Isabella Leghorns

[Zing 73]

Was looking for Isabella Leghorns and noticed most of them are heavier than a standard leghorn. I believe this is due to using lavender Orpington to create them and most of them lay tinted eggs. Most say the chicks do not ship well either. What is you alls opinion about using Old English Self Blue Bantams for the lavender color? It is just a thought I have been considering. All comments welcome and appreciated!! Thanks in advance and God Bless!!

 

[Severne]

@The Moonshiner should Know.

 

[SteveUK]

I was taught that you should start with the best you can get your hands on from a good breeder and go from there. Breeding the line for better type.
Doing it the way your thinking is full of pitfalls. The faults you see are likely down to bad breeding.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Well you could but it would be a long road.
Isabellas are just brown leghorns with the lavender gene. Best way to improve them is to find browns with the qualities you want and breed to those creating splits then breed those together or bred back to isabellas.

 

[Zing 73]

Well you could but it would be a long road.
Isabellas are just brown leghorns with the lavender gene. Best way to improve them is to find browns with the qualities you want and breed to those creating splits then breed those together or bred back to isabellas.

Where in Missouri are you located?

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

My Isabella's are closer in size and type to my standardbred browns than my hatchery brown leghorn is. Leghorns bred to the SOP are not slight, flighty birds.