The Legbar Thread!

[DCchicken]

Seems to me that since the eyeliner is kind of 'ours' and isn't mentioned by Punnett as I recall-- I would definitely not select for it-- although it is a help since many, many female chicks do have it.

Thanks dretd--for the reference and link...but I'm thinking I saw something a bit different from another writing of Punnett's. i will have to dig a little - the gist is the same.

to everyone-- does it seem that the male stripes on the back are becoming not just diffused buy quite absent in some strains and in some male chick pictures?

I have only been selecting chicks based upon the eyeliner as I find it to more reliable than the chipmunk stripe which appears on both male and female but can be hard to see on chicks with gray down. The disruption of the eyeliner is 100% accurate on my line. For me, the ability to sex within an hour or so (when dry) of hatch is the single most important aspect of CLs. Sure the blue egg is nice. But 90% of my customers live in cities. So they appreciate the fact that my CLs I am selling them are absolutely hens.

 

[Junibutt]

Seems to me that since the eyeliner is kind of 'ours' and isn't mentioned by Punnett as I recall-- I would definitely not select for it-- although it is a help since many, many female chicks do have it.

Thanks dretd--for the reference and link...but I'm thinking I saw something a bit different from another writing of Punnett's. i will have to dig a little - the gist is the same.

to everyone-- does it seem that the male stripes on the back are becoming not just diffused buy quite absent in some strains and in some male chick pictures?

Thanks for clarifying that. I do have some more questions, although I should have done more research first but will ask anyways.

The source of my CCL eggs had advised me that the parents were purchased as day old chicks from GFF line A and B. Since GFF did not label them, she did not know which ones were line A/B. As I am reading through this forum and others, there supposedly were some imperfections in Line A or B. So what should I expect from what I have now? I will try to post some recent pics but they are only 5 weeks at this time and based on previous comments, I need to wait till they are about 12 weeks.

 

[Dianne88]

I just put 10 CLB eggs in the bator last night. This is my second try, the first shipment I received (5) 2 were early quitters and 3 were yokers. I contacted the seller and for $2 she shipped me 10 replacements. Crossing my fingers!!!

 

[normanack]

Thanks for clarifying that. I do have some more questions, although I should have done more research first but will ask anyways.

The source of my CCL eggs had advised me that the parents were purchased as day old chicks from GFF line A and B. Since GFF did not label them, she did not know which ones were line A/B. As I am reading through this forum and others, there supposedly were some imperfections in Line A or B. So what should I expect from what I have now? I will try to post some recent pics but they are only 5 weeks at this time and based on previous comments, I need to wait till they are about 12 weeks.

There are imperfections in every line. It's such a new breed here, and with a new club in the process of making a specific, coherent, and understandable Standard of Perfection, that I wouldn't worry overmuch at present about variations in particular lines. There is a whole lot of variation in the North American Cream Legbar population. It will take awhile for it to settle out. Learn what you can, watch the breed develop, and most of all, enjoy your fabulous Cream Legbars.

 

[ChicKat]

Thanks for clarifying that. I do have some more questions, although I should have done more research first but will ask anyways.

The source of my CCL eggs had advised me that the parents were purchased as day old chicks from GFF line A and B. Since GFF did not label them, she did not know which ones were line A/B. As I am reading through this forum and others, there supposedly were some imperfections in Line A or B. So what should I expect from what I have now? I will try to post some recent pics but they are only 5 weeks at this time and based on previous comments, I need to wait till they are about 12 weeks.

yes...in addition to what normanack said - I was on the CL Club's website today and there is an article that was written by Paul Bradshaw of GFF about the CL - it shows the difference in the lines.

Here is a link to the article with pictures of the lines from GFF

http://www.creamlegbarclub.com/22-history-of-the-cream-legbar-in-the-usa

Regarding the A, B and C lines -- it provided everyone in the USA with a lot of genetic diversity for healthy chickens - however in the UK, in 1987, the CL from what I can find out was pretty near extinction. Outcrosses at that time and subsequently may have introduced a number of recessive genetics that only came to the surface when the various lines were crossed in the USA. Hence - the recessive white Cream Legbars appeared here, and the one(s) that didn't lay blue eggs..etc. some of the spangles on the breast feathers etc. that are not 'to standard' -- Some that didn't have crests....it was all a stirring of the genetic pot. It seems that now after the 2010 imports and the subsequent 2011 release to the public of the birds.....we are seeing a much more settled and uniform Cream Legbar.

HTH

 

[ChicKat]

I just put 10 CLB eggs in the bator last night. This is my second try, the first shipment I received (5) 2 were early quitters and 3 were yokers. I contacted the seller and for $2 she shipped me 10 replacements. Crossing my fingers!!!

Congrats and good luck.

 

[ChicKat]

I have only been selecting chicks based upon the eyeliner as I find it to more reliable than the chipmunk stripe which appears on both male and female but can be hard to see on chicks with gray down. The disruption of the eyeliner is 100% accurate on my line. For me, the ability to sex within an hour or so (when dry) of hatch is the single most important aspect of CLs. Sure the blue egg is nice. But 90% of my customers live in cities. So they appreciate the fact that my CLs I am selling them are absolutely hens.

I have yet to see that characteristic in the UK literature--but mine are like yours and all the girls have Cleopatra eyeliner. I can sex them as soon as enough has come out of the shell to see their back even while they are still wet because my hatchlings chipmunk stripes are so distinct.....When I don't see stripes I think 'boy' and when the head shows that blob--- I know for sure -- My selected hen produces mostly girls - of the babies here now (a dozen) only two males....

Here is a link of someone from the UK who doesn't have the luck we have with the clearly sexable chicks:

ww.backyardchickens.com/t/892667/can-someone-help-sex-my-cream-legbar-chicks#post_13586419

And I'm 100% with you on being able to sell someone a hen and know it won't be what I call a 'surprise rooster.'

 

[Junibutt]

yes...in addition to what normanack said - I was on the CL Club's website today and there is an article that was written by Paul Bradshaw of GFF about the CL - it shows the difference in the lines.

Here is a link to the article with pictures of the lines from GFF

http://www.creamlegbarclub.com/22-history-of-the-cream-legbar-in-the-usa

Regarding the A, B and C lines -- it provided everyone in the USA with a lot of genetic diversity for healthy chickens - however in the UK, in 1987, the CL from what I can find out was pretty near extinction. Outcrosses at that time and subsequently may have introduced a number of recessive genetics that only came to the surface when the various lines were crossed in the USA. Hence - the recessive white Cream Legbars appeared here, and the one(s) that didn't lay blue eggs..etc. some of the spangles on the breast feathers etc. that are not 'to standard' -- Some that didn't have crests....it was all a stirring of the genetic pot. It seems that now after the 2010 imports and the subsequent 2011 release to the public of the birds.....we are seeing a much more settled and uniform Cream Legbar.

HTH

Thanks, it was very helpful. I will post pics of mine in a few days to see what you think so far!

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

I took Ingrid (my jumbo, original legbar hen) to a show this weekend. I had the standard there and was hoping to hear some feedback from the judge but nothing, he just marked her as a 1st. The show is at the Mother Earth News fair and I noticed lots of people walking by and commenting with "Oh look, it's a legbar!" or "I think the legbars are the autosexing breed" kind of thing so there is lots of knowledge about them. Because of my job, I might only be able to attend a couple shows a year any more but I plan to start offering a special award for legbars, just to get the showing interest up. I will try to get a picture of her today or tomorrow before we leave. She is caged next to an English orpington and a speckled sussex and across from a mottled java, she is comparable size to the orp and larger than the sussex hen. Still haven't weighed her but I know she is over 6.5 lbs because she weighs more than one of our 6.5 lb roosters.

 

[ChicKat]

I took Ingrid (my jumbo, original legbar hen) to a show this weekend. I had the standard there and was hoping to hear some feedback from the judge but nothing, he just marked her as a 1st. The show is at the Mother Earth News fair and I noticed lots of people walking by and commenting with "Oh look, it's a legbar!" or "I think the legbars are the autosexing breed" kind of thing so there is lots of knowledge about them. Because of my job, I might only be able to attend a couple shows a year any more but I plan to start offering a special award for legbars, just to get the showing interest up. I will try to get a picture of her today or tomorrow before we leave. She is caged next to an English orpington and a speckled sussex and across from a mottled java, she is comparable size to the orp and larger than the sussex hen. Still haven't weighed her but I know she is over 6.5 lbs because she weighs more than one of our 6.5 lb roosters.

Bravo!! good for you! Can't wait for a picture of her....Yeah Ingrid and Michael.