English Silver Laced Orpingtons

[VoodooChicks]

I purchased 3 Silver Laced English Orpington chicks. They were supposed to be from diversified lines with the rooster being a direct European import. 2 died within a week. I'm not sure exactly how many days it was before they died, I would have to check back in my records. But I am positive it was less than a week. The breeder did not tell me of their replacement/refund policy (or should I say, lack thereof). I sent her videos of the second dying chick after the first silver laced died. The ones that died did not grow and never started getting ANY feathering in their wings. They simply stayed looking like chicks that had literally just hatched and dried. It was very strange. Has anyone else experienced this? The breeder has very reluctantly agreed to replace them but I have been waiting for about 6 weeks now and today was told I would have to wait another week and a half. I told her if it was more convenient for her, I would gladly accept a refund of my $120. She adamantly refused and offered to replace the chicks. I did not pester the breeder as I imagine some people may do. I expected the breeder would contact me and be honest and forth coming when my chicks were ready. After 5 weeks and not a word from the breeder I made contact inquiring about my replacements. I have had to contact her 3 times to get an answer about whether or not she had even hatched my replacements. I also had purchased Bielefelders from this breeder at the same time. 2 of those chicks died too. They all started dropping like flies. None grew. None began growing ANY feathers on their wings. Today when she told me she would meet me with my silver laced replacements I asked if she would also have my Bielefelder pullet replacement chick. She told me she had no Bielefelders, but only 2 days ago she was advertising them for sale. When I brought to her attention that I knew she had advertised them, she said they were already sold.

REALLY? So she knew she had my silvers ready but didn't save my Bielefelder pullet to complete my replacement order??? When I asked her why she didn't do this I did not get an answer. She finally agreed to fully fill my replacement order. I asked where the Bielefelder would be coming from and she said it would be coming from her. I don't know what to believe anymore. I can't make heads or tales of what she tells me.

Upon the original purchase, we met at a predetermined place that was extremely convenient for both of us. Convenient for me because it is within reasonable driving distance from my house and convenient for her because she said she travels that way every other week. Well, the third time that I inquired about the replacements, she finally told me the silver were hatched but she had no idea when she would be traveling my way again. I asked if she could even give me a rough idea of when that date could possibly be and she stated that she had no idea. After some prodding for straight and honest answers she suddenly was POSITIVE it would be within a week and a half and she suddenly had Bielefelder pullets that weren't sold and I have been guaranteed they are going to be from her, not acquired elsewhere. Hmmm. Interesting to say the least. I guess if I also had the ability to make pullets mysteriously appear I wouldn't be needing replacements. Some people have amazing talents.

Again, I would like to know if anyone else has experienced chicks that did not develop and grow and died within a week. These chicks were put in with 3 or 4 of my own French Black Copper Marans hatchlings. None of my home hatched chicks died. I have never had a chick die before this. I have never even had one get sick. And none have died since. The silver laced and the Bielefelders that I have left seem to be much weaker birds than any of my other birds. I have to watch over them very, very carefully. They aren't energetic, vigorous birds at all. They have been fully feathered for quite sometime now, but I still bring them into my house when they seem especially slow moving or tired-ish. I sure wish I could figure out what is wrong with them. My flock is PT tested neg., have all the proper care and all seem to be happy vibrant birds...with the exception of the slo and Bieles. Oh and btw, my slo has light slate colored legs and the 2 that died did as well. I didn't think English slo should have slate legs?

 

[buffbarred]

Hi i realize this post is older. I am in search of someone selling english silver laced chicken fertile eggs. I am looking to get 6 eggs from one flock and 6 from another flock to prevent inbreeding etc.. does anyone know or have some they want to sale for a fair price!!! Thanks

 

[kidcody]

I've kept silent for along time about The Pure English Silver Laced Orpingtons. Period. As many of you are aware there is a farm that claims they know everything there is to know about breeding and raising the "Pure English Silver Laced Orpingtons" As you can see this is not the case. We can all sit back and let this farm control this! or we can observe what they say and what they show doesn't make sense. There are many levels of breeding the "TRUE" Pure English Silver Laced Orpingtons. But when one follows what one farm says has to question is this really working! So much information has been put out there to only make this farm look better then they are actually accomplish. It truly is very sad that one farm feels they are superior over another breeding farm. Can't we all help one another and share ideas to make breeding and share ones idea to help and support when it can help so, so many! The Pure English Silver Laced is such a beautiful creature, it is such a honor. Thank you to many that care. Thank you again, Autumn Farm English Orpingtons.

 

[kidcody]

The fact that there is only one well known breeder of the true Pure English Silver Lace, and this has been created by Mr. Bob Follows of England. He has taken many, many years to establish this perfect color. There has been several that have made the attempt to try to create the Silver Lace, but it has been Bob Follows in dedicating his life in creating this color, this has taken many years to establish and perfect this Silver Lace. All of the Silver Lace we see today is from his breeding program, there is no other to even compare to Bob Follows work! As stated there is only one True Silver Lace Orpington...Bob Follows is the creator of this beautiful chicken...we are very proud that Bob has created such a beautiful animal for many generations to come...there is no other to compare to..Thank you Bob Follows for your hard work, many of us look up to you for establishing the standard!

 

[kidcody]

As far as the message posted above, The Pure English Silver Laced Orpington is considered a very new color, this color was created by Mr. Bob Follows, breeder, Judge and a Master breeder when it comes to the different colors of the English Orpingtons. It was told to me that another breeder (Sandy of Orpingtons Galore) had introducing the Silver Lace Wyandotte (which does have yellow skin and yellow legs along with a comb that is not desirable to any Orpingtons to breed into her Silvers that she had received from Bob Follows with the plan to speed up the results in attaining a better set pattern of Silver Lace, Perhaps this is why today in Australia we do see Silver Laced Orpingtons with yellow legs. In the USA this is not a desirable trait (yellow skin) We can go back and forth where this yellow skin comes from but is very obvious that Bob Follows had no part of introducing this yellow skin. In my research I have found that some breeders do not mind the yellow skin, but lets make this clear...this is not a standard that the True Pure English Silver Laced Orpingtons will be apart of. The True Pure English Silver Laced Orpingtons will take many, many generations to obtain the perfect color and Lacing. It will be a challenge but like many of us breeders will be up to creating this perfect chicken, our beautiful Pure English Silver Laced Orpingtons! "SKIP" Our precious Pure English Silver Laced Orpington…Very much a gentle Giant!

 

[kidcody]

I am a first timer. I would love some input on the sex of my 3 SL orpingtons. Thanks!

These are quality Silvers, it is such a pleasure to see such quality Silvers, it is very nice to see a quality Silver Laced Orpington… I wouldn't mind having eggs to breed to my quality Pure English Orpingtons, Would you consider swapping eggs across the way?

 

[boykin2010]

You are so full of it. You just got done bashing any silvers that may potentially have the yellow-leg gene yet you're asking for eggs from those very birds. Look closer at the picture. Yes they're quality silver laced with beautiful pattern but the middle bird has yellowed legs, which, as you stated, makes all the birds at fault in your opinion.
I hope people who are considering this color of Orpington do more research and don't believe everything that is said on this forum. Some people post just to hear themselves talk

 

[kidcody]

Yes, I did say these are quality Silvers, I was talking about the color of the feathers. Stop attacking people who have offspring that came from the Orpington Galore bloodline, that have the yellow skin! Not once have I ever said this bloodline was bad, I've only stated the truth which was told to me from the creator of this color. Sorry but this is one of the bloodlines that was introduced to the United States by Ewecrazyfarm. This doesn't mean it is all bad or even wrong, just that we have to do more select breeding. Meaning taking these chicks and raising them up until they are 6-8 months of age to determine if they are "Pure Silvers, without yellow skin" It is not possible to have just one bloodline in this country, you must cross out into another line of blood. You can also breed into a solid black line into a Silver hen, but this also takes several generations before you have a "Pure Silver Laced" Remember this is considered a brand new color and it will take many more generations of select breeding before this color breeds true....give it time, this is the fun part of breeding the Pure English Orpington.

 

[CountryFlock]

Even the birds with white legs could be heterozygous for white legs. Meaning they could still produce yellow legged chicks even if both parents have white legs.

If I had a bunch of silver laced hens from the same source and just one had yellow legs I would not use any of them for breeding.

 

[ColtHandorf]

My two original Silver-laced Orpingtons have yellow legs and they are CrazyEweFarms stock. Or at least that was what I was told when I purchased them. The photos didn't show that well and I picked the birds up after work in the winter when it was getting dark absurdly early. I am using them at the moment, but then I will will be retiring both of them and only breeding to the other four unrelated lines I have with correct skin color.

My biggest reason for breeding them is that they both have superior lacing in regards to crispness than any of the other birds, and Sterling, the rooster, is quite a bit larger. He's almost too big, but I'm hoping that by selectively breeding them I can get a larger bird with that nice lacing and the correct skin color.

It's good to see you posting again @kidcody . When I first got the pair most of the information I could find was of your birds. They are gorgeous.