4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Griffin]

I'm in the process of sourcing eggs for my next hatch. I want something autosexing and can't decide between these two breeds. Has anybody here got them and what are their personalities like? Boys will probably end up on the table and I know Dorkings are a good meat bird but has anybody eaten Cream Legbar? Was there much meat from it or is it more a casserole type of bird? How long does it take for the boys to mature? Are the girls good layers? Any pics would be good too

[Poached]

i'm not sure about meat from the cream legbar but the blue eggs are lovely

 

hers a pic:

 

 

go for the legbar!

 

 

josh

[feemcg]

My CL's have been quite lean....doubt there would be much eating in them. Also most of my boys have started crowing from about 12 weeks so if crowing isn't a problem you'd need to grow them on a bit for a better weight.

[wombatally]

I had the same dilemma and I bought some eggs from a lady on ebay who is selling blue egg laying dorkings. Obviously they have been hybridised along the line but look like SG Dorkings so would be good for meat (that's why we bought them). Any girls are a bonus! If you aren't going to breed from them they're a good choice I think. Also you can sex them at day 1.

[MadMitch]

I have dorkings, I love my girls and they are the friendliest of all my chickens. if I had to get rid of them all but one breed it would be the dorkings that I would keep. I haven't eaten any of mine but have had dorking and it was delicious.

Here is a picture of one of my girls.

 

[Hangman]

Our legbar has lovely plumage, and is a complete nutjob - there isn't much meat on it (prod rather than fork test ) though.

[feemcg]

Madmitch that is one beautiful looking hen.....I really want a white egg layer (all 6 of my Dorking eggs were clear ).

[wombatally]

Fee - does your Buff Sussex not lay a white egg? Mine does so I thought they all did!

[feemcg]

Nope......they both lay pale brown. I thought all Sussex laid brown.....somebody has been naughty with your hen's mummy I think ......I'm going to investigate though, I could be wrong......again

 

...back.....cream to light brown it says....think a couple of folk on here get cream. My palest egg is a very pale pink with a white 'blush' from one of the young Dottes.

[Griffin]

And after all that I might get neither, my head has been turned by some rather attractive large fowl frizzle Polands

[badgerbluebadger]

Oh Dorkings look lovely - another chicken added to my list

[wombatally]

Nope......they both lay pale brown. I thought all Sussex laid brown.....somebody has been naughty with your hen's mummy I think ......I'm going to investigate though, I could be wrong......again

 

...back.....cream to light brown it says....think a couple of folk on here get cream. My palest egg is a very pale pink with a white 'blush' from one of the young Dottes.

 

It's definately white! hmm you may be right - I bought her a few weeks ago from the omlet market place - still, she's my only white egg layer so I shan't complain!

 

Frizzles, I love them!

[Lewis]

Now look what you've all gone and done!

 

We were all set on hatching Cream Legbars at school (I'd even priced up a few eggs:roll:) and I was just seeing if anyone had eaten one. Columbines were another option!

I might have to look at blue egg laying Dorkings now.

[Griffin]

I went with Dorkings in the end and have six of the blue egg laying types in my incubator It was important to the kids that we had at least one autosexing breed in there and I figured there would be the most amount of meat on a Dorking type so that's what we did. They're joined by Aracaunas, LF Frizzle Polands, Houdans, Black Orpingtons & white Silkies & buff laced Wyandottes

[smithy36]

I have a CL - she is ditzy and skittish... does not like being handled and is scrawny under her feathers.... Lovely to look at tho - i would say Dorkings would be a) better meat, and b) easier to manage whilst growing! CL are good for eggs....

[Lewis]

I'll be here waiting for the pictures!

I really want blue/green eggs and then was stuck between the choice of hybrids/pure breeds. I thought there would be more of a chance that the pure breeds lay blue eggs, and being autosexing is good.

 

The only reason I would be put off Cream Legbars would be that they can't be used as a meat bird, but we have a few potential homes for cockerels so shouldn't have a problem .

[Griffin]

They can be used for meat but think more along the lines of a nice soup rather than a full on roast I've got two Leghorn boys aged 10 weeks in the garden and they'll be lunch rather than dinner