The Legbar Thread!

[tdhenson86]

The issue was that the V was not as clearly defined as I would have liked to see. I was nearly sure that one was female (about 90% sure). The other looked female, but was lighter in color than I anticipated. So, that confused me. I took pictures of both as they grew just to confirm or reject my thoughts. Thankfully, all of my Rees cockerels are clearly cockerels. I've had no problem identifying them. I've just had those two females that confused me a bit since the V wasn't clearly defined. I will be culling them both from the breeding program to hopefully work toward better autosexing in future generations. But, it was a good learning experience.

 

[Junibutt]

The issue was that the V was not as clearly defined as I would have liked to see. I was nearly sure that one was female (about 90% sure). The other looked female, but was lighter in color than I anticipated. So, that confused me. I took pictures of both as they grew just to confirm or reject my thoughts. Thankfully, all of my Rees cockerels are clearly cockerels. I've had no problem identifying them. I've just had those two females that confused me a bit since the V wasn't clearly defined. I will be culling them both from the breeding program to hopefully work toward better autosexing in future generations. But, it was a good learning experience.

Seems like @chicken pickin was having the same issue with the pullets from Jill Reese's line. Lets see if selecting for a good V helps or if there are other overriding factors in the line.

Will be nice to hear from others who may have selected for a good V and their results.

 

[tobit]

over the winter, I had a batch of chicks...and one female was significantly smaller, and also kept her down much longer.... My thought was that she could be a way to get bantam CLs going. Sadly she and her hatch mates succumbed to some serious cold weather - I hadn't thought about the cumulative effect of them being just shortly out of the brooder and the temperatures bitterly cold for an extended period of time. Bad move on my part -- I don't know how she would have grown out.

I'm sorry about your chicks

I'll keep an eye on him anyway and let you know how he turns out!

 

[soldier]

I have been thinking about ordering some Cream Legbar Rees line chicks from Greenfire Farms. They have a special going on right now.

I would like to hear from people who either have the Rees line or know the line. From some of the photos I have seem they appear smaller. Also are the eggs smaller in size. Do they lay well? Those that have purchased the birds would they purchase birds again from this line?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[henless]

I have Crested Legbars ordered, they were put in the incubator on Friday!

I like the cream colored ones, but I like the crele or "more colorful" ones better. I'm hoping mine are more along those lines. These are from GFF's stock, but the earlier ones, not the newest Reese line.

 

[tobit]

I've noticed on my faster feathering 2 week old male chick, his 2 furthest out primary feathers on either wing are fully white (or nearly... I didn't look THAT closely) compared to his barred feathers this looks a bit funny, is this normal? Or a "bad" trait in terms of how he will feather out when an adult in terms of breed standard? I'm in the UK so my birds wont be from similar lines to most on here by the way..

 

[tobit]

Also, what does everyone generally think of their CL roosters behaviour towards them, and to their hens?

 

[ChicKat]

I've noticed on my faster feathering 2 week old male chick, his 2 furthest out primary feathers on either wing are fully white (or nearly... I didn't look THAT closely) compared to his barred feathers this looks a bit funny, is this normal? Or a "bad" trait in terms of how he will feather out when an adult in terms of breed standard? I'm in the UK so my birds wont be from similar lines to most on here by the way..

Keep us posted with pics and updates. The CL has the fast feathering gene and generally will have large patches of white-- especially when young and growing. They will also molt out the baby feathers...especially a 2-week old. Compare the size of the dinky-little feathers on the wings now with the size of primaries on a full grown chicken and you can see that those feathers won't last very long. -- IMO it shouldn't be a concern, but may be an indicator that your particular little male isn't one with a lot of black pigment to distribute to his plumage.

Also, what does everyone generally think of their CL roosters behaviour towards them, and to their hens?

I have two CL roosters that are extremely good to the hens -- amazingly -- I have one that is not as gentle and he is removed from the female (there were only 3 with him) so they can grow back the feathers that they lost while breeding. -- Mostly I would say that the CL rooster is good to hens and very protective. CL rooster behavior here varies--- some are overly protective -- and they may trigger that on what threats are directly in their environments. They know if there are prowlers outside the coop at night when they are IN with the hens...they just don't know for certain who/what the prowlers ARE. The more raccoons around here, the edgier some of my males will be. -- The roosters are often between the hens and me (nonchalantly) -- and nearer to the door of the coop at night so they would intercept anything that enters. (I leave the doors open to a wired-walk-in-run when it is this hot.)

Be sure to updates us when you find their behavior traits -- and see how they compare to the USA strains.

 

[ChicKat]

I have Crested Legbars ordered, they were put in the incubator on Friday!

I like the cream colored ones, but I like the crele or "more colorful" ones better. I'm hoping mine are more along those lines. These are from GFF's stock, but the earlier ones, not the newest Reese line.

Congrats! Hope that you will get a good hatch!

 

[KendyF]

I have Crested Legbars ordered, they were put in the incubator on Friday!

I like the cream colored ones, but I like the crele or "more colorful" ones better. I'm hoping mine are more along those lines. These are from GFF's stock, but the earlier ones, not the newest Reese line.

Congratulations on the Legbar order. I also like the more colorful birds a better. If your are not from the Rees, line there is a good chance they will have some color. Welcome to Legbar's.