with narrow edging of white on lower edge of lower webs.
Secondaries – lower webs, black with lower half white to a point near end of feathers, terminating abruptly leaving ends of feathers black;
upper webs, black; the secondaries when folded forming a triangular white wing bay between the wing bar and tips of secondary feathers.

BREAST: Lustrous black with bluish sheen, laced with white. White shafting permissible.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body – black with white lacing.
Fluff – black, slight tinge of gray permissible.

LEGS AND TOES: Thighs – black with slight to medium silver lacing.
Shanks and Toes – dark willow.

UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Slate shading lighter towards base of feathers.​

COLOR – FEMALE

HEAD: Silvery white.

NECK: Hackle – black, slightly penciled with gray, heavily laced in white.
Front of neck - penciled blending into breast.

BACK: Gray penciling, becoming more stippled toward the tail, giving an overall blue gray appearance.

TAIL: Main Tail - top feathering showing penciling to stippling in the upper web, lower web black, remainder of tail black.
Coverts - gray with soft penciling to stippling.

WINGS: Fronts, Bows, and Coverts – gray with black penciling
Primaries – black with soft gray penciling, stippled on lower webs
Secondaries – lower webs gray with diagonal black penciling, upper webs black, stippling toward the end.

BREAST: Silver gray with distinct black penciling.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body – gray with black penciling, becoming stippled toward the tail, giving an overall blue gray appearance.
Fluff – blue gray, penciled with dull black fading toward tail.

LEGS AND TOES: Thighs – gray with black penciling.
Shanks and Toes – dark willow.

UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Medium slate.
​

BIRCHEN IOWA BLUES​

COLOR – MALE

HEAD: Plumage, White.

NECK: Hackle – black with heavy white lacing giving an overall white appearance to the hackle.
Front of neck – black with white lacing.

BACK: White.
Saddle – black with heavy white lacing matching the hackles in pattern. Shafting permitted.

TAIL: Main Tail – web, black.
Main and Lesser Sickles – Lustrous black with a bluish sheen.
Coverts – Black.

WINGS: Glossy black with bluish luster.
Shoulders and Fronts - black.
Bows - white.
Coverts, Primaries, and Secondaries - black.

BREAST: Upper breast – black with heavy lacing of white.
Lower breast – black with white lacing.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body – black.
Fluff – black, slight tinge of gray permissible.

LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs – black.
Shanks and Toes – dark willow.

UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Slate.​

COLOR – FEMALE

HEAD: Plumage, White.

NECK: Hackle – black with heavy white lacing.
Front of Neck – black with white lacing.

BACK: Black.

TAIL: Black.

WINGS: Black.

BREAST: Black with white lacing extending to the lower breast.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body – black.
Fluff – black, slight tinge of gray permissible.

LEGS AND TOES: Lower thighs – black.
Shanks and Toes – dark willow.

UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Slate.
​

 

[debs_flock]

Wow, nothing like blatant copyright infringement.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

WOW....I'm not even engaged with the breed, but if someone did this with my Columbian Rocks I'd be REALLY ticked!!!

Crooks are STUPID

 

[debs_flock]

WOW....I'm not even engaged with the breed, but if someone did this with my Columbian Rocks I'd be REALLY ticked!!!

Crooks are STUPID

Yes, and I like how he watermarked the photo with his website info.

I'd have to look for it, but I saved a link to the letter someone sent for unauthorized use of their photo. The photo was taken down almost immediately.

 

[Jake Levi]

You folks are much nicer then I am, WAY nicer and more civilized.

I have zero tolerance for crooks, and only a little more for BS artists in livestock.

This guy isnot only a BS artist, but also a demonstrated thief. He needs to be prosecuted, along with complaints to the Feds for using the internet to defraud.

This really pisses me !

His website is a fraud, no way a little known, and no history operation the size this purports to be would have to be could exist with little or no history. He has blatantly modeled it after the Ideal site, with no displaying the company size, plant and staff as Ideal has.

At best he is a drop shipper. I have no doubt that if you were to look at the other breeds on the site its similar situation with stolen proprietary property amuck.

He is a crook , a thief, and should be shut down.

Nuff. Excellent posts all. In your spare time, check his other breeds. I also suggest posting warnings on this site, and to BYC moderators and staff.

Thanks Hurley for the SOP again, well worth reviewing.

Curt and kari thanks also for your posts. As I said, you are a lot nicer for your responses to this then I can muster up. Up close asnd personal I would dearly love to deck him.

But thats just me. I love the poetic aspect of that.

Jake