Silver Sussex's legs, CLegbar laying age.....!

[valeriebutterley]

Hello all, feel as if I've been hibernating, the sultry weather really gets to me.
Just a few answers if possible, please, from anyone who knows.
1. Should a Silver Sussex's legs be black? - I suspect not.
2. At about what age does a C Legbar start laying? she is 21 weeks old, my hatchling, but no blue egg. I'm hoping she is just a slow starter, she is a very pretty, skittish little girl, who up close and personal gets called "my little raptor" - she does resemble one!.
I seem to remember that they can be late starters, or is it possible she is laying a cream or brownish egg?. She is purebred, and a couple of visitors have said what a lovely example, so I am assuming she is purebred, looks exactly like every other CL. Bright yellow legs in her case, slim and dainty.
3. I have hatched 3 purebred RIRs, one of which is pure white, or rather creamy white.
I'm getting a bit fed up with ebay eggs, fertility, some really sadly deformed chicks, wrong breeds, sickly chicks.
I always used to blame myself, but have realized fertility (or lack of it) is usually down to parent birds, I'm sure this is right as I have just raised 6 stunning Pekins, now 13 weeks, Millefleur and blue Millefleur, from 6 eggs sent by total snail mail.
I try to stick to 100% sellers if possible, what does everyone else do?
4. Early in the year about Easter, I bought some bantam hybrid eggs from purebred parent birds, from a lovely water garden, where the hens free range over acres, 7 hatched, all hybrid, and all the most perfect little birds, so lovely, I'm keeping the girls, as my daughter is not yet ready to receive her darlings! They are mostly Silkie hybrids, but lovely in looks and temperament and colour.
All for now, folks, I really would appreciate any input, many thanks.

 

[Marigold]

I was interested in 1,3 and 4, but have no answers except possibly to 2. I wouldn't worry about your CLB not laying yet, I would imagine 21 weeks is still rather young for this to be likely. I think mine started at about 23 weeks, and up to 26+ would be normal I imagine.
I'm glad so many if your hatches have been so successful,this year, Val.

 

[chrismahon]

Similar reply to Marigold. 1 -breed club will know. 2-all ours were over 26 weeks. 3-answered your own question there, dodgy eggs "I'm surprised anyone still buys eBay eggs" I said on another forum. 4 -good parents, as you saw. As I have said before I recommend before buying eggs you see the parents and the conditions they are kept under.

Enjoy the weather. Christmas isn't that far away.

 

[foxy]

In answer to a couple of questions, pure breed sussex should have a white or light leg (not yellow, willow,slate or black) I would expect your CLB to come into lay anywhere between 24 - 28 weeks old, of course this depends on the strain too, some strains are better egg layers than others and good CLB are notoriously difficult to come by. Look for signs such as a reddened face and also the pelvic bones on either side of the vent become wider and more flexible.

Buying from ebay can be an minefield! often the breeder has no knowledge of the history of their breeding stock, so inherent in their flock are genetic faults. Health of the parent stock is paramount, good strong "older" stock is important. Most experienced breeders only breed from older stock to iron out any dormant disease or inherited weakness.

Interestingly though a nice mixed flock of mixed breeds can often give rise to "accidents" and I have found that the genetic diversity of such cross-breeds leads to practically bomb-proof chickens! I have 2 of these this year, the strangest looking things crossed between a salmon pekin and a silke! 07