The Legbar is a rare British auto-sexing breed of chicken. It was created in the early twentieth century by Reginald Crundall Punnett and Michael Pease at the Genetical Institute of Cambridge University. They cross-bred American barred Plymouth Rock birds with brown Leghorns and created the gold and silver colour varieties. Pease created a cream Legbar by cross-breeding these with white Leghorns; later crossing with Araucanas caused this to have a crest and to lay blue or blue-green eggs.
Legbars thrive in typical farm environments and are well-suited to free-range systems. They are adaptable to a variety of climates but prefer temperate conditions. The breed was developed in the United Kingdom and is primarily found in small flocks kept by enthusiasts and small-scale farmers.
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 4/5
The Legbar is known for its auto-sexing capability, making it easy to distinguish males from females at a young age. This breed is particularly valued for its unique egg color, offering blue or blue-green eggs. The Legbar's genetic history includes contributions from Araucanas, which give it its crested head and distinctive egg color.
A cream hen
A 7-week-old cream pullet