The Legbar Thread!

[ChicKat]

That's a real picture. "Brahms" was the most personable chicken I've ever had. He had short but memorable life. I had to cull him at 10 months; was hit pretty hard with the M.S.
I ordered two pair of cream legbar from Jordan Farm. Should have them by the end of June.
As far as Marek's resistance. I think bantams are less affected than large breeds. There is a resistance factor that some birds carry and this can be bred for selectively, but I think you need to blood test to see which chickens are carrying it.

You will so LOVE your cream legbars! :O)

 

[madamwlf]

Can a blood test be done to see if a bird has Mareks?

 

[ChicKat]

I'm not 100% certain, hopefully I'm mistaken but, sadly, I think that only necropsy can confirm Marek's-- That is one of the reasons that people don't have it confirmed.


Here is a discussion - from some time ago where one of the posters says that offspring of hens that have recovered from Marek's is the way to breed for disease resistance.
http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=25308&p=236613

Here is Mecrk vet manual link to Marek's

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/203602.htm&word=Marek's

 

[madamwlf]

Unfortunately, none of these birds are anywhere near breeding age.

 

[blackbirds13]

When I got NPIP tested a few weeks ago the woman who took the samples said I could test indiviual live birds for a fee. One of my two younger roosters is going to be put town as that growth on his face is worsening. I wonder if perhaps it's not so much that the birds are more suspectible to disease or sickness - I think that would have proven itself across the pond but instead as new transplants they are acclimating to the strains over here. I wonder if the same would be true of other breeds like the Orpingtons? I really like those giant Jubilees but this has me re-thinking perhaps wating and letting others work out the "bugs" so to speak. My original pair is still doing well and I do have a second younger pair that i got from Greenfire that are going strong so far - just not laying yet.

 

[klf73]

FYI-those giant jubilees aren't any where the size of my b/b/s orps...

 

[blackbirds13]

I only have a few Chocolate Bantam Orps in the brooder. There's a guy who shows his at the New Hampshire Poultry Fancier's Show that are GINORMOUS but I just love how the Jubilees look...just dreaming and trying not to think about the chicken math involved. Never in my life did I think I'd ever spend this much on somehting for myself that was not a handbag or a pair of shoes or ...
just gotta have 'em

 

[klf73]

Just out of curiosity...do you know about the problem with many of the bantam orp roos? Most of the ones I am seeing have sprigs on the back of the comb....I am looking for a roo without them :/ ...another downside of a limited gene pool...

 

[ashandvine]

I just got Cream Legbars and would love to find out if anyone else has some... This thread seems dead. Anyone?

 

[boykin2010]

I have some. I don't think this thread is dead at all compared to others . There are plenty of people on here that have legbars and people are posting every day.