Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[quailtrail]

My big "chicken" roo who we named Captain.

 

[Johnn]

I'm annoyed about my phone camera going a bit blury, but look at the chick on her back!

 

[Tyaloria]

gorgeous birds!
I'm excited to see your lavenders as I'm waiting for mine to hatch

 

[rsallison]

My word! That top gentleman is gorgeous!!!

 

[Johnn]

Just when I thought the Bella situation couldn't get worse, the hens just had to prove me wrong. Daisy had decided to go broody and who's nest does she want? Bella's. Bella is just happily sitting infront of the pophole on nothing! I kicked daisy out and went to get Bella and she started attacking me so I grabbed her and shoved her back in the nest. This really isn't going to go well!

 

[rsallison]

As you all can see, I am a "new egg" member of BYC. I've had craigslist buffs and RIRs for about 5 years now, and am finally deciding to take the plunge into creating a nice Orpington flock on our farm. I adore these birds! However, we are not set up here to foster chicks/hatch eggs incubator style. I would like to breed them and have them raise their own babies, au natural. My questions (so far) are these:
There are several ads selling black/lavendars/barred/spangled locally. How do I know if a cl orpington is a good one?
Is $40-$60 an average price for a pullet/roo?
It doesn't look like any of these places are "registered" Orp breeders, should I go with someone farther away?
Can young chickens be shipped (we live in Washington State)?
How many should I get to start my flock (they're to free range on 5 acres - so space isn't an issue)?
Should I just get a hen/roo combo, and then buy some eggs....hoping she'll be broody about them?
How often do I need to bring in unrelated lines?

So overwhelming!!! But fun

Thanks in advance for any Orpy advice!!

 

[Johnn]

 

[chickadee5002]

Oh my! Is Bella on some eggs too? I love seeing them on eggs! I finally got some eggs for my girl, thanks Johnn for all the advise!

 

[Johnn]

Oh my! Is Bella on some eggs too? I love seeing them on eggs! I finally got some eggs for my girl, thanks Johnn for all the advise!

Bella is the original sitter, the eggs are due on Monday and Daisy has one of them so she will have a chick after just sitting for 4 days if it hatches! If none hatch I will try get a day old for each of them as I want Bella off after that because it will be hard on her. If there is only one chick Bella can have it and Daisy can sit and I will see if a day old pops up anywhere then thats all the chicks I want for this year!

 

[Johnn]

Also I'm glad you have give your hen some eggs! How many does she have and what breed?