Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[lualshannon]

[COLOR=333333]This is what happens when I open the baby run gate.....9 had already made it out of camera range! Babies 10-4 weeks old.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]Going ......[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333] [/COLOR] [COLOR=333333] Going.......[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333] [/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]Gone ! Looking for bugs under the hydrangeas.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333] [/COLOR]

Breathtaking, gorgeous birds on such a beautiful set up.. I can see the fencing behind the hydrangeas, is the whole area fenced and how tall are the fences? What kind of wire did you use on the fence? Are they strong enough for bob cats and foxes? I am wondering if they would be able to dig their way through digging under the fence or climbing over it? I know they went through the double pane door of our coop. At the moment, with the problems we have been having for the last 7 weeks, I think we will have to put a very thick, bullet proof glass globe over our whole property. It has been very discouraging, very sad 7 weeks.. I am in awe of your coops and the beautiful garden they graze in. Lucky, very lucky birds... Lual

 

[thedragonlady]

Breathtaking, gorgeous birds on such a beautiful set up.. I can see the fencing behind the hydrangeas, is the whole area fenced and how tall are the fences? What kind of wire did you use on the fence? Are they strong enough for bob cats and foxes? I am wondering if they would be able to dig their way through digging under the fence or climbing over it? I know they went through the double pane door of our coop. At the moment, with the problems we have been having for the last 7 weeks, I think we will have to put a very thick, bullet proof glass globe over our whole property. It has been very discouraging, very sad 7 weeks..

I am in awe of your coops and the beautiful garden they graze in. Lucky, very lucky birds...

Lual

I had originally fenced this place with 54" steel cattle panels, and had hedges all round it.I was trimming 1000' of hedge every month. That foolishness went on for 15 years.I finally got smart, and fenced the whole property in 8' board fencing, but I left the bottoms of the cattle panels, which by that time were imbedded in the ground, and impossible to remove. The board fencing is vertical planks spaced 1" apart to let air blow through.Very hard to climb.The tree rats do use the top cap board as their personal runway, but they don't bother me as the Orps run them off if they come into the orchard, or the coops.

Though I live in town, this place is adjoining the second oldest polo field in the US, with a golf course next to that. So we have had bears, bob cats,coyotes, way too many deer, and foxes around.Due to the fact that we have 4 rescue dogs who are out and about every day, nothing wants to enter here. At night the Orps are locked up in chain link steel covered runs.No way into those coops unless we have an elephant herd attack ! If I were worried about big cats, I would hot wire my 8' perimeter fence.

There are hydrangeas every where, as I can't resist putting cuttings in the ground. I did have a problem with the deer eating them outside my fence, but Nite-Guard solar lights stopped that.The hydrangeas in the Orps' orchard have bird netting in them. The hydrangeas have grown up through the netting, and give a second level of protection from aerial attacks. The over head lines stop the hawks and eagles, who don't want to risk their wings.They do make me very nervous in the fall when they migrate though. A young Red Tail boomeranged off the lines last year, and ended up tn the area my dogs patrol. He won't be back.

I think your answer Lual, is electric fencing, added to what ever you are currently fenced with. Wild animals respect it.It is very simple to install, and cheap to run.

 

[galanie]

One thing I absolutely love about these birds is the way you can mix ages w/out worry. Oh the older ones will let the young ones know who is boss, but they won't take it very far or hurt each other. Mainly they just go their own ways.

 

[Johnn]

One thing I absolutely love about these birds is the way you can mix ages w/out worry. Oh the older ones will let the young ones know who is boss, but they won't take it very far or hurt each other. Mainly they just go their own ways.

My Orps are good with each others chicks too! I think they know they are family.

 

[thedragonlady]

My Orps are good with each others chicks too! I think they know they are family.

The tolerance Orps show toward each other is directly related to the Cochin blood they are carrying. That's why they are good setters and mothers too.

 

[Johnn]

The tolerance Orps show toward each other is directly related to the Cochin blood they are carrying. That's why they are good setters and mothers too.

Bella's mother is a crap sitter. She really tests my patience when she is on the eggs! But she is a great mother, so that makes up for it. I was close to buying a BO boy the other day but they where too far away in the end!

 

[thedragonlady]

Bella's mother is a crap sitter. She really tests my patience when she is on the eggs! But she is a great mother, so that makes up for it. I was close to buying a BO boy the other day but they where too far away in the end!

What about the Buff Orps at your college? Anything decent there ?

 

[Johnn]

What about the Buff Orps at your college? Anything decent there ?

Theres a BO cockerel there but they would want to keep him and he wouldnt do well with me anyways!

 

[cbnovick]

One thing I absolutely love about these birds is the way you can mix ages w/out worry. Oh the older ones will let the young ones know who is boss, but they won't take it very far or hurt each other. Mainly they just go their own ways.

That is a huge advantage...I found the Rocks to be the same way...very tolerant when free ranging especially. I house the chicks/juvies separately until around 4-6 months...but everyone free ranges together.

 

[Johnn]

I hope Bella goes back like this after her molt