Budgies Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Oh heck, I want, I want! Don't know much about these girls - can anyone else enlighten me? They're soooo pretty! I'm planning on a WIR around 12feet by 8feet (probably) and 3 or 4 chooks. Would a crested legbar be okay in that amount of space? They would get some time free ranging but I couldn't guarantee more than say an hour a day in the garden. Also, are they friendly? Do they all lay blue/green tinted eggs? And finally, do they go broody? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autumn Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Hi, I own and breed crested legbars and they are lovely birds, they can be a bit flighty so you may need to watch for this, saying that, mine are all quite tame but thay can be a bit scatty! Any pure breed should lay a green tinted egg, there are hybrids on the market that do look similar but only have an 80% chance of laying a green tinted egg. 3/4 birds will be happy in the space you have stated. They are not notorious for going broody. Hope this helps. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dame egna Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Is the cream crested legbar the same as a cream legbar? Sorry if that's really obvious lol I should be getting 3, 1 day old cream legbar chicks in less than two weeks now. I thought they lay blue eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 Thank you Autumn, that's all very helpful! Excited now! I know this is a bit thick of me, but when people say they're flighty, do they mean live on their nerves and are easily scared and shy? Am I reading that right? Take it you're nowhere near me? I'd love to see some in the flesh before making a final decision! Hi Dame Egna. Sorry, I don't know, I hope someone else will be able to put us right!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 After a bit of research online it seems that a Cream Legbar is the same as a "Crested" Cream Legbar. An ordinary legbar (I think they're either silver or gold) was crossed with the Araucana to get the Cream Legbar with her blue eggs and tufty head. They look soooo beautiful!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dame egna Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 It seems some places I've looked it says they lay blue eggs, and others say blue/green. I hope it's blue as I have green eggs layers lol They are very pretty though - so I don't mind either way, just be nice to have blue eggs too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autumn Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Yes they are the same, just people sometimes shorten the name, the correct terminology is Cream Crested Legbar. Here's the colour of the eggs my lot lay..... http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/joannew_/GreenEggs5.jpg[ Excuse the writing on the double yolker, myu husband claimed it as his! Sadly Budgie, I'm too far away from you in Cheshire, but here's some pics of a few of my growers, they are 8-10 weeks:- http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a29/joannew_/IMG_0411.jpg Sorry, not a great picture but hope it helps. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I have a lovely cream legbar called Molly, she's the smallest chicken we have and is quite a light breed and very mischievous and quite friendly. The one thing I don't like about her is that she doesn't lay in the eglu and lays in the garden instead! My cream legbar lays lovely pastel blue eggs which have got bigger as she's got older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autumn Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Budgie - I meant to add, with regard to them being flighty, they can be a bit jumpy and leap/fly away, although I've found with all of mine that they come running over for treats and will eat from my hand, some let me touch them quite happily and let me pick them up so they are quite friendly and tame, I just think it depends how they have been reared and how much they see you and are handled. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 i'm hoping to get a cream legbar too, i've been told they're a bit nervous to start with but tame down nicely. i'm looking forward to blue/green eggs as ys has decided he won't eat any other colour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dame egna Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 what beautiful coloured eggs Autumn. Ness3103 - they will be the same colour as your cats eyes lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 12, 2009 Author Share Posted May 12, 2009 Well, that's decided me!! Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. Autumn, thanks for the lovely pictures, the eggs and the growers are just beautiful! You're conveniently placed for my in-laws up there in Cheshire, but not so handy for me! Now to source me a cream legbar!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dame egna Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Budgies - will you be getting a POL or a chick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I have a gorgeous cream legbar called Milly. She is lovely. Lays pale blue eggs. Edited to add adjusted picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Mine's called Ada and she is my favourite chookie, named after my Gran. She is the smallest of my flock and bottom of the PO, but she is the brainiest and always first to work out a solution to any new challenge! She's my most reliable layer too, a lovely small blue egg every day. She is very nervy though, shouts a lot when she is about to lay or has just laid, and she can fly like an eagle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Beautiful girl Hazel I have three cream legbar eggs in my incubator at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 Oh now I'm a bit disappointed. I've spoken to Ben at hen House Poultry and he's advised against mixing hybrids and pure breeds. Where the hybrids he sells are vaccinated, the pure breeds (as is standard) aren't. However, vaccinated birds often end up being carriers so putting them together could be asking for trouble! Might take my chances with a heritage skyline instead but booooo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Oh now I'm a bit disappointed. I've spoken to Ben at hen House Poultry and he's advised against mixing hybrids and pure breeds. Could you not get the rare breeds vaccinated yourself, or is there a reason for not having them done? I have 2 PP and am planning on introducing some Cream Crested Legbar's in with them (incubating eggs not POL) so I suppose I could have them vaccinated but I thought they weren't at as much risk only being an a small scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I dont understand that advice. Loads of omletteers have pure breeds and hybrids and ex-batts all living together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Why dont they vaccinate pure breeds? Am worried now Will it be a problem mixing the two? As has been said lots of people mix them, so theory says it should be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 Oh now I'm a bit disappointed. I've spoken to Ben at hen House Poultry and he's advised against mixing hybrids and pure breeds. Could you not get the rare breeds vaccinated yourself, or is there a reason for not having them done? I have 2 PP and am planning on introducing some Cream Crested Legbar's in with them (incubating eggs not POL) so I suppose I could have them vaccinated but I thought they weren't at as much risk only being an a small scale. The way that I understand it, most of the vaccinations have to be given within the first few weeks of their life, and are administered in their drinking water. One or two vaccinations can be given later in their life, but they do work out quite expensive because they're sold in bulk for farmers, not in small quantities. For those of you with Omlet hens, you can see how many things they are vaccinated against - maybe 10 illnesses. With many of the vaccinations they have to have a follow up or booster a few weeks later. It would just be impossible to do retrospectively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Oh now I'm a bit disappointed. I've spoken to Ben at hen House Poultry and he's advised against mixing hybrids and pure breeds. Could you not get the rare breeds vaccinated yourself, or is there a reason for not having them done? I have 2 PP and am planning on introducing some Cream Crested Legbar's in with them (incubating eggs not POL) so I suppose I could have them vaccinated but I thought they weren't at as much risk only being an a small scale. The way that I understand it, most of the vaccinations have to be given within the first few weeks of their life, and are administered in their drinking water. One or two vaccinations can be given later in their life, but they do work out quite expensive because they're sold in bulk for farmers, not in small quantities. For those of you with Omlet hens, you can see how many things they are vaccinated against - maybe 10 illnesses. With many of the vaccinations they have to have a follow up or booster a few weeks later. It would just be impossible to do retrospectively. I wasn't thinking We could vaccinate the ones we hatch, but the vaccinations seem to be about £30 and have a 6 hour expiry window, which would be ok if we get quite a few and could share with someone close by, but I think I may leave it for now and decide nearer the time. If I were you I'd keep them together, as he may just be covering himself in the case something did happen. You could always phone another breeder and see what they advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 If I were you I'd keep them together, as he may just be covering himself in the case something did happen. You could always phone another breeder and see what they advise. I have to say Ben is fantastic. He's telling me the facts as they stand, and he's right (my OH is a New Scientist nerd and treated me to an explanation!!) . I'm also a real worrier, and having just lost my two beautiful girls together, I won't knowingly set myself up for more similar heartache in the near future!! So I'll go with his advice and consider getting a Heritage Skyline, or even s"Ooops, word censored!" that and just get three other hybrids! I'll get some pure breeds when I win the lottery and have a garden big enough to keep flocks separately!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 So I'll go with his advice and consider getting a Heritage Skyline, or even s"Ooops, word censored!" that and just get three other hybrids! Go for the Heritage Skyline. = Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 You could just get a blue laying hybrid then if you're that worried. I'm not sure whether any of mine are vaccinated, but they all came from the same place and get on quite well with each other, the pure breeds are lower down the pecking order, but that's because the bluebelles are older and Molly and Spice were being introduced to them in their territory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
