I named the auto sexing breeds - i think all of them. But I'll detail!
These are breeds that are different colors at hatch for male and female. They are consistent and breed true, unlike, sex-linked breeds that will not breed true. I believe, but could be wrong as I don't have my research pulled up, that all auto sexing breeds are barred type breeds & several have the "bar" in their names (cream/crested Legbar; Rhodebar. Older breeds now thought to be extinct or no longer in existence were used to help create these current breeds - such as the Wellbar, Cambar and a few others that I can't remember the names of at the moment.). Most of, if not all of, these breeds were developed many years ago overseas and all have been imported in the last few years. There was someone breeding different breeds together to get Rhodebars (yes, they have Rhode Island Red in their bloodlines & crossing back to RIRs will get better body type BUT lose the auto-sexing feature for a couple of generations while body or feather type is improved)here in the US, but I haven't been able to find any current info on that. Understand, I'm still just a few months into my own ownership of auto-sexing breeds (4 of the 5), and I'm still learning myself.
Again, I could be wrong - but the main importer of the auto-sexing breeds in recent years has been
Greenfire Farms (linked to their explanation of auto-sexing breeds) out of Florida. They have all the original lines AND every few years they go back overseas and bring in some new lines. Because they have been importing and selling these lines for at least 7 years now, they are no longer the only breeders of these breeds - in fact - several hatcheries now offer some of them. The day old chicks can still be on the more expensive side, but now and then you do find good deals.
CREAM LEGBARS
Here in NC, I've found several breeder of these breeds. I now belong to the Cream Legbar Club - there are 3 accepted color varieties. I have what are known as the Production Line and also the Jill Rees show line. I want to breed to do a couple of things - get a prettier blue egg(my girls are really light, most no more than tinted blue - which isn't the color they should be); an earlier laying time frame and maybe a slightly larger/heavier frame - however - they aren't huge birds and don't think they were originally bred to be a true dual purpose bird. I also will be keeping my lines separate and crossing them. Mine are GREAT foragers but do well when confined and OMG - the personalities!!!! I never thought I'd like the crested breeds, but these are so FUN. The roosters, so far, are VERY easy to deal with, too. The ones I've processed so far, are on the smaller side and were much older than the typical 2-3 months as they were 8 months old roosters. LOTS of feathers - very pretty.
With losses at free ranging - I currently have a quad & a trio of production line CLBs. Some were laying, if they are now, we haven't found the eggs.
I have 2 roosters, both of the Jill Rees lines, that don't have standard combs. Right now they are all I have - so one will go over a mixed batch of pullet/hens - to get pretty egg layers (most won't be auto-sexing, 2 are 1/2 CLB so might have chicks that are?). The better one will go over 3 pullets of the same lineage.
With all groups - I will keep the resulting chicks w/o selling them. Then I will choose which ones I will keep - some will become my new breeders, some will join my egg laying battery, some will go into freezer camp - THEN - some of the ones i feel are breeding quality could be for sale (or gifted to family/friends/others).
Here is what my 2nd batch of chicks looked like, I didn't get them as day old chicks (first ones were pullets only). In first pic, cockerels are lighter in color (not always true, though, some of my pullets have been lighter, too), have NO chipmunk marking on head, but a "white" spot, some do have partial eyeliner but usually not. 2nd pic - good example of partial eyeliner on him & his "white" spot, the closest to the green block & the 2nd chick is a pullet but is of the lighter color (she is maturing lighter than her sisters as well) w/ full eyeliner & her chippy stripe. 3rd pic is the 3 cockerels together w/ the tails of 2 of the girls to the far right. 4th pic is a pullet.
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5th & 6th pics are of a pullet @ 2days & @ 30 weeks - Jill Rees show lines - 1 generation removed from GFF lines (I was told).
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And one of the JR line cockerels.
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This coop currently has 10 chickens - 3 purebred JR lines CLB pullets, 2 purebred cockerels. 2 MalineXs, 2 CLBxs (not sure what with), 1 Bresse pullet. I will be splitting them up - the 3 purebred & Bresse pullets w/ one cockerel & the other 4Xs with the other cockerel. The Bresse girl will lay either brown or white egg, have to look up (again, LOL).
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Separate posts for 55 Flowery Hens, Bielefelders & Rhodebars (that I have and have pics of)...
You can also go to
Greenfire Farms' Auto-Sex chickens page for list of breeds & their pics and what they charge for day old chicks.
). And 3 of 4 pullets left in my barn coop... They will go with the younger roo (JR) and the older roo (Rhodi) will go out to the coop that has the last of my hatchery, laying hens... (darned coyote).
