White Bird Lovers

[CityChicker]

Does anyone else love white birds?

I think white is one of the most beautiful colors, no matter what the type of bird. Anymore, I think it is probably really my favorite color (or one of my favorites). I just wonder what the consensus is because a few different people, including my husband, have said they don't like white birds. My DH says they look too much like plain 'ole barnyard birds. I was reading one of the very old duck books by Leslie Bonnet as well (developer of the Welsh Harlequins) and he very obviously did *not* like white birds, which is in part why he developed some of the breeds he did. He says in several places that the world does not need any more white birds. The sarcastic tone he writes in is very funny, LOL. He was not a fan of white.

So, what do you guys think? Do you like white or think it is too plain? I think there is nothing more beautiful than a flock of clean, glistening white birds. In ducks, I love the White Runners, White Calls, etc... In geese, I think White Sebastopols and Plain Headed Romans are two of the most gorgeous birds ever to have existed. Don't even get me started with chickens! There are so many chickens I love in white, I don't even know where to begin.

Am I crazy? LOL (and I mean just on this issue, I know I *am* indeed crazy in general).

 

[iluvmychicks]

I love the contrast between the white feathers and the red in the comb, wattles and lobes on my cochins, I personally think it's quite striking. Hard to keep clean but beautiful.

Shari

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Sorry, I'm just not a fan of a solid white bird. They can't *be a normal bird* and stay clean looking at the same time. Not to mention, unless you're breeding *for* white, the white gene can really mess up a breeding program. I like white mixed with other colors, like mottled, silver laced, cuckoo, white crested Polish, etc... Just not SOLID white, because they can't stay that way without a lot of work on my part!

Just my two cents, of course...

 

[CelticMoon1]

Given the name of this thread I'm about to be hung, drawn and quartered as soon as I've had my say...

I personally would not have had a pure white flock, but I DO love how they contrast with my GLWs and SLWs - does that count?

I think I might be biased from when I was a child and all hens I saw were white leghorns - which I was not fond of at all (I met the nastiest roo ever)... I think I would never have had any white hens except that a couple recessive whites surprised us in a SLW clutch

And colourwise they're so much easier to get right than the laced varieties

 

[cherylcohen]

I LOVE and desperately want a White plymouth rock in my flock!!

 

[redhen]

Quote:
I have one..

Her name is Pearl.. Shes a sweetie. And BIG!

 

[speckledhen]

I have a flock of Delawares. Not much is more beautiful than the white rooster with black barring in the hackles and tail, the contrast of bright red comb and wattles on a green lawn. However, that said, I will be liquidating my Delaware flock partly because I can't get used to having white birds. I have one Lt. Brahma, my only other white bird, only because she was a mistake and was supposed to be Buff. I live in the woods on a mtn and they stand out like sore thumbs, not to mention that when they dustbathe, they are no longer white, LOL.

 

[CityChicker]

See, that's what I mean, iluvmychicks! That bird is gorgeous! That is what I love about white, the strikingly beautiful pearly color.

Turtlefeathers- I understand what you saying about white birds in a breeding program for another color. I absolutely do *not* do that in my waterfowl. It can create a nightmare and it is really almost impossible to do anyway unless you really know the history of the white bird for a couple generations back. If not, there is no telling what you will end up with in the offspring. Because of this, I only breed white to white in my ducks (which is the predominate type of bird I raise and I am not completely sure how white differs in other types of birds). Anyway, that is sort of a separate issue from liking or disliking the visual aesthetics of white.

As far as keeping white birds clean, I really have not had *that* much of an issue with it. My waterfowl all get bathing water pretty much year round, so it is kind of a non-issue for me personally. Even my white chickens though stay surprisingly spotless.

 

[CityChicker]

Thank you all for the comments...

CelticMoon- I definitely like other colors too! I don't think I could ever have a solid white flock of birds as in that being my only colors. In my waterfowl, I actually love breeding a huge variety of colors, including some of the rare non-standard colors. For example in my Runner ducks, I am breeding about ten different color varieties.

SpeckledHen- I think Delawares are incredible looking birds. I have never had them, but would love to someday if I ever take on a new chicken breed.

 

[Mahonri]

I have a few white birds.

I have a Pearl White Leghorn, but she get's dirty, especially when their has been rain in the run.

I have a gorgeous Delaware, she is spectacular.

I have a White EE. She recently got a bath ) and she looks great.

I have a California White Leghorn that I hatched out of one of bargain's eggs.

I have two little BWA X Leghorn roos that will be rehomed or become dinner.

I have a little WCB Polish X BBL Polish that is White with black spots. I'm praying it's a she!

The only thing more beautiful than a white chicken is a wheaten or blue wheaten hen.