The Legbar Thread!

[sweetdreaming]

I wanted to ask y'all, too: what influences earlobe coloring? My 3 Roos earlobes seem to "wax and wane" their white lobes. Almost like they were powdered and then it rubs off... Is the "density" of the white purely genetic or are there environmental influences? Thanks!

 

[sweetdreaming]

Just FYI: the roo and hen in previous post were 2 out of 20 that I hatched from 4 hens and my favorite roo (who were hatch mates themselves). I couldn't believe the range of phenotype a I got from them--even tho they are all "purebred" GFF! Beige, tan, grey and taupe chick downs. Big crests/ little crests/no crests. Cream, gold, rust. 1 even had green pigment splotches on her legs. I guess it shows how much work needs to be done on the SOP? But I guess it also shows we don't hv to worry about in-breeding for at least a few more gens, right?

 

[dretd]

On the incubation front, I set 12 CLB eggs that I got from Texas. Hoping for the best but 9/12 had broken air sacks. Thank you, Post Office!

In addition, I set 11 of my own CLB eggs. I may be able to add a couple more if the ladies produce.

I feel your pain--the journey to my home must be pretty hard on eggs as I have frequent detached air cells, some ruptured air cells and the occasional cracked eggs (from breeders who are very careful and have reported that the Have Never had a broken shell before

) and the packaging does make a difference. IMO, any egg shipped on its side or upside down will have a detached air cell. Also egg shipments that are packed too securely (not allowing the eggs to shift a little and decelerate prior to the 'hit' at the bottom of the bin) seem to have more detached air cells and scrambling--I think all of the force is transferred to the inside of the egg.

I have never had a ruptured air cell make it through incubation--I am defining this as where the membrane between the albumin and the shell tears--the albumin leaks through the pores of the shell and the egg starts to sweat albumin when you incubate.

I have have several detached air cells hatch-I am defining this as where when you rotate the egg while candling you will see the air cell roll around under the shell. When I've incubated these I have had best results when I let them set a full 24 hours before placing them in the incubator, then incubate them vertically (big end up) without turning for a few days. Many of the air cells stabilize and I have ended up ultimately with a saddle shaped air cell. My hatch rate is terrible on shipped eggs anyway (0-20%) with or without detached air cells and I wish you the best of luck!

 

[dretd]

. Hi ya'll! Here's a pic of the only roo I kept out of my last hatch @ 15 weeks (2nd gen from Line 1 or 2 GFF). I didn't do a real good job of documenting chick down, but I think he was the dark grey chick (and the largest). He is longer than his dad (don't know who his mom was, little hussy!!), has better barring on his chest and a much bigger, more defined crest. Comb is straight so far. What do y'all think? He's cream over saddles but does his neck look more silver?

I think he looks really nice, actually. His legs are really trunk-like which I think bodes well for him getting to be a good size. He looks Cream to me as evidenced by the lack of gold barring on his wing bays (triangle)=secondaries. After looking at a bagillion photos of roosters, the hackles can look white/silvery or may have a cream cast in certain lights--at least that is my take. He is really too young to make any harsh judgements on, but from what I am seeing I would be really happy with him and definitely grow him out a full year!

Very interesting about the chick down probably being dark grey. It would be awesome if you could keep a photo journal of the chicks so we can see the down vs adult coloration!

 

[sweetdreaming]

I just hatched out 5/5 CLB's and 10/15 Blue Copper Marans that were 2 day priority USPS (from Central TX to South TX-- still 8 hrs away). Then, the dang PO "couldn't find them", (even w/ the tracking #) and they ended up sitting at the PO for another 36hrs. As soon as I got them home, I just put them in the bater (the breeder said she thought they were getting too old by that point and would send replacements depending how many hatched). At 14 days, I noticed a little "pip" near the pointy end of a Marans egg that leaked a little albumin. I had a real hard time candling the Marans eggs (they're sooo dark!) and was only barely able to tell a growing air sack, and it looked like the others so I left it alone. Low and behold, it was one of the first to hatch!

 

[sweetdreaming]

I think he looks really nice, actually. His legs are really trunk-like which I think bodes well for him getting to be a good size. He looks Cream to me as evidenced by the lack of gold barring on his wing bays (triangle)=secondaries. After looking at a bagillion photos of roosters, the hackles can look white/silvery or may have a cream cast in certain lights--at least that is my take. He is really too young to make any harsh judgements on, but from what I am seeing I would be really happy with him and definitely grow him out a full year!

Very interesting about the chick down probably being dark grey. It would be awesome if you could keep a photo journal of the chicks so we can see the down vs adult coloration!

Ya, Chickat tried to tell me to do that (u can find my chick pics and discussions here about 10/15/13). I had chicks of all colors. And, just like she said, I thought I'd be able to continue to tell them apart as they feathered out, but, alas!!, all of a sudden one day they looked basically alike! I hv a new set of 20 in the bater now. I'm gonna order leg bands and do my best to document and correlate chick down to adult plumage, cuz, like u, I think it's gonna be real interesting.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Ya, Chickat tried to tell me to do that (u can find my chick pics and discussions here about 10/15/13). I had chicks of all colors. And, just like she said, I thought I'd be able to continue to tell them apart as they feathered out, but, alas!!, all of a sudden one day they looked basically alike! I hv a new set of 20 in the bater now. I'm gonna order leg bands and do my best to document and correlate chick down to adult plumage, cuz, like u, I think it's gonna be real interesting.

Awesome. The more people do it the more we will know!

I agree your boy looks fantastic for his age. The wing triangle is the best place to look for cream vs gold, and your boy is definitely cream there. Please update with a pic in a few months!!!

Today's hatch is halfway there, and at last count I had 11 males, 5 females, and a white pair. Guess I'm making up for my last fantastic hatch of 15 f/5m!!

 

[madamwlf]

My streak continues. Another hatch is happening this weekend and out of the 6 Cream Legbar eggs that have hatched, all 6 are pullets!! What am I going to do with all these pullets and no roosters to grow out??

 

[Triplell]

Just keep trying.. I wish I had that problem. Mine have given me 1 egg all winter and still nothing.

 

[madamwlf]

I just got 3 eggs today so all of my hens are laying now!