[Jane-M]

I got two cream legbar hens a few weeks ago. The were advertised as being two years old and only cost me a couple of quid. One of them has a fine floppy comb and dashing crest. The other has a small single comb, tiny crest and, unlike the other,  her ear lobes are not very large or very white. I assumed when I got them home that one was not a thoroughbred, but it matters not as they are only for the fun of blue eggs.

Now, three weeks later, she seems to be getting a bigger comb. Has the young chap given me a young bird in error? Would the fabulous floppy comb develop later if she is young? Ought I to contact him and offer him a bit more money if she turns out to be younger? My only experience is with hybrid birds.

They both have pale legs but neither bird is laying, but then it is December and the "floppy" one is moulting.

[Bodger]

The state of a chickens comb is an indicator as to whether or not the hen is in laying condition. As they commences to lay, its comb often gets bigger and redder in colour.
As to Legbars, they are a hybrid or made up bird and so there will be a lot of variation between birds.

[Jane-M]

Would her comb shrink down when she was off lay and then come back again? And would her eye lobes change or vary their size and colour?

[Jane-M]

Whoop! ear lobes not eye lobes of course  :oops:

[Bodger]

Yup :thumright:

[mumsy]

Could you post a piccy? here is my cream legbar when she came into lay
last April
Her comb has grown since

[kimT]

This is my CL hen with a red floppy comb.

[Jane-M]

Hi Mumsy and KimT - I will try and get a piccy in the morning though have no idea how to inlcude it in a message. Your pics are lovely.

As I said, neither of mine are laying right now so combs are pale, but one has a lovely big floppy comb and the other has an ordinary single, but it does seem bigger now than it was three weeks ago! I shall watch its progress with interest.

[Jane-M]

Mumsy - did your girl grow a big floppy comb eventually?

[mumsy]

No, its not as big as Kim's lady, not floppy at all, more like a mohican :shock:  She doesn't have long wattles either,  Will have to take another piccy, she has just finished moulting & needs to show off her lovely new colouring   However, her comb is quite pale at the mo because of the moult.

[Evansent]

just a quick, slightly related question....what colour are your legbars earlobes?  I am thinking that my hybrid hen, may be more legbar than originally thought.

Thanks
C X

[mumsy]

They are white !!

[Evansent]

Thank you, My bird has green/blue ones.  Maybe she is a funny mix after all!!!

C X

[babe]

my cream legbar has the prettiest of blue ears. almost metallic looking

[Jane-M]

EGGY! Well done Bodger. Her comb has continued its return to glory and the first blue egg arrived yesterday. She does not have a dashing floppy affair, but a very fine comb nevertheless!