Iowa Blue History - Summary

Origin of the Breed

The originator of the breed was a gentleman by the name of John Logsdon, from near Decorah, Iowa.  The origins of the breed have been shrouded in mystery, with varying accounts of the true original cross.  From an article in the Decorah Public Opinion, "The breed is the result of work begun by Lodgson of Canoe Township 25 years ago.  The first year [John Logsdon] mated a Chinese pheasant cock with a Black Minorca hen and Rhode Island hen.  He raised only eight birds from those matings - four pullets and four roosters.  The next year he mated what he regarded as the best rooster with the four hens and continued in that manner [...].  Logsdon picked the Black Minorca to start because that breed lays the largest eggs of any breed and the Rhode Island Red because it was, in his opinion, the leading breed of its type.  The cock pheasant was chosen because of its hardiness and ability to stand both cold and heat."  Logsdon's wife recounted to Ransome Bolson that a White Rock hen hatched out a nest under a building and brought out a clutch of chicks like no one had ever seen, resembling pheasant chicks and rumored to be sired by a pheasant.

Summary of Breed Conservation Activists on Iowa Blue Type

Through conversations, written documentation, and photographs from the Breed Conservation Activists (except Steve and Bobby Lewis), as well as from one of the Remnant Flock Owners (Michael Moore), we have gained insight into the breed’s original appearance and characteristics. 

General Consensus According to the BCA (Breed Conservation Activists):

  • The preferred chick down was a solid chestnut brown, but other accepted colors included; brown mottled (from light to heavy mottling (the lighter mottling preferred)), and some chicks that were colored like pheasants.  None of the original activists recalled hatching out a black colored chick until after the introduction of outside breeds.  It was mentioned that the original chicks in addition to silvery brown down had willow legs and a white stripe down the middle toenail, which was unusual.
  • The preferred cock color was a silver penciled type with a thick, striking “mane” of silver. The silver color started at the head and continued down the back onto the lesser sickles, with the remainder of the body being black except for the chest.  On the chest was found white markings that ranged from light stippling to complete lacing.  Occasionally a cock could be found that included some dark stippling amongst the white markings. The tail possessed a blue sheen. Eyes were dark, legs reported to be willow or slate, though slate preferred.
  • The hen was a silver penciled color that was not double laced. Her head was marked heavily with white (like the male) with the remainder of her body colored a grey stippling.  She was a blue-grey color overall when viewed from a distance.  As with the breast on the male, these stippling markings ranged from a stippled to laced pattern.  Most common was a hen that started out laced on the breast and slowly the lacing became stippled as it reached the ends of her tail.  Eyes were dark, legs willow or slate, though slate preferred.
  • Body had a distinct type that resembled a brick shape, although some possessed a semi-upright stature. Tail was often described as being jaunty and was never long or flowing.  Although a dual purpose bird, some members of the BCA, as well as Mr. Moore, claimed they didn’t meet the requirements for the meat side of the dual purpose, possibly due to inbreeding and loss of vigor in the later years. The hens laid a small-medium sized, light brown egg. 
  • Active foragers.  Cocks possessed an outgoing and assertive personality.
A detailed history of the Iowa Blue including interviews, photographs, and articles is found in the Members Only section of this website for club members:

IBCC Historical ArchiveIBCC Modern Archive