Russian Orloff Thread

[WhiteLeghorn2]

Hi, I saw that someone on eBay was selling Russian Orloff fertile eggs. He said they're an extremely rare breed and are good egg layers. Does anyone have experience with these? He says since the parents were imported from another country that they are more like a wild breed. I'm just looking forward to learning about them, as I haven't seen much on BYC about them. If possible, shares some photos of your Orloffs, and tell a little about them. Enjoy!

Photo is from the seller and it is one of his hens.
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[donrae]

Thank you, however I am not interested in buying any. I just hadn't heard of them before and just wanted to learn a little bit about them. Thank you!

Okay, that just had me a little worried.

Orloffs are on my list of birds to get---you know, when I win that Powerball and have hundreds of acres of chickens and my life is just perfect. Sigh.

 

[Elizabethy27]

Here is a picture of one of our Spangled Russian Orloff Rooster, the other roo is mahogany, he is honestly one of the most devoted to his hens, he even sleeps close with them and sometimes lays down with them while the lay. He has never been aggressive towards adults but when he was younger he did flog my toddler a time or two. He seems to have grown out of it and hasn't ever done it again. We have two hens who only stay with the Russian Orloff rooster. They aren't great layers, their production really slacks off after they turn over a year old and they don't lay large eggs. However they are good forages, cold hardy, friendly and inquisitive, they stick around home and mind fences, they also do not eat he amount of feed other breeds do.They do make some very interesting and amusing sounds for chickens though, my daughter calls them seagull eagles because they can make these odd calls that sound like a combination of both birds screeching at once We kept the breed around because we found crossing them with some of the heavier breeds makes some nice sized, fast growing and very ranging butcher birds. One of his offspring was a cross between him and a light Brahma, it has his exact body shape and size but with the coloring of a light Brahma and feathered legs. We kept him around because he was just too cool to put in the freezer. We got our's from Privett Hatchery but they no longer sell them. Oddly enough we picked these chickens for my parents as a sort of a joke as my maiden name is Ortloff.

 

[CluckAttack]

A teeny tiny heart gift from one of my Orloffs

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I have a Russian Orloff (did have more but now just 1). they aren't wild or at least not here anyways. they are a rare breed, hard to find them outside of a few hatcheries. I only know of a few breeders. Mines eggs taste no different than any of my others eggs do.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They're definitely rare in the US. Russian Orloffs are one of the most cold hardy breeds. They don't fare well in heat. They're beautiful birds. They were developed for meat and are poor layers.
The only thing that would make one think they were wild is that they avoid human contact. Otherwise they are docile and are good with confinement.
The only impact on egg flavor is diet. Breed has nothing to do with the taste of eggs only the shell color.

 

[Percheron chick]

Mine are middle of the road layers. Not the best. They are also later than most to start. I find them to be naturally inquisitive so more PIA under your feet constantly.

 

[Eggcessive]

There is a Russian Orloff thread on BYC. I used to follow it because I wanted some of that breed. RareFeathersFarm sells hatching eggs on here in spring/summer and MississippiFarmBoy on BYC had them. I don't think they are one of the best layers after the first year, but they are endangered and very beautiful, docile birds. Ideal Poultry sells spangled russian orloffs in spring through July.

 

[Percheron chick]

These are my $3 Privett pullets. Olga

Natasha

 

[Rekon]

Well, now we have the rooster and hen we ordered, so our Orloff flock is up to 4. They share their coop with 2 Seramas, a bantam White Faced Black Spanish, a black Silkie, and an injured young Orpington (because even the Silkies and Polish picked on her). Everyone seems to be getting along well.