You're right Lynne, my birds came from Europe, not from England, and were bred to the British Standard. The Orps in Europe, and even in the USSR, are very different from the currently winning English birds. Many of the older British breeders are saying that the judges are going too far with placing the Cochiny birds. Those birds are monuments to their owners' conditioning efforts, but are not a practical dual purpose bird. They certainly don't lay very well , and I can't imagine that they could function on the moors ranging , and raising chicks , as Johnn's do.
You used the word "cobby" in your description of an Orp. We are both horse people, but I'll bet that alot of people have no idea of what it means. Since this a learning thread, I'll explain it.
A cob is a horse ridden by older ladies and gentlemen, who is stocky, and heavier built than a Thorougbred horse. The theory being that the heavier built Cob could carry the weight of heavy gents and dowagers without the temperament and height of the Thoroughbred. Although much more heavily built, a cob must have refinement, and not resemble a draft horse.The ones I rode in England years ago had quality , with attractive heads, and could gallop and jump with the best of them.
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