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[MillyJude]

Once the Denagard has shifted the last of the myco symptoms and spring is with us i was thinking of getting some blue egg layers.

 

We have had two Araucana's (at different times) in the past but have lost both, one to predator and one to leg injury, so i worry about getting another as maybe our set up is not genteel enough for them?

 

The other hens are pretty placid, but the araucanas always stayed on their own and seemed to have a very different temperament.

 

I would get two or three so they could have their own mini flock but what are peoples experiences of Cream Legbars?

 

Our local hybrid place sells Heritage Skylines which are an Araucana hybrid, has anyone had one of those?

 

Thanks

[kinsk]

They are lovely, but in the experience I have had not without problems.

 

I bought 6 in Nov'12, was told they were vacinated against Mareks, which they can be prone to. It wasn't something I had really considered but after much asking around decided that I couldn't risk putting them in with my unvaccinated Welsummers so they got a seperate pen.

 

Within about 3 weeks one showed signs of Mareks and died, we then lost another two over the next six months.

 

We now have a lovely cockerel to go with the remaining three, and touching a big piece of wood, they all seem happy and well. I find them much more laid back than my Welsumers and their eggs are beautiful, we seem to get a much bigger yolk for the size of egg. They haven't been laying over winter but our aim is to incubate some eggs from them which can then go in with the others.

 

I think I was just unlucky and my original 6 ladies weren't as good as their breeder made out.

[jimnpaula]

I have both. My Skyline is Top Chook, and one of the 80% who does lay blue eggs. (There is a chance that a Skyline could lay a pinkish egg instead.) She was well handled when young and is now quite calm, although we did have to encourage her off the fence once before she came into lay.

 

My 'Cream Legbar' looks the part, reasonably correct colour, very similar body shape and tufted head like the Skyline. The only thing is she lays white eggs I don't mind, but wondering if I have a Gold legbar instead. Anyway, I've found her to be 'reasonable' in character; not a lap chicken, but open to being handled if necessary. Sometimes though she appears so comfortable in my arms (once I've caught her) that she seems reluctant to be put down again.

 

Like kinsk, I've found that these particular girls lay a medium sized egg but the yolks are very large in comparison.

[MillyJude]

Ooh thank you, i might go for a couple of heritage skylines in that case, would be equally excited about pink eggs so thats fine,

 

I am a bit conscious that we have a lot of old ex-batts and pure breeds that hardly ever lay eggs so maybe more hybrids would be more sensible

[Luvachicken]

MillyJude, I'm sorry I don't know the answer to your question but did notice that lovely photo above your name

Is it your garden ?

If so I am very

[kinsk]

My legbars did stop laying about end of October, but then so did all the others, up until then I was getting an egg a day off each of them and a lot were double yolkers to start with, the other run which had 18 welsumers and 3 hybrids I'd get about 6 a day.

[jimnpaula]

That's a point that I forgot, I haven't had any white or blue eggs for ages. Skye (the skyline) is getting old for a hybrid and has chosen not to lay again this winter - I don't mind as she might last longer this way, and Lemon (the legbar of questionable parentage) laid a softy during the summer and hasn't laid since, or maybe once - I can't remember it's been so long!

[MillyJude]

Thanks for all the information, am all excited about hylines now, may not make it until spring.

 

Luvachicken, yes thats the end of our garden, the chickens have about 1/6 of an acre that we have fenced off for them.

 

Its got some mature trees in it but we have planted lots of little fruit trees over the rest of it, so in a few years when the trees are bigger they can stroll under the branches and eat all the fallen fruit.

 

I know spoilt pigs , you'd think they would reward us with the odd egg.

[clucker1]

I have one very pretty skyline, who is my posh girl as I call her. She lays beautiful pale blue eggs when she is laying, off now till the Spring when she will start laying again hopefully. This will be her third year of laying if she lays. I did read they can lay in their first year and then it is a bit of luck if they lay after that. Matilda (the skyline) was very flighty, a lot better now...but looks after any of the girls if they are a bit off colour. She is very sweet and I wouldn't be without her. Plus her egg yolks are the best

[Luvachicken]

Luvachicken, yes thats the end of our garden, the chickens have about 1/6 of an acre that we have fenced off for them.

 

Its got some mature trees in it but we have planted lots of little fruit trees over the rest of it, so in a few years when the trees are bigger they can stroll under the branches and eat all the fallen fruit.

 

I know spoilt pigs , you'd think they would reward us with the odd egg.

 

I would so love to have a garden like that.

You and your chickens are very lucky

But then I have eggs - well one every other day anyway

[harryissy]

Hello,

I got 2 young cream legbars last year and they are the most friendly and docile chucks I've ever had. In the Summer they spent most of their time coming into the kitchen when the back door was open and they always run up when I go into the garden. Even found 18 month old grandaughter carrying them around one day!!

The eggs are a beautiful sky-blue colour, though they haven't laid since near the end of November and have both moulted. Still, I reckon they deserve a rest from egg-laying for a while. I would certainly get cream legbars again.

I also have a columbine who lays blue eggs, she also stops laying over Winter and has just feathered up again after her moult. She is very sweet but definately not as friendly and easy to handle as the cream legbars.

Good luck with choosing your new chickens!!

[MillyJude]

So, if Cream legbars are prone to Mareks does that mean it is better to get skylines instead?

 

We have a mix of non vacc'd pure breeds and vacc'd ex batts so if anyone brought it in presumably the pure breeds would get it?

 

But is the risk greater with a vacc'd legbar ?

 

Or does it not matter, its the same risk when you introduce new birds whatever breed they are?

 

I know there is another thread about vaccs running at the moment and i've tried to work it out from that but its soo complicated.