The Legbar Thread!

[stake]

Hi folks:

I am a newbie with only one cockerel...but I was hoping somebody could inform me on the crested VS non-crested CCLs.....there are a couple of different threads and I am a bit confused....

so,
A) do roos have crests....I tried looking for pics but most seem unclear or no crest?

B) My understanding is that CCLs should have crests...but some breeders breed that out...?

C) Does Crest Vs non-Crest affect the price/value of the bird?

Thanks!

 

[KPenley]

Hi folks:

I am a newbie with only one cockerel...but I was hoping somebody could inform me on the crested VS non-crested CCLs.....there are a couple of different threads and I am a bit confused....

so,
A) do roos have crests....I tried looking for pics but most seem unclear or no crest?

B) My understanding is that CCLs should have crests...but some breeders breed that out...?

C) Does Crest Vs non-Crest affect the price/value of the bird?

Thanks!

I think I can help! Welcome to Cream Legbars!
A) Yes all cream legbars should have crests, but the males have a smaller crest than the females.
B) yes, all should have crests. Some of the birds imported lacked the crests, so there are some here. Our goal is to breed the uncrested ones out. Cresting is dominate so it shouldn't take too long.
C) Yes a crested Cream Legbar would be worth more than a non-crested one...unless it is true cream and then you might find the cream one has increased value.
hth! Best wishes!

 

[ChicKat]

Thanks for the link! I hadn't seen the revised website.

I guess it is since last Spring when I was in contact with Jill and she is an amazing person, really delightful. I think the picture of two women at the poultry show is Emily de Gray on the left with dark hair - where Jill got most of her stock, I think, and Jill on the right with blond hair. Jill's birds got ALL the top prizes in UK poultry shows in 2012,
you could kind of say she cleaned up.

it looks like the ones that won in the UK shows are the more typical darker crested CLs.

You know that Greenfire Farms will have some of Jill Rees line of birds for sale in the spring 2014, right?

I have to say the featured hen in the center of the first page -- looks really good - but the legs look short--just like the CL I have here. The hen in the smaller photo on the lower right is the faded look, that I hope we don't move toward. Probably THAT hen is from the white-looking rooster. LOL...

I see lots of 'shafting' on the light hen, even in the neck hackles, and definite shafting in the featured hen.

Now, I also see the differentiation with the featured hen I have here kind of repeated there...the base color of the female''s body is more brown (taupe) than it is gray. I have one here that really looks a lot like Jill's bird in the featured picture, but I'm not sure that there aren't more gray colored CL females here in the USA.
http://www.jillscreamlegbars.co.uk/#/gallery/4573536975 Oh the link doesn't take you directly to the picture, it is the one that says 'Cream Legbar - 1st - Jill Rees 0771'

This morning, I grabbed the CL I was talking about out of her little coop -- and photographed her. My hands were so sweaty that her little lower feathers got messed, -- but then she hasn't been washed for a show or a photo..... Now that I see the similarities, I may rank her higher as breeding material...she was one I thought I would breed just to keep a line for genetic diversity. I put pictures in B&W so the discussion doesn't veer off into color...Her color isn't bad, though, except that the gray - isn't there as in other CLs such as Robin.




ETA -- LOL Please don't think that I compare this bird to Jills winner in quality of CL, but the short legs, and the type of crest to me are very similar. I'm impressed too with how well this little one holds up her wings, you can see she was already starti9ng to pant from the heat in the top picture, so by rights she could have had her wings extended to cool herself. -- How can a preson NOT love CLs? :O)

 

[dretd]

This morning, I grabbed the CL I was talking about out of her little coop -- and photographed her. My hands were so sweaty that her little lower feathers got messed, -- but then she hasn't been washed for a show or a photo..... Now that I see the similarities, I may rank her higher as breeding material...she was one I thought I would breed just to keep a line for genetic diversity. I put pictures in B&W so the discussion doesn't veer off into color...Her color isn't bad, though, except that the gray - isn't there as in other CLs such as Robin.




ETA -- LOL Please don't think that I compare this bird to Jills winner in quality of CL, but the short legs, and the type of crest to me are very similar. I'm impressed too with how well this little one holds up her wings, you can see she was already starti9ng to pant from the heat in the top picture, so by rights she could have had her wings extended to cool herself. -- How can a preson NOT love CLs? :O)

I think you may be on to something--post images in black and white so the color doesn't distract the eye and we can focus on type.

I will think on the pullet and comment later--first glance says she is nice and worth keeping slightly low and legs are a tad short or she is naturally hunkered a bit when standing--I guess I envision a more upright stance and slight slope to the back.

What I really wanted to say is , those are some spurs, by golly. My best layer is my Welsummer who is a bit gamey/leghorn-looking and she has some awesome spurs.

 

[ChicKat]

Thanks dretd,

the spurs - I think look more prominent than they are...maybe due to the morning light......

No your eye caught it -- she does have shorter legs...and I think that the SOP calls for medium (normal length for shanks)-- I joked that she reminds me of a Scots Dumpy. (but she's a nice little pullet)--- I agree with all you have stated BTW.

Sadly the photo is above and a bit 3/4 -- but her back although longer than shows here is not as long as Jill's champion hen.

Maybe in the photo, Jill's hen is hunkered down a bit too. Also the featured CL on GFF page appears to have the shorter-legs.
Here's a more side-on shot..oops left in the color.....and she is hunkered down there. Also shows that she is just a bit above 3 1/4 pounds....so I think that is very light for a pullet. I'm not sure that the person I got her from gave the grower rations that many people would feed to growing chicks...Which I suppose is O.K. - but baby nutrition neglect can have an effect in later life. Note to self: Next time -- photo more level with the hen and straight side on.

 

[KPenley]

How did you get her to stay there on the scale? I just cleaned out my girls' closet and found an old baby scale. I may try to use it.
I hope your birds survive your heat wave!

 

[jesirose]

How did you get her to stay there on the scale? I just cleaned out my girls' closet and found an old baby scale. I may try to use it.
I hope your birds survive your heat wave!

Looks like she's holding a treat in front of her

 

[GaryDean26]

What I really wanted to say is , those are some spurs, by golly. My best layer is my Welsummer who is a bit gamey/leghorn-looking and she has some awesome spurs.

Can you expound on "awesome spurs". One of my three 2012 paring has produced hen spurs in about 50% of her offspring. One has spurs that are large enough to make some of the cockerels jealous. By awesome do you mean you like them on your Welssumer or that they just are one of her most defining traits (good,bad, or indifferent)?

 

[dretd]

What I really wanted to say is , those are some spurs, by golly. My best layer is my Welsummer who is a bit gamey/leghorn-looking and she has some awesome spurs.

Can you expound on "awesome spurs".  One of my three 2012 paring has produced hen spurs in about 50% of her offspring.  One has spurs that are large enough to make some of the cockerels jealous.  By awesome do you mean you like them on your Welssumer or that they just are one of her most defining traits (good,bad, or indifferent)? 

Unexpectedly large, and ,well, just unexpected. Not good or bad, Really. I had never had hens with spurs before although I have seen Game hens with them so I know they happen. Over on the Welsummer thread another BYCer said her hen has spurs, too. I remember reading that one breeder way back had infused Game birds into their line for some reason so I figured she was from their lines. She is a bit Lankier and thinner than a wellie should be-- I would guess she had some Leghorn in her except that she has red ears and lays a reliable large terra cotta egg 5 days a week.

I am surprised to see them on a dainty little Cream Legbar pullet. I didn't remember that Cream Legbars were a breed that threw lady-spurs. I don't mind them and I am not sure if they are judged down for them In a show. Perhaps a judge can comment.

Do you think this was introduced from the Araucana or the Leghorn, or some where else? What's is your take on the spurs, good, bad or indifferent?

 

[ChicKat]

Looks like she's holding a treat in front of her

You are right jesirose. KPenley -- I paid her off in Meal worms.