Iowa Blues

[Jake Levi]

The red bleed mentioned earlier is the yellow birchen, not the silver birchen that the IB is supposed to have, I wouldnt use any roo with it, or save roos from pullets that have it. Strictly speaking the Birchen pattern is a Silver neck and black body, with a few silver feathers here and there on the body. The gold is another birchen pattern , that breeds true so the only way to get rid of it is to use only the Silver necked roos,if any gold cull them, if there is a better one available. All other things being equal.

The pics here look very nice to me, I am looking forward to getting some and getting a flock started.

 

[Ahava]

We bought our first Iowa Blue chicken this past weekend when we were at Southern States to pick up feed for our grown-up ladies. I'd never heard of Iowa Blue before but chose to get one (along with an EE chick for company) after looking up the breed on my phone. This chick is t-i-n-y, smaller than any chick I've ever had. Is that typical of the breed or it merely an individual difference?

 

[Anamal25]

I'm excited to see what you guys do with this breed, I will keep following this thread for sure. I may switch to IB from Welsummers at some point.

 

[DLV58]

Hi, I have one Iowa Blue. I really like how dark is she.
She's 7 wks old and is a wild little thing from being out in the coop/run with the big girls at 2 wks old.
She is flighty but will come eat out of my hand.

 

[Jake Levi]

My IB chicks are tiny to start also, but they grow fast, and range all over. I love them. They go so well with my Icelandics. They are a definite ranging homestead breed, thats what they developed as and what they do best.

 

[picachick7]

aww how nice congrads im think of ordering some or black jersey giants

 

[countrydream7]

are u serious gamey birds ugggh just was gonna order some

 

[countrydream7]

do u think they are gamey as I hear on here hope not

 

[countrydream7]

I hope they are not gamey ordering some for spring don't like gamey meat ..hope not so to be...love the way bird act look etc and from what I read..anyone confirm the gamey taste of blue iowas thanks

 

[karimw]

I hope they are not gamey ordering some for spring don't like gamey meat ..hope not so to be...love the way bird act look etc and from what I read..anyone confirm the gamey taste of blue iowas thanks

No, they are not gamey. They are a high energy, active breed like some game breeds are though. When people refer to them as gamey I'd guess that's what they mean. Originally they were supposed to be 7-9 lbs and decent layers. If you get them from a hatchery you will likely be disappointed in that respect. Even those of us who raise them are working to recover the original size and laying ability. I do eat my extra cockerels and they are quite tasty and my girls are laying now in the dead of winter. There are a couple of good Iowa Blue threads on BYC if you are interested in learning more.