Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[littlechicklet]

lildinkem-

Thank you. Don't get me wrong I love the look of the Spangled/Mottled ones and think a Delaware/Columbian pattern would be very nice. I really like my blues but think I may have to concentrate on buffs & blacks because I don't have the funds, housing or room to try & work with the blues. I hatched 13 chicks and have maybe 1 or 2 decently laced blues out of 6-8 chicks. I would need to hatch way more than I can to get enough good ones to work with. I have a broody that just hatched 2 blues and one may turn out nice because it is very light but the other is going to be a dark blue.

Sorry for rambling but its always bouncing around in my head as to which direction I want to go with the Orps.

 

[lualshannon]

Nice healthy babies ! Love that Black chick too !

Dear Dragon Lady,

About a month ago, you asked if the "feather storm" started yet. Well, finally did! and my oh my! how right you are calling it a "feather storm"...Feathers are everywhere; all over the floor, inside the feeders, even on the rose bushes.. This morning, spent 2 hrs. picking the feathers up, and in the afternoon there are more feathers than before. Needless to say; they look like I have decided to pluck some of their feathers out blindfolded. Some look quite funny..I took some photos but, will not show them to anyone...My beautiful babies are now looking unbelievably pathetic!

How long will the feather storm last? and when should I expect them to look somewhat presentable?

 

[thedragonlady]

Dear Dragon Lady,

About a month ago, you asked if the "feather storm" started yet. Well, finally did! and my oh my! how right you are calling it a "feather storm"...Feathers are everywhere; all over the floor, inside the feeders, even on the rose bushes.. This morning, spent 2 hrs. picking the feathers up, and in the afternoon there are more feathers than before. Needless to say; they look like I have decided to pluck some of their feathers out blindfolded. Some look quite funny..I took some photos but, will not show them to anyone...My beautiful babies are now looking unbelievably pathetic!

How long will the feather storm last? and when should I expect them to look somewhat presentable?

Isn't it amazing how all those feathers suddenly turn loose ? Those are their baby feathers. Now you get to see the adult feathering. It takes about 2 weeks. I have 2 older babies who are leaving clouds of feathers now too, plus a few of the hens who are molting. Just wet the smaller feathers down outside. They will disappear. The flights won't, so I pick those up in the orchard.

 

[lildinkem]

lildinkem-

Thank you. Don't get me wrong I love the look of the Spangled/Mottled ones and think a Delaware/Columbian pattern would be very nice. I really like my blues but think I may have to concentrate on buffs & blacks because I don't have the funds, housing or room to try & work with the blues. I hatched 13 chicks and have maybe 1 or 2 decently laced blues out of 6-8 chicks. I would need to hatch way more than I can to get enough good ones to work with. I have a broody that just hatched 2 blues and one may turn out nice because it is very light but the other is going to be a dark blue.

Sorry for rambling but its always bouncing around in my head as to which direction I want to go with the Orps.

Work with what is the best and go from there. I culled down to just a trio of Blues. I hatched out 2 dozen last year. Did not like any of them so I am working with a 4 year old Blue hen and a 3 year old Blue Splash. Their both laying and both are big girls.
With my Whites I can take a nice type or large Cuckoo male to some of my White girls who do not carry the Cuckoo gene and make some nice type Whites.
I now need to move some White girls in with this fella.

 

[littlechicklet]

Work with what is the best and go from there. I culled down to just a trio of Blues. I hatched out 2 dozen last year. Did not like any of them so I am working with a 4 year old Blue hen and a 3 year old Blue Splash. Their both laying and both are big girls.
With my Whites I can take a nice type or large Cuckoo male to some of my White girls who do not carry the Cuckoo gene and make some nice type Whites.
I now need to move some White girls in with this fella.

Now I really like his structure. How old is he? It looks like around 8-10 months to my uneducated eye. If I am even close on his age then I am guessing his back is shorter than you prefer (unless the pic is deceiving).

 

[littlechicklet]

Here's the 2 chicks BB hatched. The little black one is an Olive Egger: she had a few of those under her too. This was her first time going broody & she only managed to hatch 3 out of 10 eggs.



And here is the one best laced pullet from the Easter hatch but will have to see how she is as she grows.

 

[Orps]

I found a video clip of my "clicker training" sessions when my chickens when they were chicks. Thought I would share it. They were taught to touch a target for food.
BTW, I transfer the behavior so they would ring a bell on my back door. Kind of like when a dog rings a bell to go outside. Actually it was the bell my dog ring when they want to come inside.
However, it was a BAD idea because unlike my dogs, those evil chicks rang the bell every 5 minutes to the point I finally removed the bell from my door.

 

[lildinkem]

Work with what is the best and go from there. I culled down to just a trio of Blues. I hatched out 2 dozen last year. Did not like any of them so I am working with a 4 year old Blue hen and a 3 year old Blue Splash. Their both laying and both are big girls.
With my Whites I can take a nice type or large Cuckoo male to some of my White girls who do not carry the Cuckoo gene and make some nice type Whites.
I now need to move some White girls in with this fella.

He's closing in on 11 months old. He does have too short a tall. I like alot about him. IF he was White I would not complain. I need to pet a few Whites in with him and see what pops out.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

He's closing in on 11 months old. He does have too short a tall. I like alot about him. IF he was White I would not complain. I need to pet a few Whites in with him and see what pops out.

He looks really good

 

[lildinkem]

He looks really good

Thanx Rennie. I have him in with my Dun Birchen pullet.