Isbar thread

[Odelia]

I am glad that you are happy with Greenfire Farms, I really am. But I am still entitled to my opinion. You may be pleased at receiving "free" packing peanuts, but I would prefer to receive only the chicks that I paid for and be assured they are all the breed I asked for rather than getting extras that I have to feed for 2-3 months only to find out that the only thing they are good for is the soup pot. I am not talking about the black Isbars with the small combs. I did not expect all the Isbars I bought to be perfect. This breed is not prefect. The ones that I am talking about are the mottled cockerels that I received that are not any recognizable breed that were not marked that they were worthless "packing peanuts" and not Isbars. When I first inquired about the chicks in my shipment, I was led to believe that they were all Isbars. A few weeks later, when confronted with pictures, I was told 2 of the chicks in question were Orust (in spite of the fact they were blue and white)

I am sorry are you confused by the bird in the center of this photo? The splash Isbar cockerel. Did you let them know that you didn't want any extra chicks as packing peanuts before they were sent? Most people like getting extras. Also you sent them photos of chicks that were a couple of weeks old. I am sorry but that is a terrible age to try to identify a breed. Have you ever sent a photo of the birds now that they are mostly grown? Also if you got you birds at auction then you didn't spend anywhere near the price you are implying you did for these birds. When they post auctions of this breed on that site I always hit the watch button as this is a breed that I have and would like to buy more of at some point. So the going price is of interest to me. I looked at the few auctions from that time and they went for $270 or under. So you paid $10-$16 a chick not $99 or even the $29. You also said that you sold some of the extra's. That changes your out of pocket cost. You paid for an auction of 12+ chicks and got 19. There were three mottled chicks that you are unsure of out of 19 chicks. So if you had just let go of those three right away as pet quality chicks so you didn't have to wait until they were grown to identify them you would have gotten a great deal. It sounds like you are trying very hard to be wronged. I am sorry that you are unsatisfied with this breed. If you want to breed show quality birds I recommend you go with a breed that is a recognized breed in the U.S. that isn't on the critically endangered list. As these are an endangered unrecognized breed they aren't likely to meet your standards. People like you throwing a tantrum about a couple of unmarked extras will stop people from buying newly imported birds that they rest of us are excited to have the opportunity to own. I am sorry you won that auction. I am sorry you let the small trials of life upset you so much. I also wish this page was filled with people who want to improve and save this breed now that we have the chance in this country to do so. I hope you find joy in the breeds you choose to go forward with.

 

[cutipatooti]

I posted about my isbar roo a while back. He was culled because of his bad temperament and I needed to make chicken noodle soup for the family. He was from GFF not as a packing peanut but ordered as one of 3 black Bresse chicks (and 3 bielefelders) direct from their site. They sent no extras. He was obviously not a bresse and upon sending pics to GFF I was told he was an isbar. I later won an auction of bresse chicks from GFF that when I asked what they were sending was told all were bresse. I ended up with another "isbar" in the group very close to the first one only this one has white earlobes.
My question is this... Since there is no SOP and new genetics have been added that have diversified the colors and such of the breed, should I try to breed this guy. I personally like his coloring. I was fortunate enough to get a male and female isbar of old bloodlines and could try a mix of this with the old or get a few new direct from their site. I am just questioning if he is pure. Then it seems a lot of people are questioning if the new line is pure. I'm thinking I would like to preserve this pattern, but want to know what you all think. Honestly. Thanks!

 

[KYTinpusher]

I am not confused. He is not splash, he is mottled - I know the difference.

(More on him later - I am checking my information)

Let me make one thing clear - My intention with the comments that I make always have been, and always will be, to help ensure the integrity of this breed in the US. I have done countless hours of research on the internet and translated many pages from Swedish to gather as much information on the Isbar as I can find. Any opinions that I offer are just that - opinions, based on my research at that point in time. I will continue to share information that I find and my opinions about posts here. You are welcome to take them or leave them. If you don’t like my opinions and don’t want to see them, block me. I am an adult, I can take it.

The price I paid has nothing to do with the issue. I paid more than some, less than others. Just because someone imports rare breeds does not relieve them of the responsibility of delivering on what they advertise, regardless of the price that they agreed to sell at. On the contrary, in my book, breeding and selling rare and heritage poultry carries with it a greater responsibility to ensure the integrity of any stock they breed and sell. And that includes making sure that there is no confusion on the part of their customer as to what they are getting. I asked specific questions and got vague answers.

I never claimed to be swindled or cheated. I have not asked for a refund or a replacement of any of the birds. The ONLY thing that I have requested is honest and straight-forward answers about the parentage of the birds I received. Any reputable breeder should be willing and able to provide that.

I have said enough on this subject. I have posted enough information about my experience to let each person make up their own mind about the issue. I will not answer any more assaults about this. So, take your best shot.

 

[KYTinpusher]

I posted about my isbar roo a while back. He was culled because of his bad temperament and I needed to make chicken noodle soup for the family. He was from GFF not as a packing peanut but ordered as one of 3 black Bresse chicks (and 3 bielefelders) direct from their site. They sent no extras. He was obviously not a bresse and upon sending pics to GFF I was told he was an isbar. I later won an auction of bresse chicks from GFF that when I asked what they were sending was told all were bresse. I ended up with another "isbar" in the group very close to the first one only this one has white earlobes.
My question is this... Since there is no SOP and new genetics have been added that have diversified the colors and such of the breed, should I try to breed this guy. I personally like his coloring. I was fortunate enough to get a male and female isbar of old bloodlines and could try a mix of this with the old or get a few new direct from their site. I am just questioning if he is pure. Then it seems a lot of people are questioning if the new line is pure. I'm thinking I would like to preserve this pattern, but want to know what you all think. Honestly. Thanks!

If you really want my opinion, I'm happy to give it.

 

[cutipatooti]

If you really want my opinion, I'm happy to give it. 

Yes! Also the top and bottom photo are of the one that has been culled. The center photo is the one I still have. I think the chest pattern is neat and if it's something that is in the new line of Isbars it might be something I'd like to play with in the breed, but if this is not an isbar I don't really want to waste my time.

 

[KYTinpusher]

Yes! Also the top and bottom photo are of the one that has been culled. The center photo is the one I still have. I think the chest pattern is neat and if it's something that is in the new line of Isbars it might be something I'd like to play with in the breed, but if this is not an isbar I don't really want to waste my time.

He is a very handsome boy. Some of the new line cockerels that I received do have the markings that you like. But given what you have shared, I would tell you no to breeding him, as an Isbar anyway. You have already said that he was sent to you as a Bresse, which puts his parentage as a big question mark. I can't say yea or nay to his being an Isbar, but the stark white earlobe would lead me to say no. Most of my Isbars, and many pictures of others I have seen, have a red or red and white earlobe with a bluish cast to it. Some more white than others, but I have not seen a verified Isbar with a stark white earlobe.




The handsome boy that has already been made into soup has an earlobe more like those that I see on Isbars. However, his legs are quite dark. The blacks that I have growing up from the new line have yellow legs with slate mottling. Like this boy -



In order for him to be an Isbar, you would need to confirm that he carries the genes for green eggs. As far as I know, the best way to do that is by test breeding him to a hen that lays white eggs, grow up all the pullets until laying age and see what color eggs they lay. If you did not see any green eggs, you would at least have to see brown AND blue eggs to be sure he carries both to make green. However, you would have to be mindful to choose the right white egg layer for the job, as I have read that commercial leghorns carry a gene that suppresses all the brown egg genes (I believe there are at least 13 documented brown egg genes which is why there are so many shades of brown). Not sure what other white egg layers would have that. Sounds like a lot of work to me, especially if he is not Isbar.

I hope this helps.

 

[cutipatooti]

Thanks KYTinpusher. I noticed the earlobe and was wondering about it. I never gave thought to the legs though. The other roo that I culled attacked me and the kids so he had to go. He also had some bad frostbite on his comb. It's settled then, I will make room in the freezer for him. At least I know that the pattern is out there, many I'll see it again. I do have a 2 month old pair of the old bloodline growing out now. Maybe I will get some more this spring. I'm hoping to get one of GFF rare breed mixes from auction, maybe it will have another isbar, if not that's ok. I have a lot of work to do with my BBS bresse. I really appreciate the honest feedback you gave me. It helped me make a difficult decision. You don't by any chance keep BBS bresse?

 

[City farm]

I posted about my isbar roo a while back. He was culled because of his bad temperament and I needed to make chicken noodle soup for the family. He was from GFF not as a packing peanut but ordered as one of 3 black Bresse chicks (and 3 bielefelders) direct from their site. They sent no extras. He was obviously not a bresse and upon sending pics to GFF I was told he was an isbar. I later won an auction of bresse chicks from GFF that when I asked what they were sending was told all were bresse. I ended up with another "isbar" in the group very close to the first one only this one has white earlobes.
My question is this... Since there is no SOP and new genetics have been added that have diversified the colors and such of the breed, should I try to breed this guy. I personally like his coloring. I was fortunate enough to get a male and female isbar of old bloodlines and could try a mix of this with the old or get a few new direct from their site. I am just questioning if he is pure. Then it seems a lot of people are questioning if the new line is pure. I'm thinking I would like to preserve this pattern, but want to know what you all think. Honestly. Thanks!

Your boy's look handsome and happy..

 

[cutipatooti]

Your boy's look handsome and happy..

Thanks, I did really enjoy them and I'm pretty sure they were happy. They are completely free range and I feed fermented feed which they absolutely love, as well as fresh scraps. They don't enjoy the cold as much, so to keep them happier I will make sure I cull my culls by the end of fall. Nothing but a life of sunshine grass and freedom... Until the end. I am going to miss theese boys, they were very handsome. Thanks

 

[KYTinpusher]

Thanks KYTinpusher. I noticed the earlobe and was wondering about it. I never gave thought to the legs though. The other roo that I culled attacked me and the kids so he had to go. He also had some bad frostbite on his comb. It's settled then, I will make room in the freezer for him. At least I know that the pattern is out there, many I'll see it again. I do have a 2 month old pair of the old bloodline growing out now. Maybe I will get some more this spring. I'm hoping to get one of GFF rare breed mixes from auction, maybe it will have another isbar, if not that's ok. I have a lot of work to do with my BBS bresse. I really appreciate the honest feedback you gave me. It helped me make a difficult decision. You don't by any chance keep BBS bresse?

You are quite welcome. No, I don't have any BBS Bresse, only white.