Orpington or Australorp???

[mthrclckr]

I apologize BIG if this is like the umpteenth time you're seeing a post on this matter (I've posted this at two other sites). If you have already responded on one of the other sites, don't worry about posting here. I'm keeping track of ALL replies.

I hatched and raised what I was POSITIVE to be black Orpington bantams last year, and yesterday, I was informed that what I have are NOT Orpingtons but Australorps! I'd NEVER heard of Australorps in the bantam size here in the U.S. but I was told that there are. I'm now very worried because I have sold a rooster and some of his offspring as Orpingtons (I had no reason to believe that they were anything else) and from what I was told, the rooster was being used for a pretty big breeding project.

Breed is not a big concern for me because I don't show. I breed these for my joy and pleasure only. But until I can tell buyers under no uncertain terms what they're getting, I'm going to have to stop selling altogether. So here are the photos of the birds:

First pair (rooster was sold):

Rooster of second pair:

Hen of second pair:

These were all hatched from eggs from the same stock (received two batches and hatched a pair from each). The parents of the birds pictured were shown as black Orpington bantams and I'm told they did well. So if they are in fact NOT Orpingtons, they must be "Orpington enough" to fool judges.

If photos of offspring are necessary, I can provide. If a close-up of eye color is needed, I can provide this, too. I'm very concerned, now. I realize that Australorps were developed from Orpingtons, but I'm sure there are subtle differences and it would be undesirable to accidentally use an Australorp for an Orpington breeding project.

Thanks for any help!

-Naomi

 

[brooster]

I say orp, either way they are very pretty

 

[shmooborp]

OPRPINGTON ! just look at that cute little face hehehe

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Look like orps to me

 

[hinkjc]

They look just like my black orp bantams.

 

[Mahonri]

Australorp- Black Orpington... AREN'T THEY THE EXACT SAME THING?

 

[hinkjc]

Australorps were developed using Orpingtons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australorp

 

[Mahonri]

There ya go.

Thanx

 

[EweSheep]

There ARE Bantam Australorps hanging around but they are fewer and farther in between.

They look like Orps to me!

I would guess that the Australorps would be having MORE red surface areas in their faces. I could be wrong! They do look alike but something should stand out more!

 

[shelleyb1969]

Look just like my bantam orp girls too.