The Legbar Thread!

[lonnyandrinda]

Sadly I must report that I will be out of the cream legbar egg business for six months. Tonight my DH put down my beautiful rooster Reggie. I believe he injured his foot and got a systemic infection. Three of his toes were turning purplish black, he wasn't eating or drinking and barely able to move. Watching him try to move into the shade was torture. I tried penicillin injections with no response so we did what we thought was right. I feel blessed to have a husband who will do this for me when necessary. Thankfully it isn't often. I have eight eggs incubating and will put the others in until they are no longer fertile. I should hatch a male or two to grow out as a replacement. I don't bring started birds into my flock so starting from the egg up is all I can do.

Besides losing Reggie, it has been a wretched day and I am going to try to sleep.

So sorry, I lost my CL pair last week, as well, dog ripped into my coop and got them both but left all my other ("cheap") chickies alone.

So I am out of commission as well, but I reconnected with an old friend here on BYC who has them and I am arranging for a dozen or so hatching eggs- so at least I will start out with a bunch to choose from this time!

 

[The Sheriff]

Thank you and I am sorry for your loss as well. I had two roosters but re-homed one because the girls were being severely over mated. Neighbor's dogs worry me to death. No one obeys leash laws around here.

Mary

 

[Miss Molly]

Sadly I must report that I will be out of the cream legbar egg business for six months. Tonight my DH put down my beautiful rooster Reggie. I believe he injured his foot and got a systemic infection. Three of his toes were turning purplish black, he wasn't eating or drinking and barely able to move. Watching him try to move into the shade was torture. I tried penicillin injections with no response so we did what we thought was right. I feel blessed to have a husband who will do this for me when necessary. Thankfully it isn't often. I have eight eggs incubating and will put the others in until they are no longer fertile. I should hatch a male or two to grow out as a replacement. I don't bring started birds into my flock so starting from the egg up is all I can do.

Besides losing Reggie, it has been a wretched day and I am going to try to sleep. 

Oh Mary, I'm so very Sorry. If I can help in anyway, give me a call. My Cream legbars started laying about 10 days ago. I'm getting one egg everyday. So if you don't have any luck, you welcome to some of my fertile eggs. I also have 5 extra roosters. Your more them welcome to one of them. I think a few of them are about 16 weeks old...Molly

 

[Phage]

Sadly I must report that I will be out of the cream legbar egg business for six months. Tonight my DH put down my beautiful rooster Reggie. I believe he injured his foot and got a systemic infection. Three of his toes were turning purplish black, he wasn't eating or drinking and barely able to move. Watching him try to move into the shade was torture. I tried penicillin injections with no response so we did what we thought was right. I feel blessed to have a husband who will do this for me when necessary. Thankfully it isn't often. I have eight eggs incubating and will put the others in until they are no longer fertile. I should hatch a male or two to grow out as a replacement. I don't bring started birds into my flock so starting from the egg up is all I can do.

Besides losing Reggie, it has been a wretched day and I am going to try to sleep.

So sorry to hear that Mary. Hopefully tomorrow will be better

 

[The Sheriff]

Thanks Molly. I am trying very hard to stick to my rule of not adding started birds. Nothing personal, I know you have some beauties though!

 

[boykin2010]

So sorry, I lost my CL pair last week, as well, dog ripped into my coop and got them both but left all my other ("cheap") chickies alone.

So I am out of commission as well, but I reconnected with an old friend here on BYC who has them and I am arranging for a dozen or so hatching eggs- so at least I will start out with a bunch to choose from this time!

So sorry to the both of you. Take it from me, I KNOW how it feels. I am sorry everyone is having just horrible luck lately...

 

[klf73]

Sheriff- my girls just started laying again after their move so if you need any eggs... I have to send a few out soon and then will have some if you need them(eta- my girls throw plenty of cockerals

and they are crested)
here is one of the cockerals


UPDATE- those chicks that had white on their heads all ended up being boys, so I did only have one pullet

. We will be culling the 5 cockerals today

, can't afford to grow these up to just give away(which is still hard to do).

I have only hatched 2 pullets and am not hatching any more, just too depressing having to cull all these cockerals. I will try again in the fall I guess....

 

[normanack]

here is one of the cockerals


We will be culling the 5 cockerals today  , can't afford to grow these up to just give away(which is still hard to do).

Which brings up one of the questions I have for serious breeders, like you all:

What do you do with CLs to be culled?

Cockerels, grown out: send them to the soup pot? Sell as CLs? Sell as Easter eggers or generic chickens? Auction as generics? Give away, again as CLs or as EEs or generics? Humanely dispose of?

Cockerels, as baby chicks: humanely dispose of? Sell? Give away? (As what?) Sub-question: can you tell with a baby chick if it's not up to your standards, or is it simply because of excess males?

Hens. And here I am speaking of those you choose not to breed, as I assume there are never enough worthy CL hens, while there might be too many worthy CL cockerels (and please correct me if I'm wrong). Grown out? And as chicks?

Second question: for what reasons and/or flaws do you cull?

Please note: I am asking these questions repectfully to you as conscientious breeders. I am not making moral or emotional judgments of any sort.

Many thanks for any responses. I want to learn.

 

[crazyhen]

I am soooo sorry you lost your fellow. But I agree eggs are the only way to go. Twice I brought a hen in and had problems from either disease or bugs. any way you can train your roo and he will get use to you. He will not be as likely to think you are a predator to his hens. gloria Jean

 

[The Sheriff]

Thanks Gloria Jean and everyone else on your kind concern. It seems so odd around here today. The crowing contest isn't as fun with only two contestants. I'll be patient.