Silverrudd’s Blue Chicken (Isbar)

Description

The Silverrudd’s Blue chicken was developed in southern Sweden in the 1980s. The name derives from the person who developed the breed, Martin Silverrudd, and the genes that defer blue coloring to the feathers and to the eggshells. Because they combine genes for both blue eggshells and brown eggshells, Silverrudd’s Blue hens lay eggs in various shades of green, some with brown speckles.
Silverrudd’s goal was to develop a pure chicken breed with a variety of plumage colors and that consistently lays green eggs. Silverrudd bred these chickens for color variety, medium size, good egg production, and green shell color, but not to a standard body shape.
In 2011 they were first imported into the United States as Isbar (ICE-bar) chickens. A second import of Isbars occurred in 2013. Then, in 2016 the Swedish Cultural Hen Association officially renamed the breed as Silverrudd’s Blue in honor of the originator.
This breed comes in three basic colors: blue, splash, and black. Chickens with one blue gene for plumage color are blue. Those with two blue genes are splash. Those with no blue genes for plumage color are black. Roosters may have gold or silver highlights in their hackle and saddle feathers.
Silverrudd’s Blue chickens mature in 5 to 6 months. They are particularly cold hardy, and the hens continue to lay well into the winter months.
These chickens are active foragers and are alert to predators. At the same time, Silverrudd’s Blues are calm and docile around people, making them an excellent choice for the backyard flock.