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Cream Legbar

Cream Legbar

Standard, Auto-Sexing, UK import and AU line

 
  • Originated from UK
  • Mature weight is under 2.3 – 3.2kg
  • Fast growing, early maturing – first egg around 6 months
  • Large – Extra large sized pastel blue coloured eggs, expected to lay around 200 –220 per year.
  • Broodiness – Low
  • Maintenance – Low
Cream Crested Legbar is a unique and visually striking breed of chicken known for its distinctive appearance and colorful eggs. Originating in Britain, this breed is prized for its beauty, friendly temperament, and excellent egg-laying capabilities.

Cream Legbar is an autosexing chicken breed that was developed in the early 20th century at the University of Cambridge in England. Barred Plymouth Rock was chosen for its barring gene, which is crucial for the autosexing characteristic, and the Brown Leghorn was selected for its good egg-laying abilities and hardiness. Araucana genetic was introduced into the mix for their *blue egg laying trait and crest. (Please see Blue egg genetic note below.)

Cream Legbars are considered autosexing, meaning you can reliably determine the sex of the chicks at hatch based on their coloration. In this breed, male and female chicks exhibit distinct markings that allow for easy sexing. However the accuracy of auto sexing quality can heavily rely on the quality of the line. They are known for their friendly and sociable nature. They are active birds that enjoy foraging and exploring their surroundings, making them well-suited for free-range environments. They are also relatively docile and easy to handle, making them a favorite among backyard poultry enthusiasts and small-scale farmers. While they generally tolerate various temperatures, they are less adept at coping with cold compared to heat. Being a lightweight and lean breed, they benefit from coops with sheltered areas during harsh weather conditions. They typically exhibit non-aggressive behavior towards other breeds, making them suitable for mixed breed flocks with similar age, size, and temperaments. However, their tendency to be flighty may necessitate the use of high fences.

Our Cream Legbar breeders are chosen from both import and Australian lineages. Rooster from the UK import line boast a true cream color with minimal chestnut leakage and erect comb. Hens exhibit salmon breasts with cream hackles with crests. Our chicks, with clear markings, can be easily sexed upon hatching.

Please see Legbar – Open Poultry Standard Australia for more info and breed standards.  

Cream Legbar Chicks

Cream Legbars are an auto-sexing breed, meaning chicks can be sexed upon hatch based on their color and markings.

Female Cream Legbar chicks hatch with defined eyeliner and distinct back markings. In contrast, male Cream Legbar chicks typically have a more noticeable white dot on the top of their head shortly after hatching. These visible differences make it possible to accurately sex the chicks immediately after they hatch.

Cream Legbar  : Egg colour genetic

Although all of our breeders are hatched from “blue eggs,” confirming the genetics behind this blue color takes a few generations of breeding. This is because the blue egg color is dominant over white, meaning some of our breeders may or may not carry the recessive white egg gene.

Based on our research, we believe the uncertainty surrounding egg color genetics in Legbars stems from various factors. The original UK import line included two types of Legbar: Cream and Cotswold, which were released before breeding several generations to identify any potential recessive traits. Additionally, some claim that the Australian lines had Gold Legbar (a white egg line) mixed in. Many breeders, including us, contend that the Legbar is one of those “difficult” breeds to tick all the boxes for, with many working towards meeting the Australian Poultry Standards. This complexity and ongoing effort contribute to the breed’s rarity in exhibitions.

Please note that a Legbar hatched from a blue egg can possibly produce “white eggs” if two copies of the recessive white egg gene are present. This may still occur even the birds were hatched from blue eggs parents. This is not a result of crossbreeding by us and does not reflect the visual quality of the line. This is a known issue in blue egg breeds and is more about breeders identifying and selecting carriers each season. This can happen in our line and we want to leave a clear note here so there is no misunderstanding and customers can make an informed decision accordingly. Read more about blue egg genetic (Click to view)

Related post – Cream Legbar Sexing Tips

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