Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[<3ChickenForever]

I think she's beautiful

 

[HenThymes]

Quote:
Yes, I was lucky enough to acquire all of them. This group is standard but I have bantams too!

 

[scbatz33]

Hey all!

I know this thread got buried, as so many can since this board moves so fast! But I'd really like some more opinions. I have been just going by what I like to see when breeding because quite honestly, the standard just makes my head hurt when I read it! (kind of like algebra!!)

Anyways, What do you think?

and a second question, when I first started out I was told comb, comb, comb! Make sure the combs are good because that is so hard to fix later on. But it seems now I'm being told no, size size size then combs.

now I'm confused.

I am beginning to believe it's like when my dd was born we were told "only let the baby sleep on their stomach" then two years later when my son was born it was "only let them sleep on their backs"

Someone just make up my mind for me! LOL!!!

Thanks in advance!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=456239

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

Quote:
i would love birchen Orps... if you breed some let me know... ill buy them

Most definitely! I share with those who show a genuine interest.
You can't tell too well by this pic, the Blue Birchen pullet is closest to the front. As with most all my birds, they take longer to mature. She has yet to lay.
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/lildinkem/007-6.jpg?t=1298593763
Black Birchen pullet taken a few months ago.
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/lildinkem/000_9846.jpg?t=1298594567
My Marans cock
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/lildinkem/000_9522.jpg?t=1298595877
When ever I say I am doing a project, usually someone will chime in, & say how that is from them or their stock. Here I initially thought this Exchequer pullet was a mottled. Now you can see she is an Exchequer Orpy looking girl. Another one I am working on. And it was instaneous to have someone say that was from their breeding. I usually laugh and say "Show me the adults?" They never do or can. She is laying with the big 9.5 lbs Serpico. And will know here in just a few days IF their fertile.
With my Birchens, there is another person comment on 2 different posts of my plans to make more Birchens, she in the first posting, that she never seen a good Birchen Marans & the last post on the new LAV MARANS thread the other nite, saying that "You've gotta remember, if Greenfire can sell a chick for $99, I'm pretty sure others can sell Birchens too. ." I usually ask again "show me?" to both. lolol She never replies back. IF she is reading give me my REPLY! It is folks like these which drives up my stats on my Photobucket. I like to see how many hits I get when I get questioned by those. So, keep it coming, it makes me more driven to make BIRCHENS! Never anything positive from these folks. Or truthful either.
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/lildinkem/005-3.jpg?t=1298593984
http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx94/lildinkem/001-2.jpg?t=1298595783

i love projects... thanks for the prodding on the new Lav Marans thread to i went and posted...

i have some real nice black Orps i could use later on down the line in a birchen project...

so how are you doing it??? will you breed your birchen F1's together to strengthen the birchen and then breed back to black on your F3's... or just breed them back to black's every time tell you get good type???

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

Quote:
IMHO... breed first for vitality... then production of eggs... then for type/size... then for color... then for comb... the comb gets alot of attention because it is big and prominent on the bird... but it is the last thing most judges look at... (unless you have a ST Comb bird in a Rose Comb breed then its a DQ lol) if i remember right the comb was only worth 5 points out 100 in the old judging system...

some show breeders leave out the ( then production of eggs) part but IMO that's a big mistake...

like i said Just My Humble Opinion lol... would like to see what others have to say

 

[lildinkem]

scbatz33, I would say the top trait to worry about is type type TYPE! The comb is not a big deal breaker on who to use. Example, I have a 11 lbs cockerel who is the widest rear ended boy I own. He has questionable type since he has a "cut away Breast". I would have culled IF it was for Dan the Leghorn man saying how hard it is to get a wide load wide rear ended boy. He convinved me to not give up and feed him to my dogs. This boy has barely a 4 point comb. Which wasn't even in the conversation. IT is TYPE that is the biggie first. Then tail and color. Comb is near last on my list. Worry about broadest chest, broadest back and biggest head. IF you do those first no one will DQ you for a bad comb. Only a point or two for any major issues on a comb will be lost when you show.

I have one BO/Aussie mix cock who has been spoon feeding me my projects. I do not go out and say I want to make a Birchen, I let this cock do it for me. Those Birchens, except for the Marans cock are all from the mix I call the BUS. He is an 11 lbs cock who has made some great quality Blacks and these two Birchen pullets. Now with those two pullets already here, I have little to do but take Marans cock to the BUS's two Birchen pullets. and should then have the gene well establish in an a large bird to use back to tremendous quality Black Orps. BUS has even thrown a Blue Copper looking pullet who is also with the Black Orp I call Serpico, a 9.5 lbs 7 month ole Black Orp. Who maybe also a son of BUS. Many things can be done when you make varieties that are in the same familty. The family I center on are my original Buff hens who made BUS.

 

[scbatz33]

Well I think I'm heading in the right direction then. I breed only the healthiest, least problematic birds. My girls lay like crazy once they get going. Size is almost there for the lav project and reg orps are looking nice. Although I'm gonna get a tad more english blood in there for my own liking. Color is good. Lav color is about the shade where I like to see it (this year will tell the tale for sure!)

So now, I'm obsessing about combs! LOL! I guess cause everything else is coming along so well

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
Good luck! I only have one Lav cock. And he is to be going to some of those Black pullets I am using in my Black program. I only use small numbers in breeding. Usually 3 or 4 pullet/hens to a cock/cockerel. Size and type are always a first priorty

 

[scbatz33]

Quote:
Good luck! I only have one Lav cock. And he is to be going to some of those Black pullets I am using in my Black program. I only use small numbers in breeding. Usually 3 or 4 pullet/hens to a cock/cockerel. Size and type are always a first priorty

I think what I am looking for, more than anything, is confirmation that what i'm seeing is what I think I'm seeing and more over is what I SHOULD be seeing. Not just, oh such pretty birds! Kind of thing but real critique on how close am I to what I should be doing per the standard and which direction should I go if not.

I can breed birds all day long and breed for what I like to look at. No problem there. But am I doing any justice to the breed itself? Am I interpreting the "look" correctly?

I know it has a lot to do with american over english type. And I am working to meld those two together in my own eye, but am I helping the breed out? I sell eggs, or at least have over the past couple years, so am I helping or hindering what's being done out there?

I am a visual learner. If I could find good pics of the "standard" of actual birds, not some 100 year old drawing.....all though I do like this one.....

and in my mind, that is what I'm shooting for. But I'm not finding the resources easily and there seems to be such a variance in the couple of shows I've been to. I don't know if that's due to lack of stock or just bad stock???

Or, I could just be making this all harder than it has to be. I have a tendency to do that.

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
Good luck! I only have one Lav cock. And he is to be going to some of those Black pullets I am using in my Black program. I only use small numbers in breeding. Usually 3 or 4 pullet/hens to a cock/cockerel. Size and type are always a first priorty

I think what I am looking for, more than anything, is confirmation that what i'm seeing is what I think I'm seeing and more over is what I SHOULD be seeing. Not just, oh such pretty birds! Kind of thing but real critique on how close am I to what I should be doing per the standard and which direction should I go if not.

I can breed birds all day long and breed for what I like to look at. No problem there. But am I doing any justice to the breed itself? Am I interpreting the "look" correctly?

I know it has a lot to do with american over english type. And I am working to meld those two together in my own eye, but am I helping the breed out? I sell eggs, or at least have over the past couple years, so am I helping or hindering what's being done out there?

I am a visual learner. If I could find good pics of the "standard" of actual birds, not some 100 year old drawing.....all though I do like this one.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/21675_orpbw.jpg
and in my mind, that is what I'm shooting for. But I'm not finding the resources easily and there seems to be such a variance in the couple of shows I've been to. I don't know if that's due to lack of stock or just bad stock???

Or, I could just be making this all harder than it has to be. I have a tendency to do that.

IF you can make a Black that looks like the one in your print, you will have it in a nutshell. The reason that many want the UK style of Orp is to add to the width. Most Blacks have lost due to a lack of width, in their backs, chest and head. All of those are the biggie. But, I agree, a blending of both UK and American will get you as close as needed.
I do not even want to know who is from who OR it may taint my view on who to use. I seem to be doing okay, and certainly have room for much improvement. I rather not mention either UK or APA lines when breeding. What they do not know won't hurt me.