Reviews by gootziecat

This breed is different from any I've ever had. They do have limitations if you are counting on them for eggs or breeding for years. They give it their best their first year and from then on, they march to a different drummer than other breeds. If you keep breeding them so that you always have first year birds, there's no problem.

They seem to withstand the cold and heat pretty well. They aren't disease proof but they aren't sickly birds either. They have the most wonderful, friendly way about them, with a different sound than most chickens. They quietly vocalize, talking to you if you bother to talk to them. They are always at the front of the door in the morning or walking towards you, greeting you cheerfully when you enter the coop. They don't seem to like being picked up but they do like attention. They are an intelligent breed.

They can be a bit pugnacious to other birds, especially bantams, that are more docile than they are, but they aren't mean. In other words, they don't go out of their way to chase another bird to be hostile or bossy, but they can keep a shy bird away from the feeder or out of the coop for a while. It can be irritating at times but it's part of what makes the breed. They enjoy being outside and foraging, although with their short legs they don't stray too far from the coop.

Considering the pullets can be decent layers their first year and the cockerels will have a meaty breast within 6 months, they are ideal for one person or a small family. They don't take up a lot of space, they aren't unruly, mean, or make a lot of noise. They can chow down pretty well the first couple of months but after that, they level out on their eating. All in all, I think this is a really great breed of bantam and one of my very favorite regardless of size.

Blue Isbars are a breed developed in the 50-60’s by a monk by the name of Martin Silverudd. He wasn’t able to complete auto sexing of this color, as planned, before he died. But even without the auto sexing, this breed developed into a good and beautiful layer. Greenfire Farm imported them in 2011 from Sweden.

Greenfire Farms first imports were reported to have immune issues, so a second group of blue Isbars was import to rectify the problem. It seems to have been quite helpful in enlarging the small gene pool. Breeders are working to keep the breed hardy and at this point, the problem is diminishing. This has been a set back to the breed, but breeders are finding Isbars are worth the effort.

Blue Isbars are a beautiful, large fowl, created by crossing Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshires, and cream Legbars. They are in the range of 5-7 pounds and come in black, blue and splash. The roosters often have a beautiful iridescent “leakage” of color in their hackles, bows, and saddle. Hens can lay upward of 200 green eggs yearly. They are the only known breed that has a single comb and lays a green egg. The color can vary from a light green to a darker, mossy, and sometimes almost a coppery green. They can darken as the hen ages as well as vary in shade from one day to the next. Some eggs even have speckles. They are medium to large in size. Hens can go broody but not exceedingly so that it’s annoying. They do well in both cold and hot weather, generally laying through all seasons, and some times through molt.

The chicks are usually quite friendly, although some report they can be skittish. Adults are calm and friendly to be around. The birds love to forage right from the start and are thrifty, easy keepers. Some breeders are proclaiming this is their favorite breed of all the breeds they raise. Indeed, they are deserving of such praise.


Pictures courtesy of J-Bar Farms.