Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[fowlman01]

I doubt that there are any real Orloffs here in the US.

Here is the info I have on them and this may have come from you Chris......I can't remember. I believe the Orloff that was in the SOP had a different comb, but I have to do some research to verify that.

Russians (the old APA standard)

Disqualifications

Combs other than rose; decidedly wry tails; crooked backs; pure white in any part of the plumage extending over one-half of an inch, or two or more feathers tipped or edged with positive white.

Standard Weights

Cock: 8 1/2 lbs
Cockerel: 7 1/2 lbs
Hen: 6 1/2 lbs
Pullet: 5 1/2 lbs

The Male

HEAD: Of good size and well formed:
BEAK: short, stout, well curved, and black or dark horn color
EYES, full, prominent, bright, bay or dark bay
FACE, red

COMB: Rose, narrow at the rear, without spike, and bright red.

WATTLES, EAR-LOBES AND BEARD:
WATTLES: long, pendant, well rounded, and bright red
EAR-LOBES: of medium size and bright red
BEARD: full, heavy under the beak, extending around in a curve to the back of the eyes

NECK: Of medium length, well arched, with hackle descending well upon the shoulders

BACK: Broad and tapering to the tail
SADDLE FEATHERS: abundant

BREAST: Round and full

BODY AND FLUFF:
BODY: broad and compact
FLUFF: moderately full

WINGS: Of medium size and well folded

TAIL: Of medium size, carried in an erect position
SICKLE FEATHERS: rather short

LEGS AND TOES:
THIGHS: of medium length and strong
SHANKS: of medium length, strong, and in color dark lead
TOES: the same as shanks in color

COLOR OF PLUMAGE: Green, glossy black throughout, except fluff and primaries and secondaries of the wings, which are black.

The Female

HEAD: Of medium size and well formed
BEAK: short, stout, well curved, and black or dark horn color
EYES: full, prominent, bright, bay or dark bay
FACE, red

COMB: Rose, similar to that of the male, but smaller, and bright red

WATTLES, EAR-LOBES AND BEARD:
WATTLES: small, well rounded, and bright red
EAR-LOBES: of medium size and bright red
BEARD: full on the throat, and extending around in a curve to the hackle

NECK: Of medium length, slightly arched, with full hackle

BACK: Moderately broad, and tapering to the tail

BREAST: Round and full

BODY AND FLUFF:
BODY: rather broad and compact
FLUFF: moderately full

WINGS: Of medium size and well folded

TAIL: Of medium size and moderately erect

LEGS AND TOES:
THIGHS: of medium length and strong
SHANKS: of medium length, strong, and in color dark lead
TOES: the same as shanks in color

COLOR OF PLUMAGE: Glossy black, with more or less green lustre, throughout, except fluff and primaries and secondaries of the wings, which are black.

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/Orloffs/Orl_CraigR.html

History
The Orloff has never been popular in this country, possibly because the standard is for a gloomy and vindictive expression. However they are a good hardy breed that sometimes take to laying in the winter months which makes them very useful. Although they are officially classed as originating from Russia there is much to indicate they originated in Persia (Iran) in the Gilan Province area where it was known as the Chilianskaia, and were then developed in Russia and named after Count Orloff Techmanski before coming to Britain in the 1920's. Probable breeds used in their makeup include the Malay or Belgian game and a bearded European Spangled breed.
Purpose-Dual
Classification-Heavy / Rare
Origin-Russia
Egg Color-Tinted
Egg Numbers-160 per annum
http://www.poultrypages.com/orloff.html

Feathersite has pics of Spangled, Cuckoo, Mahagony, White and Black Orloffs
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/Orloffs/BRKOrloff.html

This site has a chart of rare breeds, links and their basic characteristics including the Orloff
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html​

There are some other interesting links and more reading on there, too.

Walt

 

[Lacy Blues]

They aren't in the APA because their number dropped so low. They are so critically few in the EU and US that is getting tough to find them at all. I am part of a grassroots group of breeders and keepers who are doing what we can to change all this. I come in here to talk about some breeds because I know that in here are folks who are dedicated and learned in ways that some of the new, younger folks or those accustomed to fads aren't. My avatar is a joke and I don't know if anyone gets. Put plainly, I come here to get information or means to getting information that might not be 'out there.'

I have three Orloffs and will have more this fall when a nice man who has had them for 10 years is actually transporting them to me. There are three keepers here in Maine, although one person only keeps hers as pets and doesn't breed. The other farm keeps just a few and I might get one of their cockerels. I just don't know. I would like to do more for the breed but the going is slow and Bob's advice to be patient is one of real worth. Of the three I have here only two are worthy of breeding, hence the influx. By taking his, I'm building my flock, and I am also making room for him to continue to breed.

There is some discussion-- usually started by me, as to how to get blacks. They really are so close to extinction its impossible to find them. I have thought heavily about crossing them back to the (creepy looking) Malay, which it is speculated they have in their lineage. I think this would improve their tall raptor bodies and if I was to breed the darkest Mahogany Orloffs I could find with as dark a Malay as I can find it might be a start... but this is where you enlighten me. I know of only two or three good keepers and breeders. Even some of the sanctuaries have birds with way too much white.

If she has any worth getting, maybe you could offer money for one or two? Explain to her how rare they are and how you're trying to help. If they're that rare, then you need any bird you can get your hands on and just breed and cull.

 

[ashandvine]

If she has any worth getting, maybe you could offer money for one or two? Explain to her how rare they are and how you're trying to help. If they're that rare, then you need any bird you can get your hands on and just breed and cull.

I did get in touch with her and asked. I have not had any response so it is my assumption that by telling me hers were her pets that she felt the conversation was closed. The other folks in Maine are at the other end of this large state but are willing to sell me a cockerel or two and maybe more. They keep a lot of heritage and rare breeds there, Orloffs and Dorkings among them. The man transporting the Orloffs is only asking gas. Its my hope to have some good breeding advice between this thread, the Orloff one and a few out of country sites.

 

[Chris09]

Walt,
I agree I doubt there are any real Orloffs in the U.S. also.
The info on the Russians may be from me. Not positive, I read and save so much poultry stuff I forget what I have at times.

Chris

 

[Lacy Blues]

Walt,

You are pretty involved in the PPBA. I was thinking that the Orloff I had seen was at the PPBA show some years ago. It would definitely be within the last ten years. If they keep all their records all they would have to do would be a search of the entries. Perhaps we could find some more birds for ashandvine?

Edited to say: they may not be the very best but she needs to be able to start somewhere.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Ashandvine

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/688359/blue-isbar-chicks-and-started-birds-npip

I did a search for Russian Orloffs in the archives of birds for sale. This is the first one that came up and the post is only about a week old. The mention blue isbar in the address but in their signature, the say the have the orloffs as well.

 

[Chris09]

The thing is what we see today are either Russians or something close to it. The old "true" Orloff, Russian Orloff or even a Chlianskaia was a powerfully build bird that looked a lot like a Malay. Today's Russians don't look anything like a Malay nor do they look all that powerful.

.

Chris

 

[fowlman01]

Walt,

You are pretty involved in the PPBA. I was thinking that the Orloff I had seen was at the PPBA show some years ago. It would definitely be within the last ten years. If they keep all their records all they would have to do would be a search of the entries. Perhaps we could find some more birds for ashandvine?

Edited to say: they may not be the very best but she needs to be able to start somewhere.

If I had a year I would ask, but I can't ask them to search several years. That is such a big show there are all kinds of breeds entered there but it doesn't mean they are representative of the breed. We just record the names they are entered under, there is no way to know if it was even close to an Orloff. If we could find it, you could get a name and maybe contact info though. Let me know if you can narrow that down.

Walt

 

[Lacy Blues]

Rare Feathers Farm is proud to offer:

6+ Hatching eggs from my rare breeds flock. These eggs are from my standard (large fowl) Spangled Russian Orloff pen. These are QUALITY birds from three select lines, combined into one breeding program (mine!) None of my birds have come from hatcheries. I do show my birds whenever possible. None of the birds I use for breeding are not (or could not) be show birds. I don't believe in reproducing anything but the best.

These birds have very friendly, relatively quiet and have funny temperaments. They are extremely cold hardy and did well last year when we had over a week of 100+ degrees. They are a joy to have around and the hens lay VERY large, brown eggs.

I will ship the eggs as close to the beginning of the week as possible (I ship on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & sometimes, on Thursdays) so they will not sit at the post office over the weekend. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me, I will be more than happy to answer you!

Ok, these don't look like Malays to me but they're nice. Thought maybe I'd just show them and see what ashandvine thought of them. I don't know anything about the breed. I took out all the sale information but left the original poster's info at the top so she could search on BYC to find him. This ad was in the 24 hour auction thread archives.

 

[Lacy Blues]

If I had a year I would ask, but I can't ask them to search several years. That is such a big show there are all kinds of breeds entered there but it doesn't mean they are representative of the breed. We just record the names they are entered under, there is no way to know if it was even close to an Orloff. If we could find it, you could get a name and maybe contact info though. Let me know if you can narrow that down.

Walt

It was worth a try. I just thought maybe they might have records on the computer. I have NO idea what year it was. Thanks anyway.