a ? about blue orpingtons

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
Just so you know this is some sort of accepted explanation for their origins.
Here is an excerpt from "The Orpington Fowl"
... " The Blue Orpington was a late comer on the scene being introduced in 1908 (after Wm Cook's death) and was an immediate success. Not only was it beautiful, but becaues it was produced from Black bred with White, the egg laying potential was greater than the Blacks. "

but this is NO Reason to start over again from 1908 and HOPE HOPE HOPE to hatch out some mutant color cross to get blue. These guys hatched THOUSANDS, and clearly at some point a mutant popped out with the grey/blue color and they took it and ran from there.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

The Blue Orpington...
...Not only was it beautiful, but becaues it was produced from Black bred with White...

Hi! That explains that. Thanks!

Lisa​

 

[hinkjc]

The only way you would get a blue from a black X white breeding is if the white is recessive and is hiding the splash gene.

I would guess they erred back then when blue was founded and mistaken a splash for a white (perhaps thinking it was a leaky dominant white). Who knows. lol

 

[wilds of pa]

The daughter carried on the business of William Cook and Sons at Orpington House having bought out the other brothers and sisters. She continued much of her fathers work and in 1907 produced the CUCKOO and the BLUE. In 1911 the RED was also introduced.

 

[Krys109uk]

"The Orpington Fowl"
See page 59. It is pretty clear if looking at the ratios of the colours when breeding blue to blue that they are referring to splash as "white".

 

[chicken_queen_tam]

Thanks to all for the input. I'd say all are correct in " I'll just order some".

Maybe someone on BYC will have some blue orp. chicks in spring of '10.
Thanks to everyone,
Tammy

 

[DawnSuiter]

Quote:
I got my first blues from BYC member BamaChicken, then I ordered some from Gilman Farms in Virginia. There are several on here too that have blues, and if you don't want any until next spring, then you've got just enough time to get on someones waiting list for them.

They are beautiful!!!