Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[Honora]

Sounds like a really obnoxious guy, sorry you went through that.

I have never shown a bird, but in the U.S. there are only certain colors accepted for shows. I believe for Orpingtons it's black, white, buff & blue. So if you put a bird that is not one of the accepted colors in a show I think it will be disqualified. Even if it's the most beautiful bird in the world it has to be an accepted color or there wouldn't be any point in showing it.

There's no reason not to breed them though, I just would not expect to show them or their babies if the babies are also not one of the accepted colors.

this pic has been posted before on here, to the right is speckley one of our 2 Orpington hens, the blurry photo is of brutas their husband. I was at a local caged bird show last night and while standing admiring the black Orpingtons I got chatting to someone about these guys. they other hen spockely is not in the pic, but as you can prob see from the pic above, these guys are black, with buff spatterings through them. the person I got speaking to it turns out that the ones on show and whom had won quite a few prizes were sisters of my girls. brutas is almost completely black but has 1 single buff feather on his left wing. one person i spoke too was rather rude about my birds, he said "i told her to get rid of them as we don't want colourings like that to be ruining the breed" I was actually a little offended, they continued to say I hope your not breeding them with this colourings? now these guys were gotten because I think they are pretty, they were not bought as show chickens just as pets, but the kids were keen to enter them into the local agri show next August. should I try and put them off? as I don't want someone being that rude to the kids as they love their birds. or should I just encore the negativity and let them go ahead and enter them? am I doing damage to the breed buy allowing them to breed?

 

[Turkeytruff]

So I have some red and some partridge English orpingtons - the fluffy kind

. Are they not recognized in US shows?

 

[Bridebeliever]

I just wanted to show a picture of our Chocolate Orpington "Big Mama". I just love this bird she is so beautiful! And such a fluff bottom!

 

[Bridebeliever]

So is Chocolate not a recognized breed color?

 

[Honora]

See this page from the United Orpington Club:

http://www.unitedorpingtonclub.com/largefowlvarieties.htm

Only white, black, blue and buff are accepted colors in the U.S. for showing. The English type is also not accepted for showing.

 

[Johnn]

Couple of snow pics from the other day. Daisy and Bella.

 

[Gwyllm]

Hi all, I wanted to just ask if there is a lot of difference between the different colour orpingtons? I have Cochins but I want to maybe get a second breed, and I got a lot of recommendations for Buff Orpingtons specifically, but I can more freely get splash and/or lavender ones in my area, so my question is, sorry if this is a bit offensive to ask, new to chooks and all, but is an Orpington pretty much an Orpington, so are the different colours basically different breeds, and if so, which are best. Thanks for the help

 

[Honora]

Hi all, I wanted to just ask if there is a lot of difference between the different colour orpingtons? I have Cochins but I want to maybe get a second breed, and I got a lot of recommendations for Buff Orpingtons specifically, but I can more freely get splash and/or lavender ones in my area, so my question is, sorry if this is a bit offensive to ask, new to chooks and all, but is an Orpington pretty much an Orpington, so are the different colours basically different breeds, and if so, which are best. Thanks for the help

I have never had buff but I have black & splash hens & they are very calm and friendly. I have heard people say that some of the lavender strains can be aggressive but don't know what your local strain is like. Good luck!

 

[ShrekDawg]

I think the buff recommendation is usually just because that is usually the most common and easily accessible variety for most people and is usually way cheaper, at least from hatcheries or feed stores, but if other colors are more readily available in your area then I'd say just go for what's available and it shouldn't be a problem or difference. I think eventually I want to try other colors too and/or at least try breeder birds.

 

[Gwyllm]

Thanks for the help, sounds like I need to start getting a second coop ready I do love my Cochins but they aren't laying very well and I want something to supplement egg laying and orpingtons sound great for that.