Leicester_H Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 (edited) Me again ! As you may know from another thread, I'm looking to buy 3 new girlies to go in my eglu with 3m run (I think I want 3 girls that a. are approx same size as omlet hens b. are pure breeds (so lay fewer eggs but over a longer period and have longer lives than hybrids) c. are friendly (they will primarily be pets) d. hardy birds that can cope with most weather conditions and are disease resistant) Am seriously thing about Cream Legbars or Vorwerks from here http://www.warwickshirechickencoop.com/PBCPPlayer.asp?ID=1262834 I guess I'll never find the PERFECT breed ! The only negative I see for the cream legbar is that they can go broody (I know ANY hen can but some are more likely to than others) and for the Vorwerks is that they are flighty. Does anyone have either of these breeds or know anything more about them ? Thanks, H Edited July 6, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Legbars can be flighty and fly well, although obviously that is a general tendency and not necessarily true of each individual bird. I haven't heard about their broody tendencies, I'd always assumed with their leghorn ancestry they didn't go broody very much. OldSpeckledHen has a vorwerk cockeral, not sure if she has females - you could try a PM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 The vorweks are lovely looking aren't they. Couldn't you just mix them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 The vorweks are lovely looking aren't they. Yes! Couldn't you just mix them I did suggest that but OH doesn't want to - while he's in 'lets get more hens mode' I'm not going to rock the boat ! The fact that its difficult to choose, maybe means there's not a lot in it, either way. I've emailed them to see what they have in stock now or in the near future - so that may determine it. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 I think legbars are a bit geeky looking. If I had to choose it would be the Vorweks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I am positive cream legbars do not really go broody. Obviously not impossible, but they are not at all known for it. Cream Legbars are pretty and have the blue or green eggs, however, they are also noisy, good fliers and often quite skittish (they have a lot of leghorn blood in them). I have had three for three years and they are inquisitive, but they are not actively friendly like some other breeds, so if they are to be proper pet chickens, they may not be the best choice. I hatched some Vorwerk last year, and sadly got three cockerels, they were beautiful but I had to give them up. From what I know, whilst they are quite good fliers they can be quite calm if well tamed. I certainly wish I could have some vorwerk, I do not know how well they keep as pets though. Both breed are quite small in large fowl, so are a decent equivalent for hybrids size wise (though legabars can be a little bigger) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I do like the look of Vorwerks, and tried to hatch some a few years ago. Had one perfectly developed chick that never managed to hatch Love the look of the cream legbars too. Oh, they sell Orp banties! Not too far from me either Have one of each, they are both lovely (sorry, that's no help!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I bought 6 cream legbar hens about two and a half years ago, one died within weeks and then another and then another, the remaining three are (touch wood) fit and healthy. I wouldn't say they are particularly skittish, and none of them have every gone broody, they lay well and their yolks are much bigger for the size of egg than my welsummers. From my experience though I can't say they are illness/disease free and they are apparently very prone to Mareks. We've also since got a Legbar cockerel who follows me round with the dogs when I do my rounds and have just had our first sucessful hatch of 9 legbar chicks, which is more than I can say for the bought in legbar eggs we've tried in the past. Don't have much experience of Vorwerks, I did want them originally but my husband overruled me and we went for the Welsummers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie&Moose Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 We have a Vorwerk. She's beautiful, gobby and has a turn of speed that could give a whippet a run for its money She's not the best layer - but I think that's just her - but when she does grace us with beautiful white eggs early in the season they are very lovely. She's an excellent flier if I've forgotten to reclip her wing after she's moulted and a devil to catch, but she's friendly, cheeky and will happily stand on my feet dodging the garden fork as I'm working in the garden. We're all attached to Delilah and I'd happily have more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beauty chicks Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 My cream legbar is the noisiest chicken ever we call her Miley after Miley Cyrus ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 Decision made ! We went to Warwickshire Chicken Coop yesterday and came home with these 13 week old Cream legbars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Nice! Congrats with these cuties! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Hooray! I'm though - they're next on my list (but I need to move house to somewhere with a bigger garden first). Lovely girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted July 6, 2014 Share Posted July 6, 2014 Ah they are lovely. Just think of all those blue eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Such cute babies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Very sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
