Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[Hurley]

Got some photos of my flock this morning. Here are a couple photos of the oldest SP cockerel. Would like more lacing on his breast and darker legs/eyes, but he has a lot of type going for him as well. Love the last shot, which I dubbed "Iowa Blue Attitude".

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Connie!! He is amazing! Look how broad and full his tail is! Love it! I'll be excited to see him when he's a year old and fully mature! Absolutely Stunning. Do you have any idea as to his weight?

 

[Hurley]

Not sure on the weight, but he's a big boy.


Here is the next oldest SP cockerel. I think overall will have better coloration, but looks like that darn autosomal red is present. Will raise him up, see what I think. Really love this guy minus that red. Can't wait to see him in his big boy plumage.

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Hey guys & gals! Check these out !!! Alison from the ALBC directed me to these links from the ALBC website. They are based off of selection information from the early 20th century. These are fantastic resources and I think would add great value to our undertaking.

Connie- Alison mentioned that we can copy these links to our website if we wanted to. Would you be willing to add them under a "Breeding Information" tab on the site the next time you have a scheduled site update? That would be awesome!

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/ALBCchicken_assessment-1.pdf

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/ALBCchicken_assessment-2.pdf

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/ALBCchicken_assessment-3.pdf

I also have a question for everyone out there. I've been thinking of working with the leadership to get some breeding information on our site. Things like; How to establish your own line, selection traits to breed for/against, breeding issues specific to the Iowa Blue, color genetics heredity of the Iowa Blue, information similar to what is posted in the above links, etc.
Is this something that would be of value to the membership, and something that would be utilitzed and desired by the club?

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Connie-

Great pics. I don't notice any AR on your younger fella. But maybe the pics aren't showing it? I do notice a darker redish-brown in his wingbar, close to his back, but I think that will disappear when the obtains his adult plumage.........

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Is he one that you hatched out from your stock or eggs that you got. He looks like he has slate legs. I like the slate legs, I think it helps with the overall "blue" appearance.........I wish the APA would allow us to accept both slate and willow colored legs as historically it appears that both were present.

 

[Hurley]

I plan to work on the website later today, update the membership and breeder lists. I'm all for adding some breeding info. Also want to update the photos.


Here's a shot of the younger guy's back close up. It's that mahogany type of coloration that worries me as that's what has shown up later in my old flock of birchens as red. We'll see how he matures.

As for the legs, hard to tell, his legs are so dark. I need to scoop him up and inspect his feet.

 

[karimw]

Great pictures Connie! They are turning out beautiful.
More great information Curt! Thanks for all the digging you do!.
Is anyone planning to go to the Mason City show?

 

[Hurley]

If I can get someone to swap me for on call that weekend, I would like to bring a couple birds.

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

I was planning on attending the mason show, but won't have any birds old enough to take.

Connie- I'm afraid you may be right on the young cockerel, that does look like some AR gonig on there........it can be so darn persistant!!!!

I like the idea of updated photos on the website, we've got a lot of nice birds now that are at the point of lay and should make some good examples of what the breed should look like. What are your thoughts on having a few educational pointers under each photo of each bird. Like, if you post one of those awesome pics of your older rooster, listing what he excels in as well as his opportunities for improvement. And if you use some of Kari's photos have Kari list the same for each bird. Any other breeder who's pics are used, they could do the same. That way for new people intersted in the breed, or others who have begun their journey with the Iowa Blue can have a great resource to see some good examples of the breed while at the same time train their eye for improvements. Just a thought. I don't know of any other club site that offers that kind of "online training" for type.