Orpingtons - An ocean apart??

[Wynette]

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Thanks, Walt - I have to say, if ALL of our members ran these two sentences through their minds BEFORE posting, I honestly think many, many more threads would remain open.

That said - folks, the issue of where they UK orps in the U.S. came from is not to be discussed.
Any further arguing, flaming, or nastiness will cause this thread to be shut down.

It's fine to post your opinion; doing so in a helpful & courteous way is imperative.
It's up to you, folks.

 

[fowlman01]

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Thanks, Walt - I have to say, if ALL of our members ran these two sentences through their minds BEFORE posting, I honestly think many, many more threads would remain open.

That said - folks, the issue of where they UK orps in the U.S. came from is not to be discussed.
Any further arguing, flaming, or nastiness will cause this thread to be shut down.

It's fine to post your opinion; doing so in a helpful & courteous way is imperative.
It's up to you, folks.

This board is well moderated Wynette. It serves no purpose to allow people to bash each other. Some of the motorsports boards I am on are like Dodge City. Anything and everything is allowed.

I usually put in the disclaimer that it is just my opinion...and I was wrong once in 1967, so I know that I can be wrong. It sounds as if the UK may be dual purpose birds after all. Surprising given their shape.

Walt

 

[rarely bored]

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This is the nitty gritty I want to know!! Do let us know how they taste. (feel rude wanting to know what a gorgeous piece of art tastes like...)
and the laying abilities is very, very important to me! Very impressed your girls laid eggs in the above 100 degree weather... my hatchery hens tend to take those days off.

Thank you for the United Orpington information. Now that I'm getting excited about what I'm reading here, I will seek more information there too.

I really thought my hatchery buff orpington rooster was a nice heavy bird - until I picked him up and realized the brat can't weigh more than 5 pounds. Hopefully he will make nice chicken and dumplings soon. Whomever said the hatchery type was more aggresive and not so good is very right. It is sad how the mass production of birds has cheapened the whole breed.

The whole discussion on showing, and the standards behind each type of Orpington is very interesting! Not quite sure how to call the two types, different breeds when neither side wants to give up the name, and based on location methinks the United Kingdom wins.

Thankfully that isn't my concern right now.... what birds will produce well in my situation is. Please do not take that to mean I do not want the show perspective in this thread, because I do want to hear it, read it and be knowledgable about it -- just don't want it to choke out the practical side of these beautiful birds.

Speaking of my situation, does all the fluff on the UK Orpingtons cause problems when they walk through areas with high weeds and stickers?? I've not seen any problems with my other birds, but would prefer to ask instead of assuming.

So the UK birds weigh more than the American birds and lay well for up to 3 years (with only 3 years of practical experience speaking right now.) How does the American Orp lay? Are they about the same? more, less?

How about age of maturation? What age does your birds begin laying?

fifelakelooper -- so glad you got your pictures up!!!

As you can tell, my critical eye has not been trained yet, but, for what it is worth, I think your birds are adorable!

 

[kathyinmo]

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Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure!

1967? WOW, you must really be old.

 

[aveca]

love the book..great stuff..Part of the answer is that in US , after WW2 america joined industrial revolution, left the farm and went to work and interest was lost in development..some breeds became rare and even extinct..only a rare few breeders kept the passion for a certian breed..I just read a peice about how during the early 50s there would be up to 50 entries in just an orpington class..today in most places your lucky to see 10..thats here and there, they are more popular in certian places..now the popularity and interst is growing again..brits kept the passion going all alng and had an ideal of what they wanted and kept selecting for it..the queen mum kept black orpingtons.

the 17 time wold champion australorp breeder wrote in his book that he had a freind who told him....give me your 3rd worst anad i will come back and beat you in 3 years..he did just that..he was a master breeder..with decent foundation stock he selected and knew what he needed to do to win and how long it would take him to get there..

i will be showing blk orps sept this year..had narrowed it to 2 cockerals..one was just broader all over and had a tidy apppearance fuffy but tidy and just in my opinion , a classic eye and face..that kind expression you see in some old lithographs..he just appeals to me in every way..nothing elses obvios wrong with him..i will blow dry his underside and leave his front top alone stuff like that..

heres a thing too, if you look at modern australian australorps, they are drastically different than US version..great birds but are they loosing the great bird of curves? they now look more like a ball , perhaps they might be sorry about that someday.its all sbjective like art..i chose my show birds because they had a strong appeal to me as well as fewest faults..one just had that little something extra, at least to me

 

[justuschickens59]

Thanks Wynette. I agree, posting an opinion is one thing, being nasty and ugly is another.

Rarely Bored - I live out in the country and my UK birds love to play in the woods. I've never had to pull a sticker off then. They have no problems walking in high weeds, low grass, or anywhere. My UK girls are consistent layers in the heat and the cold. They generally don't lay until 8-10 months. My American Orps were exceptional layers. They started laying at around 6 months old.

My GL Orps are the sweetest, friendliest, and absolutely FEARLESS birds I've ever had. They only about 2.5 months old and I am really anxious to see how they do as they mature.

 

[justuschickens59]

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Interesting stuff !! Thanks for posting. I really enjoyed this.

 

[syble]

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Glad it worked for ya. I tell everyone about it because you need 0 computer savy to get it to work for ya

I think to do them justice, you need to keep your boys for alot longer lol. I'm in the same boat, have almost 2 dozen roos... cutting down to 4-6, but no ones mature enough for me to make that final call. One week i'll have one picked out as the front runner, then suddenly, next week i forget all about them because someone else has had a growth spurt and its all about them lol! beautiful birds though!
sib

 

[aveca]

art and chickens are subjective, it is all about what do you like and what traits appeal to you.

i picked this guy to show, they are very young here but this month he stands out even more to me

i dont know,,im watching this one..the other one just appeals to me. I know, chicken photographer I am not.

and this is my aussie pullet, a bit sloppy in the feather but im working a bit more toward australias version , or trying to. might not appeal to many americans but im doing what i want..she is absolutly dainty next to those big blk orps

 

[Wynette]

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