Isbar thread

[KYTinpusher]

Thanks! It's good to know that there is still a chance he's pure. He is pretty big and I'm assuming he's from the new line of isbars. Since this could be an over pigmentation problem, should I cull him? I have another one like him from another order of bresse but I'm pretty sure that one is a cull as his comb is starting to flop. I have another "bresse" that has some gold on the wings. He's a blue bresse and I have seen a picture of them having a few gold feathers here and there, but this one looks again like an Isbars wing. I'll try to post a pic later today to see what you all think, but he doesn't have any color in his hackle that looks isbar. I am going to be taking some pics to send to the breeder to see what they say. At this rate ime not sure any of my bresse are bresse. I was planing on getting some Isbars this spring from a different breeder and thought it would be nice to have this boy to add to the gene pool. I guess I have a "legitimate" problem here and will be talking to the breeder yet again.

Yes, he could be pure, but he may also be a poor Birchen Marans - size and body type point more toward that. You can't know for sure without a lot of test breeding to see what color egg genes he carries. If you use him in an Isbar breeding program and he doesn't carry the blue egg gene, you could put a lot of effort in for nothing. At least with a pullet you can make an educated guess on breed by seeing what color egg she lays. If you are serious about wanting to start an Isbar breeding program, I would get eggs/chicks from a source you can trust that they are what they say they are. Since it sounds like you didn't order Isbars, but ended up with these, you really can't be sure what they are. In my book, it is not worth the trouble. I have a few of those myself

that I received with my Isbar shipment that I am trying to decide what to do with.

My new line juveniles are still too young to evaluate size, plumage color or egg color. So far, they don't appear to be too different from the original line juvies growing up with them.

I do know that I like the small size and low feed requirements of the original line and plan to keep at least one breeding pen of pure original line. If the new line ends up being too big and bulky, I am not sure I will continue with them. But that is my preference. Others may like a bulkier Isbar and it may have its own attributes that make it worthwhile. But the characteristics of the original line deserve to be preserved, and as much as I want to add diversity to my flock, it is not worth abandoning some of the best attributes of the Isbar. If I don't like the new line, I will sell them off and keep 2 or 3 pens of the original, adding diversity by obtaining eggs/chicks from others who have the original line (which I plan to do either way).

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Yes, he could be pure, but he may also be a poor Birchen Marans - size and body type point more toward that. You can't know for sure without a lot of test breeding to see what color egg genes he carries. If you use him in an Isbar breeding program and he doesn't carry the blue egg gene, you could put a lot of effort in for nothing. At least with a pullet you can make an educated guess on breed by seeing what color egg she lays. If you are serious about wanting to start an Isbar breeding program, I would get eggs/chicks from a source you can trust that they are what they say they are. Since it sounds like you didn't order Isbars, but ended up with these, you really can't be sure what they are. In my book, it is not worth the trouble. I have a few of those myself

that I received with my Isbar shipment that I am trying to decide what to do with.

My new line juveniles are still too young to evaluate size, plumage color or egg color. So far, they don't appear to be too different from the original line juvies growing up with them.

I do know that I like the small size and low feed requirements of the original line and plan to keep at least one breeding pen of pure original line. If the new line ends up being too big and bulky, I am not sure I will continue with them. But that is my preference. Others may like a bulkier Isbar and it may have its own attributes that make it worthwhile. But the characteristics of the original line deserve to be preserved, and as much as I want to add diversity to my flock, it is not worth abandoning some of the best attributes of the Isbar. If I don't like the new line, I will sell them off and keep 2 or 3 pens of the original, adding diversity by obtaining eggs/chicks from others who have the original line (which I plan to do either way).

X200%! I completely agree. It's about the eggs and my Isbars are medium size birds that lay (and lay and lay) truly green (not brownish or tannish green). Very feed efficient, friendly, great foragers. And GREEN!

 

[KMKocher]

I just hatched out my first 3 isbar babies this weekend! A splash and 2 blues! I have 2 more due in a couple of days. Heres hoping they both hatch as well

 

[PluckyClucker99]

Congrats!

 

[KMKocher]

Thank you

Congrats!

 

[Scatterknit]

Does anyone have black Isbars? I got 3 pullets from Greenfire as packing peanuts. Two don't seem to have any comb at all and one has a very small comb. They are almost solid black but they have a white feather or two inside their wings - you can only see them when they stretch out their wings. They're about 9 weeks old. Is that common? Is there any kind of standard for Isbars?

 

[chambe94]

Do you have any pics?
Here's my black Isbar roo

And a young black pullet

 

[Ihilani Coffee]

Does anyone have black Isbars? I got 3 pullets from Greenfire as packing peanuts. Two don't seem to have any comb at all and one has a very small comb. They are almost solid black but they have a white feather or two inside their wings - you can only see them when they stretch out their wings. They're about 9 weeks old. Is that common? Is there any kind of standard for Isbars?

Black is part of the BBS in any blue bird unless you are only breeding with splash crosses. I have noticed (coincidence? small sample size?) that most of my blacks are cockerels. There is no SOP for Isbars...they were not a "finished" breed though some would disagree. Plenty of opinions around (including mine!).

 

[cutipatooti]

I contacted GFF about my isbar that was supposed to be a bresse and they said it's definitely an Isbar. I told them I realize it's an Isbar but is it pure? Had they seen any of the chest coloring in any of their birds, and of coarse I never got a reply back.

I did find some pictures of tailed araucanas. I'm guessing that the new line of isbars has a lot of their blood in them. Look at the chest compared to my guy

My guy

Pics off the net.

I was thinking of keeping my roo to breed as I really like him and I kind of like the larger size as I eat my extra Roos. I got 2 blue isbar chicks from another breeder from the old line as I was hoping for a pullet for him. Now I see chambe94's pullet and I have one that looks just like it. She was also sent as a bresse. I have no way of knowing what I have anymore

. I really need to cull and can't tell what I have, not to mention my whole plans for spring are all messed up.

Anyway can you all chime in as to what color your Isbars earlobes are? My black roo has red but I looked online and some blues look to have white and some red. thanks

 

[ChickCrazed]

I contacted GFF about my isbar that was supposed to be a bresse and they said it's definitely an Isbar. I told them I realize it's an Isbar but is it pure? Had they seen any of the chest coloring in any of their birds, and of coarse I never got a reply back.

I did find some pictures of tailed araucanas. I'm guessing that the new line of isbars has a lot of their blood in them. Look at the chest compared to my guy

My guy


Pics off the net.



I was thinking of keeping my roo to breed as I really like him and I kind of like the larger size as I eat my extra Roos. I got 2 blue isbar chicks from another breeder from the old line as I was hoping for a pullet for him. Now I see chambe94's pullet and I have one that looks just like it. She was also sent as a bresse. I have no way of knowing what I have anymore

. I really need to cull and can't tell what I have, not to mention my whole plans for spring are all messed up.

Anyway can you all chime in as to what color your Isbars earlobes are? My black roo has red but I looked online and some blues look to have white and some red. thanks

The pullet will be easy once she lays an egg!