Calico Orpington

[Sally PB]

I have a buff roo and a Jubilee pullet... Hmmm... This sounds like an interesting project for next spring (and beyond, and beyond).

 

[FiveMileCreek]

Yes breed jubilee to buff.
The pics look like they're basically jubilees without the mahogany.
The offspring will have one copy of mahogany so they will be darker then the buff color you want and only one copy of mottling so they won't be mottled. They'll also have one copy of dark tail so they'll have black tails but not fully black as the jubilee.
Cross those offspring together. You'll want to keep chicks without mahogany. They'll be easy to tell because they'll be buff and the ones that get one or two copies will be reddish and red.
Of course you'll want two copies of mottling and thats easy because those will show mottling.
You also want the black tails probably so keep and breed towards the ones with the most black tails or if you don't want black tails but buff tails breed that direction.
Calicos are supposed to have access white so breed the ones with the most white.
So hatch a ton of chicks and hope you get a few that have all the genes you need to line up and the ones you don't not show up.
If thats hard to follow let me know.

Edit to add. What i called black tail is db. It takes the black from tail so buff is buff instead of buff Columbian. You'll be getting rid of that gene from the buff. And losing the mahogany from the jubilee.

Does it have to be jubilee or can speckled Sussex work as well?

 

[12bairds]

I have always been interested in genetics, and have bred cattle and dogs professionally. But now I have a bunch of chickens, and I'm curious about what I can do. I have lavender, chocolate and jubilee orpingtons right now. I had always assumed that the various colors were essentially like breeds. But then I ran across this discussion of Calico Orpingtons, and talk of how to cross various colors to get them. Can I use my orpingtons to create other color combinations? What are the rules for various color varieties? Which roosters should I save to create desirable colors, and how can I predict the results? So many questions. I'm looking forward to whatever wisdom I can gain.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I have always been interested in genetics, and have bred cattle and dogs professionally. But now I have a bunch of chickens, and I'm curious about what I can do. I have lavender, chocolate and jubilee orpingtons right now. I had always assumed that the various colors were essentially like breeds. But then I ran across this discussion of Calico Orpingtons, and talk of how to cross various colors to get them. Can I use my orpingtons to create other color combinations? What are the rules for various color varieties? Which roosters should I save to create desirable colors, and how can I predict the results? So many questions. I'm looking forward to whatever wisdom I can gain.

Orpingtons are your breed. Lavender, chocolate and Jubilee are varieties of that breed. The different colors and patterns are just varieties. Different sets of genes make different varieties.
I create different varieties of Leghorns by crossing varieties. Color/pattern genes are the same across all breeds. It's best to stick within the same breed when working on different varieties.
Simple reason for that is colors/patterns can be a complex combination of genes.
you can cross breeds to bring in colors/patterns that aren't available within your breed but that's also bringing in a ton of.other genes you'll have to breed out. Skin color, egg shell, color, comb type, size, shape, etc etc etc. That'll make things super.complicated in a hurry. Not for the beginner IMO.
Chicken genetics are about 100 Xs more complicated then dogs and I don't know cattle but would guarantee it's the same.
There's so many genes with poultry it's overwhelming. I've been in the game for a long time and the more I learn the more I understand I'll never know it all in a lifetime
The thing about all varieties being the same across all the breeds (although to complicate things they're not always called the same thing) is that you can look at other breeds to get ideas on different varieties that may give you ideas of some you'd like in your breed.
Problem is you can only work with what your breed has unless you want to cross breeds which again is a whole next level.
Orpingtons have quite a few varieties and new project varieties being worked on.
You have to learn the genetics and it's piece by piece to know what a variety has and what you can make by crossing to another variety. Some varieties are complex and some not as much. It's a pandoras box once you open it.
When I switched to Leghorns I collected every variety I could find and I pretty much already knew each ones genes but that's what you'll have to learn.
Take each variety and learn and breakdown all there color/pattern genes. Then you can start getting ideas. I have a gift for seeing possibilities and knew enough about different genes that it comes easier for me then for most and to be brand new I can't imagine.
I haven't read this thread so idk what's been covered but you can always ask questions in this section of the forum and there's several members here that will help.
Many are quite happy to help newbies so don't be afraid to ask lots of questions.

 

[Djones611]

Would anyone happen to know how to make calico colored orpingtons? I use to have a couple but they have been taken by a fox. The breeder I got them from doesn’t breed chickens anymore and I can’t find them so was going to try and make them. I’ve never done breeding before so i’m new to this prospect. Maybe a jubilee color crossed with buff or white orpington? Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

You would use a jubilee Orpington roo over a buff Orpington hen to get Calico Orpingtons.

 

[Djones611]

Yes breed jubilee to buff.
The pics look like they're basically jubilees without the mahogany.
The offspring will have one copy of mahogany so they will be darker then the buff color you want and only one copy of mottling so they won't be mottled. They'll also have one copy of dark tail so they'll have black tails but not fully black as the jubilee.
Cross those offspring together. You'll want to keep chicks without mahogany. They'll be easy to tell because they'll be buff and the ones that get one or two copies will be reddish and red.
Of course you'll want two copies of mottling and thats easy because those will show mottling.
You also want the black tails probably so keep and breed towards the ones with the most black tails or if you don't want black tails but buff tails breed that direction.
Calicos are supposed to have access white so breed the ones with the most white.
So hatch a ton of chicks and hope you get a few that have all the genes you need to line up and the ones you don't not show up.
If thats hard to follow let me know.

Edit to add. What i called black tail is db. It takes the black from tail so buff is buff instead of buff Columbian. You'll be getting rid of that gene from the buff. And losing the mahogany from the jubilee.

I breed all the colors of english Orpingtons.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I breed all the colors of english Orpingtons.

OK

 

[Djones611]

I sent them an email through their website but I think they must have stopped using it when they stopped their chicken business

I breed Calico English Orpingtons. I have chicks and hatching eggs available on ebay under Lakelife611.
In order to get a Calico, you would need to breed a jubilee English Orpington to a buff Orpington.