Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[karimw]

I have the laminants if you want to take them. I don't know if I'm going to make it yet or not, so it would be a good idea for you to grab them if you're out my way sometime.

Thanks! I'll give you a call.

 

[karimw]

Finally some pictures

.

Last hatch:




Here is a couple odd cinnamon colored chicks.


Some of the juveniles I have right now.




Smokey cockerel hatched in January from Curt's eggs.
Cadillac



... and a Smokey pullet - She doesn't have any red at all

.



Axle - the cockerel I'll be bringing to the Iowa State Fair.


Charcoal pullet


Charcoal cockerel


A couple scraggly April hatch Silver boys





Silver pullets

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Kari, did this Smokey and Charcoal hatch out of the eggs you received from me before I lost my first flock?

 

[iamfivewire]

for some reason, this:

kinda reminds me of this:

 

[BunnyTheSlayer]

I looooves getting to see the Iowa Blues at the fair yesterday! Such a beautiful bird!

 

[Hurley]

How's the fair going, guys? So sorry to miss it! Be sure to send me photos/stories to put up on the website.



Just wanted to let everyone know that the Iowa Blue was featured in an article in Farm Show magazine this past month. Have been getting quite a response to it already, and it's reaching the non-computer people. Some are thrilled to see them back, having had them a long time ago or growing up with them. I haven't written a physical letter in years, but have been receiving letters to the magazine from people who aren't on the computer. Will have to buy some stamps! This article seems to be reaching a new audience, and people are thrilled to hear of the club and the efforts to preserve the Iowa Blue.

Anyway, here's the article. The originally contacted me asking to speak to some people currently breeding them. I gave them several names, but they seems to be on a short deadline as they went ahead and published it pretty quickly. Here's the issue I just received this week:

Snippets from the first page blown up:


The article:



And a copy of the whole front page:

 

[bstromgren]

My Iowa blue roosters would come to the house (about 50 yards) every morning and get on the chairs on the front porch and crow in the front windows. I've raised chickens for 25+ years and they are by far the most adventurous chickens I've ever raised. It amazes me how acutely aware they are of whats going on in the sky and will herd the entire flock into the hen house if they see something they don't like. They will also head 50 yards the other direction and hang out under the mulberry tree, enjoying the berries. I sold all of the hens 'cept one and she turned out to be pitch black. They came from Ideal. Think she will have more appropriately colored offspring?

 

[Hurley]

My Iowa blue roosters would come to the house (about 50 yards) every morning and get on the chairs on the front porch and crow in the front windows. I've raised chickens for 25+ years and they are by far the most adventurous chickens I've ever raised. It amazes me how acutely aware they are of whats going on in the sky and will herd the entire flock into the hen house if they see something they don't like. They will also head 50 yards the other direction and hang out under the mulberry tree, enjoying the berries. I sold all of the hens 'cept one and she turned out to be pitch black. They came from Ideal. Think she will have more appropriately colored offspring?

They really are a treat. I saw a hawk land on top of the coop enclosure (I have wire covering the pen that I can shut them into when I don't want them free ranging), spent a few minutes trying to find a way into the coop, flew down to the door, tried to find an entrace. There was not a chicken visible anywhere on the place and usually they are all out and about. They knew that hawk was looking. Luckily he didn't get a hold of anyone to see if the big boys would come charging, but they sure come running if I happen to scoop up a hen and she squeals.

The pitch black gal has a lot of melanizers to overcome, but you can push them to better coloration with selection and pairing her with the lightest rooster you can find. Starting with a solid black girl will give you an long uphill battle. I battled that road for a few years and was making slow, but steady progress. With the addition of silvers to the flock and careful selection we're quantum leaped forward and are really making headway now!

My advice (if you don't wish to pick up some new breeding stock) is to find the brightest, whitest male you can find to pair the black hen, then hold back the best offspring.

 

[Candy442]

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Iowa Blue was featured in an article in Farm Show magazine this past month. Have been getting quite a response to it already, and it's reaching the non-computer people. Some are thrilled to see them back, having had them a long time ago or growing up with them. I haven't written a physical letter in years, but have been receiving letters to the magazine from people who aren't on the computer. Will have to buy some stamps! This article seems to be reaching a new audience, and people are thrilled to hear of the club and the efforts to preserve the Iowa Blue.

Anyway, here's the article. The originally contacted me asking to speak to some people currently breeding them. I gave them several names, but they seems to be on a short deadline as they went ahead and published it pretty quickly. Here's the issue I just received this week:

This is a great article Connie, how did they find out about the Iowa or did you submit the article to them? Or, did they hear about the breed somewhere else and contact you through the website? I would like to know to discuss these types of options with the promotions committee.

 

[Hurley]

They contacted me asking for an interview and names of breeders, wanting to do an article on the Iowa Blue.