How do you build YOU build a great ORPINGTON flock?

[BamaChicken]

I appreciate the compliments about my Orps but I don't make any claims to greatness on them. I don't have huge flocks of any color and I have been working for three years to get them to place they make me happy. I have bred through trial and error and I have seen some really great At one show in Fl and became friends with the man showing. Unfornately his birds were not young and didn't produce many eggs but the chicks I got and breed into the ones I had really helped the looks of mine in type and size. As with any breeder you have to cull a lot. I have learned not to sell off a rooster before his time. I have made good and bad decisions and hope my future ones are better due to experience. I am planning to go to the Ohio Nationals this year and hope to see lots of gorgeous Orps shown. There are plenty of breeders out there I would love to meet and get some help from.
I am doing this for a hobby and want it to remain fun and interesting and not more work than I can handle. I don't want it consuming my life. I have other things to do, places to go and 8 grandchildren that are way ahead of the chickens.

OP I hope you find some terrific Orps. I would love to see photos of your Blacks. I love that color. I am always looking to to find some that will improve mine..

 

[MissPrissy]

I do not buy stock or eggs from people who show. I have found in the past that many show breeders often have birds exposed to horrendous diseases. I know of a couple from here who often gave all sorts of meds to their birds as well and I culled or gave away the bbs orp hens from that breeder(s). That is completely against my efforts to have a great flock. Natural immunity to disease is a great thing however potential carriers that can kill my flocks that I have invested so much time and effort in is not a risk I am willing to take. Some of the diseases also pass through to the egg and make the chicks carriers. I am not interested in hatching those eggs either. I look for a clean healthy flock that the person I am buying from doesn't use antibiotics and other meds without proper authority and diagnosis and the chickens are raised as naturally as possible. I have a clean flock. I plan to keep it that way. I know disease can crop up any time but my over board efforts over the years have paid off for me so far. I hope they continue to do so.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Quote:
I get the feeling you're trying to call another BYC member out without actually coming out and saying it literally.

If you think someone is falsely advertising and you have a concern about it, you can certainly PM others about that, but it can't be discussed in open forum. Please be careful about how you approach this subject, because you're very close to trolling here.

And why do I care? Cause for someone who cares, it is reflected thru to their birds. Alot of my back yard chicken friends, like my birds. And they have nice birds. But, they like mine cause I care what I breed. I just don't get one big name breeders cockerel and throw him at every Buff under the sun. I TRY to get several lines of birds from breeders, who in some cases are judges as well. And right now what they say is the standard.

That's awesome that your own birds are doing so well.

And IF their winning, and you want to be as close to the CURRENT standard, it is a good idea to find out who and where these winning breeders are. Thus, Poultry Press gives great info in this area. And by no means am I belittling BYC.

If a person knows the standard well enough to judge birds themselves, then they don't need someone else (a show judge) to tell them their birds are good. Your point certainly makes sense for those who are starting out and have no clue what they're looking at, but a person who has been closely working with experts on a breed for years and years and years doesn't need a blue ribbon or a picture in a publication to know that they're on the right track with the standard. Time and patience builds experience.

I'm kind of wondering where a breeder's concern for biosecurity might fit into the discussion about whether to show or not to show.

I just see a few selected folks pushing certain breeders lines, and WHY? Are they getting paid? These breeders they say are great, are okay, but not great by anyones standards.

Again, you're walking the fine line between staying silent and calling someone out. Why not stick with the topic of "Does being in the Poultry Press/winning shows matter?" and leave other BYCers out of it, k?

And I think that if a bird is healthy, lays alot of eggs, and is an exhibition quality that is a good thing for the breed.
I breed for ALL of those traits. Egg production, and color of the egg in a few breeds I have, and for conformation.
And IF anyone here ONLY wants a top meat bird that is a great egg producer, then ask me for my Buff brahma/ Buff Orp mix. Their huge and everyday layers.
But, you don't see anyone beating my door down for a great bird that happens to be a mix.

Have you tried selling any here in the BST area? You won't know unless you try.

Only one problem about those super quality backyard breeders that don't show, is you have to fall into their yard to know them. I don't fly. Neither does my chickens lololol

Good thing you're on BYC, then...because you have the opportunity to get to know a lot of amazing folks here.

I hope you enjoy the experience.

 

[lildinkem]

Hi Bamachicken
You do have great birds. It shows that you do care in what you breed.
I would be honored to show you a pic of my girl.

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL427/739981/2386315/361884692.jpg

This is the bird I bought with her sis's for a whopping $3.
This is a hobby for me too. I really try to do my best to get good birds. And around here a GREAT bird goes for the huge amount of $20. I have that type of money to make my life more pleasureable admiring my birds.
I plan on making it to Ohio too.
Do you have a link to your website?

 

[lildinkem]

Missprissy you must know my old friend who got me hooked.
He too only uses the old school way of just having healthy birds. I prefer eggs to live birds when it comes to adding to my flock. There again some diseases are transmitted in eggs too. When you buy a live bird, you get every diseaese that guy has. When you go to shows, you risk picking up some nasties from total loosers who do know how to take care of a bird. NONE of my primary stock will ever leave my property alive. I will prolly not show either.
As far as breeders, everyone has a breeder who they like. I do. You do.
My goal is to outcross a number of well known and high quality breeders lines on my property, in separate pens, while keeping each individual breeders lines to their own pen. the result is having outcrosses from the very best lines I can get. I believe in genetic diversity. That is what I am about. And instead of having all my birds from one breeders line, I plan on having 4 or 5 breeders lines in my Buffs, and 3 different ones for my Blacks/Blues.
By outcrossing with healthy, high quality birds, I should be able to go a while without introducing any inferior quality lines. For me that would be a step backwards. That would be like having a jockey marry a 7 foot NBA center. The kid from that would be neither good in basketball or riding horses. And some people like riding horses, and some like playing basketball. But, to be good in one mite not help you in the other. I hope that makes some sense. It might be a poor analogy. But, it gets the point across.
IF you have nice birds, that just MIGHT be SQ, and you want to have that look for years and years, then breed in another SQ line. NOT a production line.

 

[lildinkem]

Hi Chicken Lady

There are favorites here. I see everyone saying someone's name. And Some like Julie the BAMACHICKEN. She deserves to be put at the front of the list for what I want.
She's a POULTRY GODDESS! Someone who thinks of the breed ahead of her glory. Ahead of making a buck.
That is the people I look for. That is who I strive to be like. I want more people in the BYC community to point out those breeders.
And I have no trouble begging for you folks who have seen it all to tell me.

 

[MissPrissy]

Without naming names you are getting very close to flaming breeders you seem not to care for. You need to tred very carefully and perhaps do some post edits or this thread will be closed.

 

[lildinkem]

Hi again CHICKEN LADY
I have not tried to sell yet.
And I do easily get off the track. It is not easy being quiet about how you feel, when you are as passionate about a cause like me.
IF I do offend anyone, please forgive me.
I have my own unique ideas, and do think this is a great place to voice them
Have no fear!

 

[BamaChicken]

Very nice bird. I have to say 3 years ago I got some very typey black Orps from Sandhill. The only fault I could find woud be size. Breeding them to a larger Roo was good. Also breeding some larger girls from my friend in Fl to a good typey average size Roo produced some very large fowl with good type. It is fun experimenting. I agree that you need to keep your flock healthy.

 

[lildinkem]

Chicken Lady
I want names named. I want to know ALL who breed Orps. I can go threw all of the posts. Call or write EACH breeder. Ask to see pics. There are some you might be telling me about without telling me about that I might like and respect.
Again, I have owned my chickens under a year. The LITTLE OLE SILVER HAIR GUY is about 65 and has been in live stock for 40 years. He has forgotten more then many here will ever know. Me included. To me someone saying he does not know what he is doing is misleading me as well.