Could She Be a Lavender Orpington After All?

[3KillerBs]

Sounds like a good plan. I hope you get great results.

Thanks.

It's frustrating to know that I *could* start right now because I do have an SLW laying and mating with the Blue Australorp cockerel. But she doesn't deserve to breed because she lays wonky eggs -- wrinkled, heavy with calcium deposits, etc. I'd have culled her last fall except that she's my granddaughter's favorite.

 

[JedJackson]

Thanks.

It's frustrating to know that I *could* start right now because I do have an SLW laying and mating with the Blue Australorp cockerel. But she doesn't deserve to breed because she lays wonky eggs -- wrinkled, heavy with calcium deposits, etc. I'd have culled her last fall except that she's my granddaughter's favorite.

You're smart to use only good stock as breeders.

 

[3KillerBs]

You're smart to use only good stock as breeders.

I've never bred animals before, but I have studied genetics and I know that problems can only breed problems.

 

[JedJackson]

I've never bred animals before, but I have studied genetics and I know that problems can only breed problems.

That is very true! Any undesirable trait is likely to be passed on. So you want the best birds possible for breeding purposes. Otherwise the project will never get off the ground.

 

[gimmie birdies]

If she has not laid yet she is a LO-haha. The eggs will not get big once she starts, *then she will get broody...

 

[3KillerBs]

If she has not laid yet she is a LO-haha. The eggs will not get big once she starts, *then she will get broody...

She has been laying for months and been broody once.

Unfortunately, she broke when I put her into the maternity ward. I don't know what I did wrong with that, but none of my hens will take to it. LOL

 

[3KillerBs]

That is very true! Any undesirable trait is likely to be passed on. So you want the best birds possible for breeding purposes. Otherwise the project will never get off the ground.

This is one of Popcorn's typical eggs. Sometimes they're misshapen as well as covered in calcium deposits.

 

[Sally PB]

The two Blue Australorps I got last summer have terribly shredded feathers. They also have bare backs from my roo, and no, he was not hard on them. The Jubilee Orp and three Black Australorps have very nice looking feathers.

I'm very disappointed in the quality of these birds, and certainly won't hatch any of their eggs. But one of them is my favorite girl, because of her personality.

Looking forward to seeing how your project progresses, @3KillerBs.

 

[3KillerBs]

The two Blue Australorps I got last summer have terribly shredded feathers. They also have bare backs from my roo, and no, he was not hard on them. The Jubilee Orp and three Black Australorps have very nice looking feathers.

I'm very disappointed in the quality of these birds, and certainly won't hatch any of their eggs. But one of them is my favorite girl, because of her personality.

Looking forward to seeing how your project progresses, @3KillerBs.

Surprisingly, Silver has relatively little rooster wear. She was only broody once, for about a month, IIRC.

 

[JedJackson]

This is one of Popcorn's typical eggs. Sometimes they're misshapen as well as covered in calcium deposits.

View attachment 3208378

Yeah that isn't something that you want to pass on in offspring. I'm sure they are still perfectly good for eating, though.