Cream Legbar Chicks

Valley Hatchery’s Cream Legbar Chicks are a delightful addition to any poultry enthusiast’s collection. These charming birds, renowned for their prolific egg-laying abilities, offer a bounty of 180-200 medium to large eggs annually. Their eggs are not just plentiful but also uniquely colored, ranging from a beautiful sky blue to a light green hue. These active birds, with roosters weighing around 6lbs and hens about 5lbs, are perfect for those seeking a reliable source of eggs. Hailing from Britain, the Cream Legbar Chicken stands out as a rare gem in the poultry world. This distinctive breed came to life in the early 20th century, thanks to the innovative breeding efforts of Reginald Crundall Punnett and Michael Pease at the Genetical Institute of Cambridge University. Their pioneering work involved cross-breeding the Gold Legbar with White Leghorn and creme-colored Araucanas chickens. This blend not only infused the breed with its signature blue eggs and crested head but also endowed it with a unique genetic trait – the ability to sex chicks at birth based on their down color and pattern. Despite a period of decline in the 1970s, when blue eggs fell out of favor, the Crested Cream Legbar has stood the test of time, thanks to its captivating features and robust nature. In terms of appearance, the Cream Legbar Chicken is a sight to behold. The males flaunt cream barred neck hackles, with saddle hackles that are cream barred, dark grey, and tipped with cream. Their backs and shoulders display a similar cream and dark grey barring, complementing the dark grey barred primaries and secondaries of the wings, which are accented with cream tips. The females, on the other hand, exhibit a more subtle beauty with softly barred cream neck hackles and an almost salmon-colored breast. Their bodies are adorned in silver-grey with broad barring, while their wings are speckled with grey and their tails showcase a silvery grey with light barring. One of the Cream Legbar’s most notable traits is its autosexing capability, a rare characteristic that allows for immediate sex identification of chicks. The males are distinguished by a pale dot on their head and minimal eye streaks, while the females feature a dark brown to black stripe extending from the top of the head down the body. Even as day-old chicks, they begin to develop a tiny crest on their heads, adding to their allure. In addition to their stunning appearance and unique egg color, Cream Legbar Chicks are celebrated for their resilience and personality. They are known for their alertness, strength, and adeptness at evading predators, making them a hardy choice for varying climates. Both cold and heat tolerant, these birds possess an active, curious, and endearing demeanor, making them a joy to raise and observe. Learn more about this breed, watch this video by ‘Livestock Breeds’: