The Moonshiner's farewell to Leghorns

[Amer]

3. have yellow legs... don't you just wonder why...

 

[DarJones]

2000 years ago, no chickens had yellow legs. They were all white. How do we know this? Chicken parts are often found in garbage pits. So far, only white legs have been found.

Roughly the same time frame, chickens were transported into northern Europe i.e. a colder climate. Two key changes occurred. The first is that simple combs turned into diverse types such as cushion and rose comb. The second is that yellow legs showed up and surprise surprise in a few generations yellow legs were not just a thing, they were almost the only thing in northern climates. Why? Yellow legs are caused by accumulation of carotenoids. A chicken that stores carotenoids in summer can lay eggs in winter when green plants are unavailable. So yellow legs are an adaptation to cold climate. Yes, I know that several mediterranean breeds have yellow legs. There was obviously some selection going on too.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

2000 years ago, no chickens had yellow legs. They were all white. How do we know this? Chicken parts are often found in garbage pits. So far, only white legs have been found.

Roughly the same time frame, chickens were transported into northern Europe i.e. a colder climate. Two key changes occurred. The first is that simple combs turned into diverse types such as cushion and rose comb. The second is that yellow legs showed up and surprise surprise in a few generations yellow legs were not just a thing, they were almost the only thing in northern climates. Why? Yellow legs are caused by accumulation of carotenoids. A chicken that stores carotenoids in summer can lay eggs in winter when green plants are unavailable. So yellow legs are an adaptation to cold climate. Yes, I know that several mediterranean breeds have yellow legs. There was obviously some selection going on too.

Questions, questions...
So yellow legs were an adaptation to colder climates or an adaptation carried out by breeders?
I.e.:
"The yellow legged ones lay better in winter,let's start keeping those"
Also, when were chickens bred for ornamental purposes as opposed to functional(meat and eggs). Do you opine that a certain "look" promised a certain function?

 

[Miami Leghorn]

It is my opinion ,and only that because I haven't done much research..that ornamentals came in after certain societies developing and having had there infrastructure in place (not having to worry about shelter,food,clean water,transportation,and if course money)and so groups of people so inclined started to "play with"so to speak certain characteristics,color,size,temperament to create chickens outside of the main function which was eggs and meat.
Has anyone checked into this?Do you agree?Or am I way off.

 

[The Moonshiner]

2000 years ago, no chickens had yellow legs. They were all white. How do we know this? Chicken parts are often found in garbage pits. So far, only white legs have been found.

Roughly the same time frame, chickens were transported into northern Europe i.e. a colder climate. Two key changes occurred. The first is that simple combs turned into diverse types such as cushion and rose comb. The second is that yellow legs showed up and surprise surprise in a few generations yellow legs were not just a thing, they were almost the only thing in northern climates. Why? Yellow legs are caused by accumulation of carotenoids. A chicken that stores carotenoids in summer can lay eggs in winter when green plants are unavailable. So yellow legs are an adaptation to cold climate. Yes, I know that several mediterranean breeds have yellow legs. There was obviously some selection going on too.

I thought yellow shanks were introduced from grey jungle fowl?

 

[Amer]

It is my opinion ,and only that because I haven't done much research..that ornamentals came in after certain societies developing and having had there infrastructure in place (not having to worry about shelter,food,clean water,transportation,and if course money)and so groups of people so inclined started to "play with"so to speak certain characteristics,color,size,temperament to create chickens outside of the main function which was eggs and meat.
Has anyone checked into this?Do you agree?Or am I way off.

This is true. In Japan, at least, ornamental chickens were developed as garden chickens for the Emperor.
In Europe, chickens were less popular as ornamentals and were mainly either cockfighting birds or ordinary farm fowl not selected for anything, meant to lay eggs and produce meat but not actively selected beyond being functional. Some birds were obviously being selected for or we wouldn’t have the foundations of breeds but until after the Hen Craze I don’t think ornamental qualities were actively selected for by the common people. But this is speculation on my part.

Yellow legs in many breeds actually has its origins with the Asiatic breeds, which are indeed cold hardy. Europeans could improve meat and egg quality by crossing them to their farm fowl or local breeds. Carotenoids don’t have a link to egg production though. Ameraucanas are supposed to be good winter layers and have white skin.
I do believe yellow legs were already found in Europe, because of Mediterranean and game breeds, but Asiatic breeds were clearly a big factor in leg color for dual purpose breeds.

 

[Painted Calls]

Thread 'Happy 50th Moony! Happy 25th Conan!' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/⚫happy-50th-moony-🔥-happy-25th-conan.1492860/

 

[The Moonshiner]

@MIAMI LEGHORN
Ready for this crazy idea to....

 

[Chookwagn]

@MIAMI LEGHORN
Ready for this crazy idea to....
View attachment 2832339

Is this going to be a Birthday special???

 

[The Moonshiner]

Is this going to be a Birthday special???

I've matured