Orpington colors?

[hinkjc]

The standard colors for orps are buff, white, black, and blue. The hatcheries primarily carry buff because the other color varieties are limited in availability. I would guess they don't do black because people tend to prefer the productivity of the australorp. White and blue are just rare, and in my opinion could be close to extinction if you consider what the SBCA considers a breed at risk based on # and size of breeding flocks. There are several color projects going, including lavender, gold laced, jubilee and barred orps. Those take many years to perfect, so won't likely be readily available for quite some time. Who knows, maybe many years down the road (and if there is public interest) the hatcheries will carry more color varieties. I should also note that any orpington you get from a large scale hatchery will not likely be the quality or size of a selectively bred orp, including buffs which are more common.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Quote:
What Jody says, Orp colors are still considered rare beyond Buff, Blacks and White! Not alot of people offer them.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=282355

 

[Illia]

Here's a website that lists quite a few good colors, including as someone mentioned - Lemon Cuckoo. (you mentioned gold barred - It is the same

)

Various Colours

Forgot to mention splash too. And here's ChirpyChick's Chocolate Orpingtons:

Choc Orpingtons

Talk about

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Those are both UK sites so all we can do over here in the US is drool over them unless you've got the big bucks to import them.

 

[Illia]

Yeah, I know. I think I mentioned that earlier, not sure. Has anyone, though, talked to that one member who was in the process of getting Choc Orps and Wyandottes from Glenstockadale Poultry?

 

[Egg_newton]

OMG those chocolate orpingtons are absolutely beautiful. I want some!!!!