The Moonshiner's Leghorns

[NagemTX]

Lavender in leghorns came from Orps and came in when those Orps were raggedy. With leghorns the first were the Isabel. Horrible tell their quality across the board. Isabel came on the scene hot and everyone was trying to pump them out. I wasn't a fan of the shredder gene especially when the males had horrible wing patch issues. I was like breeding back to brown, back to Brown. Most everyone else were not and focused on the most lavender Birds on the ground as possible.
Bad thing is it seems it can pop back up so kind of have to deal with it. That last rooster is lavender. The biggest reason I kept him for breeding because he had a big beautiful tail that showed no signs of it. Look at how raggedy it is now.
As you'll notice in the coming weeks with tails most of my roosters tail feathers don't fare well.
I've figured out if it ain't other birds jacking with them it's because of the long tails rubbing wire in the pens. I can't decide but I'm thinking with the lavenders even if their tails look good that maybe there's still a hidden weakness with them that makes them not hold up as well.
I don't know I'll get a couple pics soon. Couple days ago I noticed a blue barred rooster that still has a nice tail but also a barred rooster that has one of the worst.

Lavender does still have issues with the feathers being softer it seams so they get messed up more. My hens and last rooster from Cackle were great looking and feather quality stood up to free ranging. If I pend the rooster he might have gotten ragged looking.

Thers always something under it all tho. Flightyness, feather quality, and so on. With my silver Ameraucana its Flightyness, color, beards occasionally and combs. Hope to get those fixed in time. I have better stock now than before because GypsyHen sent me eggs from the show pens this time around and I can really tell the difference.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Think my hatch is all but done. True to the season I had one buff hatch overnight. Those have been the last all season.
The incubator that had the chocolate eggs didn't do so well. Only 3 out of 16 eggs hatched. One solid from a chocolate egg but think it's black. Have to check when I get home and it's dry.
One more batch brewing. Unsure of hatch date or what all is in there.
If I set more eggs that'll put me in November for a hatch.
not what I wanted but sure could use a few more chocolate. Then again that pens laying has nosedive.
What to do, what to do

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Indeed

Indeed

I thought you were overrun with chickens? You're talking buffs right? Find me in the spring. I should be getting enough eggs then that I won't have to hoard the golden fluffballs.

I do have too many at the mo but I found someone who wants laying hens, I think. If they'll take them I'll sell all 16 of my OG hens (one and two yo's), brown and blue eggers so in the spring I know what I have. That will leave me .... 18 minus 3 cockerels ... 15 hens. Cool, I will have room for those buffs and can hatch me some pb Ameraucanas next summer. Yah, I'll knock on your door come spring.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Thought I'd be giving a chick update closely followed by pics but guess not yet.
One more hatched while I was at work. Another busted out as soon as I sat down to look. See 3 more with pips or holes. Maybe that one incubator was a tad low on temp.
Also think I might go a bit above that guesstimate of 30.

 

[KF0002]

Thought I'd be giving a chick update closely followed by pics but guess not yet.
One more hatched while I was at work. Another busted out as soon as I sat down to look. See 3 more with pips or holes. Maybe that one incubator was a tad low on temp.
Also think I might go a bit above that guesstimate of 30.

Woohoo! I always like it when I go back to the incubator to find more chicks hatched! 30 is a good hatch!

 

[The Moonshiner]

Woohoo! I always like it when I go back to the incubator to find more chicks hatched! 30 is a good hatch!

I ended up with 6 late to the game chicks. All from chocolate project eggs.
All are solid, no duckwings. One if I hold it to the light and tilt my head just right appears there's a slight chance it's chocolate but probably not.
The earlier one I had hopes for looks black now. Last 6 are still wet and wobbling around the incubator like little penguins so I'm gonna skip waiting for them to make the pics.
Total for the hatch and pics coming soon.

 

[The Moonshiner]

41
396
17th

 

[The Moonshiner]

Had the crele project going this year. Gold duckwing male over crele female so males should be single gene Barred gold duckwing.
Hatched several but never noticed any headspots. Maybe something to do with only one gene.
Swapped over to a blue gold duckwing male for blue crele project. Should also be single gene barred gold and blue gold duckwing.
Still no headspots but I've hatched a couple/few with no outer stripes to mention on their backs. I'm betting those are blue crele boys.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What an eye you have, Moony!

 

[The Moonshiner]

What an eye you have, Moony!

Probably not really but I've been trying to learn the boy so we've been studying them.