Haven't been on this thread in quite a while... would have to go back quite a ways to pick up where I last posted, i think.
Not sure if I had last posted on the NC thread after moving to our new property or not (know I have posted on some others) in January 2015.
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Is there anyone still working with Rhodebar chicken <projects> or breed? Seems like all the threads I'm finding are pretty much "dead". I have acquired some Rhodebar chicks here in NC and I'm liking the birds, so have been reading like crazy on any website and thread I can find. I'm not yet all the way thru "The Rhodebar thread!" (page 101; post #1002), but had jumped ahead and was surprised how it seemed to fizzle out between 2015 & 2017 w/ no posts yet for 2018.
These are my first "breeder" type birds (not hatchery stock or hybrids). I'll admit I have a lot to learn, but liking the auto sexing traits and the way these birds can/will look at maturity, so willing to learn more. Have never had Heritage type RIRs either, so will need to find some of as well...
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I have also gotten some Creme Legbars (crested) - partially because they are an autosexing breed, partially because they were VERY PRETTY (to me) and partially because they are a blue egg layer (I love the blue eggs - regardless of the breed)... Still learning about them as well - concentrating on reading about the Rhodebars for now.
All the chicks that I have were hatched between 12/26/17 (4 CLB pullets), 1/14/18 (1 RB pullet<left of 4>), 1/24/18 (3 Rhodebar pullets & 1 cockerel) & 3/12/18 (4 CLB pullets; 3 CLB cockerels; 2 RB cockerels). All of the Rhodebar chicks came from the same parent stock - but different hatch dates. The CLB stock all had same sire (is that what it's called in chickens? I'm not even sure), but couple of different hens in the group and 2 different hatch dates...
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Looking for a mentor, preferably here in NC that can help me go thru my birds, in person at times rather than just as pictures, as I learn. If there is anyone out there willing to help, please let me know. I have not bred chickens before - having always had hatchery and a handful of barnyard hatches from mixes. I did have some Ameraucana and some blue Copper Marans, but lost them to predators & stress from the move to this property - none made it to breeding, though some were laying... Later in 2018 will be my first attempts at incubating/hatching chicks as well (something else to learn, YAY!!!) - plan is to start hatching out and going forward with both CLBs & RBs - not necessarily to sell right away, but to propragate as their respective breeds and then later to sell...
Seems I like breeds that have lots of controversial things going on and/or that can be difficult to breed for. These are beautiful chix so far, so really enjoying this and feel that I am up to the challenges as I move forward.
This new grouping has not yet been added to my sig block. Also added 8 BBS Ameraucana that I've been told originated from Paul Smith lines - we'll see what I have from that group (really hope have a bit of a split in sexes and can move forward with them as well,

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