Orp experts - over here!!!

[scbatz33]

So, I have one lone surviving chick from a disastrous set of hatchings back in March. I started with 45 eggs, got only 4 to hatch all with help. I had a very weak underdeveloped chick that was severely effected by coccidiosis and he passed it on. I ended up losing 2 chicks - the weak one and another - to it. I sold the third chick and so now i have this last one. Further, these guys took forever to develop. They looked awful far longer than any others i have had. In fact, we just refer to them as "the ugly chicks".

So, here's my issue - do I bother to breed this chick? I have been on the fence since I hatched her out. My concern is the genetics....will the problems I had hatching her and her mates out be passed down the line? I keep leaning to not because of the hassle I have had from the start, but when I LOOK at her, I think she's starting to be nice enough. Although, she is a very dark blue wich I am not particularly fond of, yet there seems to be a lot of folks who are.

I need help being shoved off the fence, so here she is......

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

Im no Orp expert...

I would see how it fills out and go from there.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

She is a he and the reason it's taking so long, is because they are GOOD quality birds.

Production birds grow fast in order to produce eggs FAST. By them growing so swiftly, their mass is lost. By growing slowly, the body is able to grow larger and stronger.

 

[Krys109uk]

If hatched in March that Orp is only a baby.
My Orps will often build frame for many months before starting to put on muscle & can continue to grow until around 18 months.

 

[hippichick]

Definitely looks like she is a he.

 

[DiVon80]

Mine were also born in March. I have one older lady(8yrs) and they are no where near what they are gonna be at this stage in there life. The larger the bird the longer it takes. She will be fine just give her some time. I would love to have some blues!! WOW!

 

[DiVon80]

Quote:
I did not even look at his face. Looks like a roo to me too.

 

[onthespot]

I give all eggs hatched in an incubator a complete pass as far as "hatching strength" and problems right after hatching. So much can go so wrong so many times in three weeks in an incubator, at least in mine, that I figure anything that hatches has superchicken potential, and I'm not kidding!
To really evaluate hatchability, wait for the next generation and use a broody to give them a fair shake. No way I would cull that handsome guy! Send him to me!

 

[scbatz33]

Quote:
Since the consensus is that "she" is a "he" - although compared to my others at this age, he is a she - I will hold out to see how "it" grows. It seems to me that if it was such a good quality bird, I'd not be having so much difficulty with them as a whole. As I said, this is the only survivor.

I realize orps are slow rowers, but this one takes the cake.

Here are some girls from other breeders who are younger adn are doing far better in the growing area. The black girls here hatched 8 days after this chick and are heartier and growing much better. They hatched on their own. They feathered out well and I have had no issues with health at all.

 

[scbatz33]

Looking at my other orps, It maybe that she is a he after all. I do think the camera adds brightness to the red of the comb and waddles. However, the majority of my girls at this age have no coloring at all around the face. But still, It could fool me(as it has to this point) because when I look at my girls who are a bit older - like by 6 weeks or so - they have very red faces......

Some of these girls have more coloring than others. I was basing my gender choice in the rounded feathers more than on facial features. If you look at the girls in the top photo then it looks boyish. If you compare it to these girls, then it looks girlish. guess I'll have to wait and see. If it turns out male, the point is mute. I have many more boys coming up in my B/B/S groups to keep it. However, if it's femal, I'm still on the fence about breeding it or not.