Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[aveca]

x2!

I ordered my GLO's from Nellie!!

Woo Hoo!! Love the Glos..good abreiv for them sounds like Glows..they glow for sure

 

[littlechicklet]

LOL! Up here they call it doctor green..everything begins to shine and get sleek when they get into the grass..I can only cut up so much green grocery store stuff..they dont like it as much..but if a little grass peeks through the snow its gone...springs right around the corner..so excited!!

cant wait to see the bunnies and orpies together..that would be a great greeting card!

I don't know if it would be feasible for you to do for your chickens or not but I have an indoor only cat and I grow grass in flower pots for him. I just buy the seed in the lawn department, fill a flower post almost full of potting soil, put on a layer of seeds, cover with more potting soil, water well, cover with Saran wrap & park it in a bright area and within a few days you will start seeing it peep through. I usually keep it out of his reach after I take the plastic wrap off or he will pull it all up and not get a good crop of grass. Just a thought.

 

[aveca]

I don't know if it would be feasible for you to do for your chickens or not but I have an indoor only cat and I grow grass in flower pots for him. I just buy the seed in the lawn department, fill a flower post almost full of potting soil, put on a layer of seeds, cover with more potting soil, water well, cover with Saran wrap & park it in a bright area and within a few days you will start seeing it peep through. I usually keep it out of his reach after I take the plastic wrap off or he will pull it all up and not get a good crop of grass. Just a thought.

Sounds like something I might want to try..I could clip some for them..

 

[galanie]

But, Bill, you bred and raised her. I only had her for a while. I am glad she is getting used to further your lines.

I knew Lee before I even knew who Doug Akers was and how great an APA breeder he is, not just of Buff Orps, but of many APA accepted breeds. Lee offered me these 5 Akers Buff Orp hens for "FREE". Initially I said no. I felt like I was taking advantage of his generousity. It was Schroeder's extremely nice breeder of that Black Orp pullet he just posted, who said "Bill, you call Lee back and say yes". She too gave me my first Blacks Orps for "free". Just had to pay for shipping. Some will say I have "bargain" Orps. I do, but have paid in the past good money for quality Orps. Paid $175 for a trio of Britt Buff Orps and paid Danny Padget $40 for delivering them to me at the Ohio Natls. Then bellied up and paid $150 for one more Britt buff Orp cock. After being involved with APA folks, I found out most all are very generous. Most all just want people to have a great time in the hobby. They do not want money to be the reason that soon to be diehard breeders from having nice birds. Don Chandler also gave me some "free" Buffs when I got my start. Don and I are very good friends. Doug has given me for "free" a very nice pullet this past Jan. Before this pullet, I had bought Buffs from him, usually around $20 to $30 sometimes at APA shows sometimes I went to his house. Doug called Lee the little old Silver Haired guy with his grand daughter. Thanks to folks like Lee, I now know many legendary APA breeders, and not just those who breed Orps. Bob Blosi, who is equally as great a breeder of Plymouth Rocks and RIR's, the Pattersons who are well known for having great White Wyandottes and Faverolles, and ofcourse Jack Patterson (no relation to Ron) who is Doug's mentor, Dave K. who has the best Sebs in the country, Steve Jones who has more breeds then I have hair on my head, and on and on and on. All cause these breeders like Lee know how important it is to encourage good people to get involved in hobby and like them to have APA quality birds. Guys like Lee do not want to make money off the new to the hobby, he certainly could have sold any or all of these Akers hens for $50 each or more, they just want to build the numbers of folks who like poultry and make some lifetime friends. Since Lee gave me for "free" these 5 Akers Buff Orps, I have been his friend, & been on this thread. Most all who posted in the first year or two on this thread have long since have gone. Once the luster of making money was drained out of these exotic import Orps they have moved onto the next import breed to make a buck with. Lee and I and a few others are still here. Still giving quality birds to those who are nice and just want to enjoy having and even some showing at APA sanctioned shows birds of their liking. It is an honor to know you Lee and be your friend. You can see how much of these hens are in this Buff Lee had and conditioned. I still say no one is any better then Lee when it comes to conditioning birds.

Do you know, I've gotten birds from good breeders, and eggs, and never paid the prices you claim they charge. Or maybe I did, but since I know the amount that shipping is, I did after all? I'm unclear on this. Maybe it's my blonde genes taking over. I know that I paid a lot for the live ones that came from out of state but the box said the shipping alone was over $100.00. Then the box itself after my research is pretty expensive. Maybe that's the price I pay for living so danged far from good breeders? Cause there for sure aren't any unless I want to go to the panhandle, which is a good 8 hour drive from here.

 

[thedragonlady]

I don't know if it would be feasible for you to do for your chickens or not but I have an indoor only cat and I grow grass in flower pots for him. I just buy the seed in the lawn department, fill a flower post almost full of potting soil, put on a layer of seeds, cover with more potting soil, water well, cover with Saran wrap & park it in a bright area and within a few days you will start seeing it peep through. I usually keep it out of his reach after I take the plastic wrap off or he will pull it all up and not get a good crop of grass. Just a thought.

If you will leave a 1 1/2 inch space between the top of the pot and the grass, and put hardware mesh over it, the birds /cats can't kill it. It helps to have a couple of pots, or flats.

 

[thedragonlady]

Do you know, I've gotten birds from good breeders, and eggs, and never paid the prices you claim they charge. Or maybe I did, but since I know the amount that shipping is, I did after all? I'm unclear on this. Maybe it's my blonde genes taking over. I know that I paid a lot for the live ones that came from out of state but the box said the shipping alone was over $100.00. Then the box itself after my research is pretty expensive. Maybe that's the price I pay for living so danged far from good breeders? Cause there for sure aren't any unless I want to go to the panhandle, which is a good 8 hour drive from here.

In the end, it matters not what you pay for birds. What costs are the coops, and feed, for people who want to do it RIGHT, and keep birds humanely.

 

[lildinkem]

It is true that the most important place to put your money is in quality feed. I go thru at least one 50 lbs bag of Dumor Layers Pellets each and every day. After the breeding season gets going that is one bag of layers and one bag of Chick starter each day. I will go from having near 100 birds to over 200 by summers end. For now I only have 15 chicks hatched. Most all are White/Buffs, Buffs, and Whites. I have one or two Blues and a Chipmunk lookin chick which maybe either Columbian or Partridge. Time will tell on that one. Haven't lost any to the cold or bad weather just to my antique Springfield .22 that Lee gave me.
I do hope to give one of my Schutzhund doggy buddies some of my culls for egg laying. Nate is the head Sarge of Marion County lockup. He has 50 some cops under him. Great guy and a great trainer of very high quality GSD's. Years ago he was the helper to Mike Diehl, head K-9 trainer for the IMPD. Mike has been USA Schutzhund champ for several years. Schutzhund folks despise AKC breeders for watering down the temperment of service dogs. That is why all K-9 dogs are from European imported lines. Sounds familiar? Mike has sold his dogs after winning USA Schutzhund for $50,000. Then the new owner just wants the dogs to become a couch patato.


Mike's newest dog he uses for Schutzhund only.
Mike & Imus

 

[thedragonlady]

It is true that the most important place to put your money is in quality feed. I go thru at least one 50 lbs bag of Dumor Layers Pellets each and every day. After the breeding season gets going that is one bag of layers and one bag of Chick starter each day. I will go from having near 100 birds to over 200 by summers end. For now I only have 15 chicks hatched. Most all are White/Buffs, Buffs, and Whites. I have one or two Blues and a Chipmunk lookin chick which maybe either Columbian or Partridge. Time will tell on that one. Haven't lost any to the cold or bad weather just to my antique Springfield .22 that Lee gave me.
I do hope to give one of my Schutzhund doggy buddies some of my culls for egg laying. Nate is the head Sarge of Marion County lockup. He has 50 some cops under him. Great guy and a great trainer of very high quality GSD's. Years ago he was the helper to Mike Diehl, head K-9 trainer for the IMPD. Mike has been USA Schutzhund champ for several years. Schutzhund folks despise AKC breeders for watering down the temperment of service dogs. That is why all K-9 dogs are from European imported lines. Sounds familiar? Mike has sold his dogs after winning USA Schutzhund for $50,000. Then the new owner just wants the dogs to become a couch patato.


Mike's newest dog he uses for Schutzhund only.
Mike & Imus

Goodness, that's a lot of feed and birds. I'd rather raise fewer, and spend what's left on reservations in Knoxville for me and all the girls. Got 'em ladies !

 

[delisha]

Quote: Great Idea!!!

Quote:

 

[aveca]

Next year Im going to try this..there is something about green grass that does good things for chickens..