help me choose a blue orp to keep... (new pics)

[farmergal]

Tomorrow my roosters are going to freezer camp, and I'm trying to decide which Blue Orp roo to keep (out of three). One I thought was a hen for the longest time -- he was a slow grower and late developer, not traits I want to pass on for a bird that's supposed to be dual purpose. The bodies on the other two are quite similar, but there's some significant difference in combs.
So please post your best Orp combs! I've read over the breed standard but it's one thing to read and another to see... in the meantime I will take photos of the boys so I can post some pics to get suggestions on the best one to keep.

 

[farmergal]

OK, here are pics of the boys:

Here's #1 (who was slow growing; I thought he was a hen for a while). I was leaning towards not keeping him because, well, roosters should be roosters, you know? Also, his comb seems a little small and lopsided.

Here's #2, who I *think* has the best comb of the three.

comb shot:

body shot:

Here's #3, who seems to have way too many points on his comb (I count seven), although he has a great, deep body and a nice full tail.

Let me know who you think should stay to make more BBS Orp babies! I have no idea which traits are most important, but I was struck by the differences in their combs, and so that seemed important to me...

-Lynda

 

[DuckFanatic]

I don't know much about Blue Orps but I personally think that #3 is the prettiest.. handsomest

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
Second that!

 

[farmergal]

Yeah, I think he's definitely the "hunk" of the group, but I'm worried that he has 7 points on his comb, and I don't know if that's a major fault.

I've never had to make this kind of decision before... it's really making me realize how tough it is to breed the "perfect" bird -- there are always tradeoffs and it's so hard to decide which trade-off to take!! And the roo seems especially important since he'll be one-half of all the baby chickies.

 

[Hillbilly Rooster]

#3 is really the best.

my buff orpington is like him but different color of course.

 

[sangel4you]

#3 is SOOOOO pretty!

 

[Riocotesei]

I think 3 is the best as well

lol, "freezer camp".

 

[Backyard Hencam]

There must be a "standard" for these Orpingtons that would help you decide. I would try to find it before making a decision.

Your birds are really beautiful and healthy. Good luck in choosing the best!

 

[farmergal]

here's the standard according to the United Orpington Club... any serious Orp breeders out there to help me translate this into something an Orp-newbie could understand?

It's so much information I'm not sure where to start when I'm actually looking at the roos...


STANDARD WEIGHTS

Cock ……………. 10 lbs. Hen ………… 8 lbs.
Cockerel ………. 8½ lbs. Pullet ……… 7 lbs.

SHAPE--MALE

COMB: Single; of medium size, set firmly on head, perfectly straight and upright; with five
well-defined points; those at front and rear smaller than those in the middle;
fine and texture; blade closely following shape of head.
BEAK: Short, stout regularly curved.
FACE: Clean-cut and free from coarseness.
EYES: Large, round, prominent.
WATTLES: Medium in size, well-rounded at lower edges.
EAR-LOBES: Medium size, oblong, smooth.
HEAD: Medium in length, broad, deep.
NECK: Rather short, slightly arched, with abundant hackle.
BACK: Broad, Flat at shoulders, rather long, width carried well back to base of
tail; rising with a slight concave sweep to tail.
Saddle feathers – of medium length, abundant.
TAIL: Moderately long, well-spread, carried at an angle of twenty-five degrees (25°) above horizontal, (figs. 10-11): forming no apparent angle with
back where those sections join.
Main Tail Feathers – broad and overlapping.
Main Sickles – of medium length, spreading laterally beyond main tail
feathers.
Lesser Sickles and Coverts – of medium length, nicely curved, sufficiently
abundant to cover main tail feathers.
WINGS: Of medium size, well-folded carried horizontally.
Front – well-covered by breast feathers. Points well covered by saddle
feathers.
Primaries and Secondaries – broad and overlapping in natural order when
wing is folded.
BREAST: Broad, deep, well-rounded and well filled in all parts.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body – Broad, deep, moderately long, straight, extending
well forward.
Lower body feathers, not to profuse.
Fluff – moderately full, showing profile of hocks.
LEGS AND TOES: Legs set well apart, straight when viewed from front.
Lower Thighs – large, moderately short, well feathered.
Shanks – moderately short, stout, smooth.
Toes – four on each foot, of medium length, straight, well-spread.

BLUE ORPINGTONS

DISQUALIFICATIONS
Red, yellow or positive white in plumage, (See General and Orpington Disqualifications and Cutting for Defects.)
COLOR – MALE AND FEMALE
COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.
BEAK: Horn.
EYES: Dark brown.
SHANKS AND TOES: Leaden blue.
PLUMAGE: Male:
HEAD: Glossy black.
NECK: Hackle – an even shade of clear bluish slate, distinctly laced with
glossy black.
Front of Neck – same as breast.
BACK: Back and saddle –- an even shade of clear bluish slate, each
feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
TAIL: Main Tail & Main and Lesser Sickles, Coverts – an even shade of
clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
WINGS: Fronts and Bows – an even shade of clear bluish slate, each
feather distinctly laced with glossy black.
Coverts – an even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather having
a sharply defined lacing of black.
Primaries – an even shade of bluish slate.
Secondaries – lower webs, an even shade of clear bluish slate;
upper webs, clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with
black.
BREAST: An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather having a
sharply defined lacing of black.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body – an even shade of clear bluish slate, each
feather having a sharply defined lacing of black.
LEGS: Lower Thighs – an even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather
having a sharply defined lacing of black.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Bluish slate.
PLUMAGE: Female:
HEAD: Bluish slate.
NECK: Hackle – an even shade of clear bluish slate, distinctly laced with
black.
Front of Neck – same as breast.
BACK: An even shade of clear bluish slate, each
feather distinctly laced with black.
TAIL: Main Tail & Main and Lesser Sickles, Coverts – an even shade of
clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced with black.
WINGS: Fronts, Bows and Coverts – an even shade of clear bluish slate,
each feather sharply defined lacing of black.
Primaries – an even shade of clear bluish slate.
Secondaries – an even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather
distinctly laced with black.
BREAST: An even shade of clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly
laced with black.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body – an even shade of clear bluish slate, each
feather distinctly laced with black.
Fluff – an even shade of clear bluish slate, laced with black.
LEGS: Lower Thighs – clear bluish slate, each feather distinctly laced
with black.
UNDERCOLOR OF ALL SECTIONS: Bluish slate.
APPLIES TO: All blue varieties.