The Legbar Thread!

[australorp]

I have a trio of Olandsk also. They are great birds


I dont handle mine, but this morning they let me pet them, well the females did.

 

[Dirt Farmer]

For the person who wanted to know more about those of us on the thread, I have 12 cream legbars, 4 trios. I ordered half this; GFF and fate kindly brought extras. I've lost none, even my littlest gal. My #1 male has been crowing for weeks. He started at around 9 weeks. Spring warm weather with lots of grass and bugs is perfect for raising legbars. They have been free foraging since they were 4 or 5 weeks. My back and side pastures have fence lines down, (I'm changing things), so they are free to be anywhere. I think I may have eggs earlier than the 22 weeks. What is the earliest folks have seen eggs?

My legbars are seemingly disease free (knock on wood), healthy, and thrifty. Since about 3 weeks they've been raised with 10 blue laced red wyandottes that are a week older. My roosters are visually more mature looking and appear to outrank the single wyandotte roo I have. However, the wyandottes are, of course, mellow, larger, and fluffier. I'm looking at small flock certification after everyone hits 16 weeks. Only drawbacks are that I have other hens, plus 3 rogue mallard crosses from my neighbor, and a stray peacock (no one claims) that want to make my place home. Drawbacks being I've been worried about disease as the ducks raid the hen house. With too many stray birds liking our place, plus the wild ones at the pond such as heron, egret, grebe, Canada geese. I'm wondering if I can met NPIP. For those of you that have it, can you still free range your birds? How problematic is all this potential contact from other birds in terms of adding more disease to the flock? Will NPIP mean my birds need fenced? Thanks for any replies.

I think for hobby or exhibition participants, free ranging is not expressly forbidden. The vet that did my inspection did not want me to free range because I had both a participating and non participating flock at the time and they needed to be kept separate, which included not grazing on the same ground. The USDA book is primarily written for big operations where free ranging is probably not common so isn't really addressed. While covered runs are encouraged I don't think they are mandatory either, which wouldn't be any different than free ranging with regard to contact with wild birds. I think for backyard chicken people the focus is on testing. There are a multitude of regulations they could have dinged me for, but didn't. They have regulations for egg, incubator, and hatcher rooms. I have a counter top, a Sportsman 1202, homemade brooder and second hand fridge in my garage. One thing that you may want to keep in mind building up to your inspection is to use plastic or metal for nests and brooders. The inspector didn't like my wooden ones much.

 

[redchicken9]

blackbird13 and dirt farmer and others, thanks for the info. Seems like everyone is got some stellular cream legbars going! My heart goes out to madamwlf, I hope her chickens are better soon. GaryDean26, let us know when you get your first egg. Happy Memorial Day!

 

[ashandvine]

Sorry, but I must have been confused. One of the last dates that I read a post was from June of last year. I must have gotten that wrong somehow. Great to read that so many people have this going but I wish you were CLOSER. Gosh, all you southern and western folks are just too far from me and you happen to often be the ones having cool birds-- no offense to those people in the north with me who have cool ones too.
I have lots of cockerels and a slim chance of getting pullets.

Thank you for the info. I'd like to continue to participate here. Its good to learn about this breed as my GFF cockerels are new to me.

 

[Flaming Chicken]

Cream Legbars are gaining popularity quickly. When I joined this thread in February, I couldn't find any breeders here in Washington state,now I know of at least 4 of us that do but not yet getting eggs. You should be getting some neighbors before too long, you need some girls for your cockerels.

I was a little confused when you said we were dead. I think this is a pretty active group. Glad to see it was a mistake.

Before the Legbars arrived, I had a layer flock of diverse but common layers. The Legbars are fun. I am happy with their friendly personalities too. Can't wait to see how my flock developers .

Sorry, but I must have been confused.  One of the last dates that I read a post was from June of last year.  I must have gotten that wrong somehow.  Great to read that so many people have this going but I wish you were CLOSER.  Gosh, all you southern and western folks are just too far from me and you happen to often be the ones having cool birds-- no offense to those people in the north with me who have cool ones too. 
I have lots of cockerels and a slim chance of getting pullets.   
Thank you for the info.  I'd like to continue to participate here.  Its good to learn about this breed as my GFF cockerels are new to me.

 

[ChicKat]

Sorry, but I must have been confused. One of the last dates that I read a post was from June of last year. I must have gotten that wrong somehow. Great to read that so many people have this going but I wish you were CLOSER. Gosh, all you southern and western folks are just too far from me and you happen to often be the ones having cool birds-- no offense to those people in the north with me who have cool ones too.
I have lots of cockerels and a slim chance of getting pullets.

Thank you for the info. I'd like to continue to participate here. Its good to learn about this breed as my GFF cockerels are new to me.

Hi Ashandvine...that picture is so adorable and sweet......awwwwww!


GaryDean--
good luck with the eggs in Austin--- You will have to give us a blow-by-blow of the event.

 

[ashandvine]

Cream Legbars are gaining popularity quickly. When I joined this thread in February, I couldn't find any breeders here in Washington state,now I know of at least 4 of us that do but not yet getting eggs. You should be getting some neighbors before too long, you need some girls for your cockerels.
I was a little confused when you said we were dead. I think this is a pretty active group. Glad to see it was a mistake.
Before the Legbars arrived, I had a layer flock of diverse but common layers. The Legbars are fun. I am happy with their friendly personalities too. Can't wait to see how my flock developers .

CFlamin... what are the grey-looking birds in your avatar picture??

I'm hoping someone takes a real liking to these Creams. I'd hate to have to feed them to the dog.

 

[Flaming Chicken]

CFlamin... what are the grey-looking birds in your avatar picture??

I'm hoping someone takes a real liking to these Creams. I'd hate to have to feed them to the dog.

They are Lavender Orpingtons. The are the absolute friendliest chickens I have ever owned. I sold the rooster to a friend and his name is now Kasper the friendly rooster. The girls hang out at my feet and have no problem being picked up and held and carried around. Very smart too. I recommend them to any one who is starting out with chickens.

 

[madamwlf]

What a great day it has been so far, despite the issues we are having. I have 3 new White Legbars plus 4 new Cream Legbars and 3 more pips to go. Looks like 2 eggs won't hatch at all.

 

[redchicken9]

Madamwlf, glad to hear this! First pig headed to the butcher today. Planted more beans, corn, cucs, and watermelon. Feeling kinda triumphant too!