The Legbar Thread!

[ChicKat]

gorgeous chicks Miss Molly! Really sharp pictures too.

 

[ChicKat]

Hope I'm not offending anyone, just musing out loud.

Nell

Nell --
brilliant insights IMO.

Strange thing is that I have the opposite temperature conditions. Even today 9/12 it was 100-degrees in the chicken pen this afternoon. The ultra thick feathering and the crest on my female (who is presently set on 4-eggs, and will inherit any that hatch in the incubator (all due the same day, we'll see). )

I think that long-term health, hardiness, and productivity are unspoken priorities with everyone here too. And your idea of small breeders with high quality is also one that I think fits what people are trying to do here. Good ideas. Thanks.

 

[CibolaChooks]

. Thanks for all the posts guys. This is one of the most active threads I've ever seen. (And kindest, not any nastiness here.)

I agree with you on more than just this line but i really appreciate all the patience on this post also. I have met some rather persnickety people other places and was turned off all together looking at their threads. Especially with my experiences they were off topic even and still sinking their teeth into me.

 

[ChicKat]

So does anyone else just adore the "cooing" that the babies do? Sounds almost like what I would imagine a chicken would sound like if it could purr, LOL

Do they do that when they get older or is that just a baby trait?

RachaelS,

YEP, I love that sound....I called it 'trilling'.... when my first two were in there little coop they didn't come out much--- (Partly because the wind was slicing viciously the whole time) - but the sound was there..... My 1-week olds are doing it now. My adults don't, but it doesn't seem rooster-ish. My hen is now clucking to her eggs....

it is like purring...and I do love it. I had almost forgotten til you posted about it.

ETA - I wonder if it is just birds from Samantha or all cream legbars?

 

[longgrove]

Hi ChicKat,
100 + degrees in the evening! Mind boggling! (one reason I moved to Maine 30 years ago from Florida, my birth state). On Monday, we had a low of 44 and high of low 60s. It is going "back up" to lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s later this week. I've got a lot of green tomatos to ripen!

Good luck with the hatching. Once in Florida, I had a hen setting in very hot weather and a couple of the chicks were deformed (plus it was very debilitating on her, but couldn't get her to stop). Hope the hatch is productive and she will accept the 'bator eggs. I've got a growing silkie who I hope will be my "incubator: this Spring (and a big gentle cochin/wyndotte who may be a backup). Did ya'll get some needed rain from the hurricane?

 

[ChicKat]

Thanks longgrove,

It hits 100 in the day but our nights will go down to the 70's -- which is redeeming for the animals.

We are so so so so dry. We have stock watering tanks for the cattle and the ones that haven't dried up are turning into mud holes.

We ARE supposed to get rain tomorrow, and it IS thundering.... drought is so insidious. Within 10-miles of us areas have had rain but we are on a bit of high ground and it skirts away from us constantly. The lack of moisture is one of the reasons it is hanging on hot. But the daylight hours are shorter -- so it has to cool soon, and the evenings and mornings and overnight.

My little broody is stuck to the eggs like glue. I hope she comes through OK.... I appreciate the good wishes...I will pass them along to her :O)

 

[blackbirds13]

"Wicked cunnin' "chicks, Miss Molly! So far I just have a cockeral a bit short of 4 months. He seems to be in no hurry to grow up, have seen pics of younger birds who look more mature.
That is OK with me, tho, I have no interest in raising for meat. Perhaps a super fast growth rate is good for cost effective meat production but maybe not as good for longterm health and productivity? Anyway, he is just getting the start of his roo saddle and hackle feathers. So far, has some gold on the body but none in the hackle. Will watch. He is gentle and friendly, hope it stays that way.

I'm not going to be in a position to breed in a large way, but would like to do some and want any that I do breed to be a positive contribution to the breed. Perhaps birds that are seriously off standard could join the ranks of EEs? On the other hand, (I'm extrapolating now from breeding dairy goats) is focusing on the look primarily a potential problem if it takes too much focus on other desirable traits like high lay rate, good egg size, cold hardiness, disease resistance, and good temperment, etc? Especially in light of the small gene pool. I'm reminded of the damage to many dog breeds that occured when they became very popular and were bred (often in-bred) just to win shows, or worse, bred to the max, regardless of quality to get the maximum number of salable pups. As a result, a lot of hereditary problems (such as hop dysplasia) became a lot more common. Look at the vigor of the "land race" heirloom chicken breeds.

Since I live in Maine, with temps going below -20F amd sometimes below -30F, in the winter, I can see the value of a rose combed version (my sense is that the climate in UK is much more mild, hence the viability of those pretty, huge red single combs). After all, brown leghorns come in a rose comb variety and I believe that I read that rose combs occur spontaneously in purebred crested cream legbars (but are culled out when they occur). Not as sure about the whites, as it would seem to defeat the auto sexing trait?

Hoping to get a couple of pullets or a clutch of hatching eggs in the Spring (if possible, without shipping). I do believe that a loose coalition of many small but conscientious breeders could help to increase the genitic pool over time and contribute to the breed's development. (After all, it is not a good idea to put all the eggs in just a few baskets! lol)

Hope I'm not offending anyone, just musing out loud.

Nell

I see the value also in a rose comb as my rooster's comb really suffered last winter and it was pretty mild for New Hampshire... but I know I won't try that anytime soon, plus I'm stuck in the mindset of developing a 'proper english bird' - flyingmonkeypoop is working on a rose comb version and outcrossing with Brown Legbars. I have many aspects that I would like to focus on and I guess color is just the most obvious but I also want to keep a focus on type, size, egg color and egg size....not asking too much. Next year I will really have to make some hard decisions on what to keep as I have to keep a limited flock to keep the hubby happy and workable for me. I haven't named any of my birds yet...afraid to get too attached ever since 'Favorite Guy' my bid dumb Splash Marans had to be put down. I tell myself I'll name them when I know who's staying but I keep putting it off. I tell myself "they're just chickens" everyday...then I go outside and sit and watch and sit and watch and sit and watch.....and then go inside and check the incubator.

 

[Dirt Farmer]

So does anyone else just adore the "cooing" that the babies do? Sounds almost like what I would imagine a chicken would sound like if it could purr, LOL

Do they do that when they get older or is that just a baby trait?

I think the CL's have vocalizations different from my other chickens. This is the first lighter breed for me. Maybe just a British accent.

 

[chichichickapea]

My first CLB chick just hatched....I already have 2 roos that I got from Richard. None of the rest have done anything yet....have more CLBs & Isbars....waiting

 

[chichichickapea]

I see a little tiny blonde spot on it's head....please tell me it is NOT a Roo!