Blue American Orphingtons

[iajewel]

I have to agree they look like cochins only for the reason that a freind who is well known in the cochin and silkie world came over the other day and ask " Since when did you get into cochins" I told her I didn't.. look at the legs.. those are my Orps. The English birds are more "bloated" short round balls .. these as you can see by the growth of the young roo, are tall and have body mass, Im looking for an older photo of my 3yr roo.. and you can see him compared to other birds.. still looking in my files.

 

[justuschickens59]

Pretty birds - thanks for posting the pictures. If you want to see the difference in your American birds and the English type, feel free to take a look at the English thread.

Again - thanks for posting the photos.

 

[iajewel]

this was taken this past winter.. its not a good shot.. but it does show size.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

The birds next to him are all gone now.. all I have on the place is the Orps now.. however they are full grown Heritage RIRs roosters, a Cornish cross butcher hen, and an Americana hen ( always smaller)

 

[iajewel]

I have gone through the English thread, Im always game for anything Orpington. I have had them for years and years and they are my very favorite breed.

 

[justuschickens59]

I love orpingtons, too, only breed that I have. I've had both US Orps and English Orps and I just prefer the English type the best. It's all just a matter of personal taste. I think we've been calling them "English" because we have imported these directly from the UK and that makes it easier to distinguish between the Orps we have here in America versus the Orps they have in England. I think most of us Orp lovers are aware that they originated in England. I have heard people say they look like cochins...my birds don't look a thing like a cochin. As far as being short? LOL. My birds definitely are not short. I think seeing a picture of an English bird and actually seeing one in person makes a big difference. It's really hard in photos to get a true picture of how tall and big and gorgeous they really are.

Again - it's just a matter of taste.

 

[iajewel]

There are some birds on that thread, a black roo that comes to mind, that is very Cochin like.. very round.. very ... puff ball for lack of better words. To me if you want a cochin buy a cochin.. but an orp is not to be a cochin with clean legs.. if it were it would be called a clean legged cochin.

Now.. I have been at this long enough to remember a few breeding trends. I remember when they wanted larger show birds and added in the Jersey giant.. and I remember when we wanted better skirts and added in cochins. I never did. but I bought a few birds that when they arrived I ask... and that was my answer.. so is that way back in my blood.. probably. However it was the trend at the time so I think if people kept the sort of records on chickens they do on horses and dogs, you would find more then you think back there.

I just don't want my 2011 birds to look like they are a throw back from the 80s.

 

[justuschickens59]

You see Cochin, I don't - that's okay. I see big, gorgeous, majestic birds that make me smile. I am not a fan of Cochins myself, which is why I don't have them. I am a fan of English orps - which is exactly why I imported myself some. I love my big, gorgeous, fluffy butts - they make me happy and they make me smile. That's what life is all about - being happy. There are a lot of chicken breeds that I don't particularly care for, but I don't talk bad about them, I just don't buy them. That's the beauty of the chicken world - there are plenty of different breeds out there to make everybody happy.

It's all a matter of personal taste.

 

[iajewel]

I agree, thats why Baskin Robins has 31 Flavors.. not every one knows Chocolate is the only one

If everyone had the same tastes we would have one breed of chicken in one color and how boring would that be.

 

[Katy]

It's definately each to their own on what they prefer. I happen to prefer the "english" look. Even when all I had were "american" ones I culled toward the "english" look.

I don't see the resemblence at all to a cochin. They both have a lot of fluff, but to me the body type and stance is entirely different.

My "english" birds are much bigger than the american ones I've had....taller and they outweigh them too.

 

[iajewel]

BIG is something I like, and I do cull for