(This is from our archives, but we are leaving it up for informational purposes… enjoy reading, but we are not currently raising this lovely breed.)
They’re back… Isbar chickens at Sunbird Farms
It’s been awhile, but we are excited to announce that we have Isbar (aka Silverudd’s Blue) chickens at Sunbird Farms. A delightfully thrifty forager, these hardy chickens will fill your fridge with beautiful blue-green eggs. Hatching eggs are available in early spring, chicks to follow.
Creating the Isbar (Silverudd’s Blue)
The Isbar (pronounced: “ice-bar”) was created by Martin Silverudd in Sweden, around the 1980’s. Actually, the Isbar was the name given to a breed created earlier than what we’ve come to know as the Isbar in the US, but we will leave that for later. Today they are known as Silverudd’s Blue (SB).
During the 1950-60’s, Siverudd created a number of interesting breeds. Perhaps the most successful was the Fifty-five Flowery Hen, a breed used in commercial egg flocks in Sweden for decades. However, it was Silverudd’s desire to create an auto-sexing bird that would lay a large number of uniquely colored eggs. While the FF accomplished the desired quantity of eggs and the benefits of auto-sexing, it did not lay a unique egg color. It was the Isbar that most closely accomplished that dream. As a tribute to Silverudd, the breed was recently renamed “Silverudd’s Blue” in honor of his efforts.
The Details
Strikingly colored in dark blue and with shimmering metallic hackles, the rooster is a treasure to behold. As with all “blue” chickens, our Isbars will come in Blue, Black and Splash. In addition to their good looks, hens lay an egg that is as unique as the man who created them: a khaki, sometimes speckled, green delight. No doubt Dr. Seuss would be pleased.
The Isbar is primarily a laying breed, efficient and low-maintenance:
- Rooster: 5-5.5lbs.
- Hen: 3-3.5lbs.
- Eggs: Khaki Green to green/blue; 50-60g
- Comb: Single
- Skin color: White
- Origin: Sweden
- Laying: 150-200/yr
We’ve raised Silverudd’s Blues here at Sunbird Farms for years and they are among the most thrifty and most prolific of all our layers. Our current birds are directly from Greenfire’s 2013 import. For more info, email us: info@sunbirdfarms.com