The Legbar Thread!

[Junibutt]

There is some research that also indicates that nutrition affects the blue of eggs---and beta carotene can intensify blue. It could even relate a bit to the way the different breeds metabolize beta carotene - or how much grass/green forage the particular hens are getting -- Just thought I would add another complication to the equation.

:O)

I read somewhere that the pigment used for blue is Oocyanin which requires Lysine (an amino acid) as a component. Quinoa, Sweet Potatos and all animal proteins contain good amount of Lysine and lead to vibrant blue color. Now if all of them are getting the same diet but laying different shades of blue, then apart from genetic differences (that will require a lot of research), it might be the different rates of metabolism in different birds, so might try having separate pens with dark layers and light layers and feed the light layers with extra lysine containing foods and see if it makes a difference in 2-4 weeks. If it doesn't then maybe their glands are just not capable of secreting more than a certain amount of the pigment.

One more factor to consider is whether the light colored layers are laying more eggs than the breed normally does. I believe the standard is 3.5 eggs a week on average. Now if they are consistently laying 4-5 eggs a week, that would also lighten the color because of either limitation of the gland or not enough raw materials in the diet.

 

[ChicKat]

Good insights and things to consider!!

 

[KPenley]

Good insights and things to consider!!

Was it you that linked the cool article last year with all the high carotene and Lysine foods? I'll have to look around, it was a great list!

 

[retiredwithchicks]

Babies hatched this weekend and pictures are below. Opinion and critiques welcome. I am new to the breed and know very little but want to learn and improve my chickens.

 

[chicken pickin]

Babies hatched this weekend and pictures are below. Opinion and critiques welcome. I am new to the breed and know very little but want to learn and improve my chickens.

I like the down color of your 2 pullets and I like the down color of your grayish toned /slate male chick. I personally am unsure of the very yellowy reddish toned male chicks, Im not sure how I like them. Their color doesn't follow the typical down coloring and are a little to rusty and bright for my taste they look more like Rhodebars. But take what I say with a grain of salt I am very new to CL and this is my first year hatching out chicks from my trio.

 

[ChicKat]

Hi retiredwithchicks

Congratulations on your hatch-- did you have 3-male and 2-female -- or 4-male? It kind of looks like the one in the third picture is also in the first picture--but the coloration is very different in appearance. They are really nice chicks and definitely sexable. I agree with chicken picken about the chick with the yellowish hue top picture center, that I probably wouldn't use him for breeding - if you do grow them all out - keep us posted on the comparative development of them - you do have some variation there in the males.

 

[KPenley]

Congratulations retiredwithchicks! Please take pics as they grow! I can 't wait to see them grow up

 

[Junibutt]

Hi retiredwithchicks

Congratulations on your hatch-- did you have 3-male and 2-female -- or 4-male? It kind of looks like the one in the third picture is also in the first picture--but the coloration is very different in appearance. They are really nice chicks and definitely sexable. I agree with chicken picken about the chick with the yellowish hue top picture center, that I probably wouldn't use him for breeding - if you do grow them all out - keep us posted on the comparative development of them - you do have some variation there in the males.

Retired with chick? what was your source of eggs for this hatch? The 2 males with yellowish hue are looking so close to the new Reese Cream Legbars being sold by Greenfire. I am wondering if they are going to be more creamer than chestnut as claimed by Greenfire. As everyone said, please keep us posted with pictures especially of those with the yellow hue.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

I myself have grown out enough chicks I don't grow on the "cinnamon" or reddish boys like your one, they are always too colorful (too much red on their backs and wings). But feel free to grow them all out and show pictures, we love to see it all again and make sure this holds true for other flocks!

 

[ChicKat]

Retired with chick? what was your source of eggs for this hatch? The 2 males with yellowish hue are looking so close to the new Reese Cream Legbars being sold by Greenfire. I am wondering if they are going to be more creamer than chestnut as claimed by Greenfire. As everyone said, please keep us posted with pictures especially of those with the yellow hue.

Just went to their site Junibutt - and the chick does look yellowish. Do you have some of the Reese line, or are you also going by pictures? Interesting that the female in that set has a less defined chipmunk stripe than most "wild type" chicks.

Know what else is interesting? - we have two divergent thought lines. lonnyandrinda wouldn't grow out a chick like that and Junibutt observes that it is similar to the GFF Reese line chick in appearance. Fascinating diversity in approach and thought - and only in 12 to 15 weeks will that chick begin to show 'true colors' and even then it will probably make some changes after that.