Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[delisha]

I think my Orps have the right amount of skirts. I could be wrong. I have a mud hole for a pathway at the moment and the feathers get muddy right in the *squat* area during mating and elimination. The moms seem to keep the chicks out of the mud and water so far. It is still pretty cold. It was 38 today, but, so nice and sunny. One of the moms had her chicks out most of the afternoon. I cleaned out some of the DL and had straw and wood chips tossed on top of the snow piles and that is where she took her kids.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

I have a question, one of my 8 month old Orp Roos is limping. I checked his feet, no obvious signs of distress, no bumble foot. Can't figure it out. I have them on a breeder feed of 24%, could this be the problem?

 

[thedragonlady]

x2

Thank you both. I find that the English Orps attract a lot of people who have never had birds. Yes, they are gorgeous with all that dripping fluff., but is it practical when you expect the breed you've bought to be able to brood and raise chicks under less than clean coop/ short pasture
conditions?

I raised a few very good LF Cochins many years ago, and they were not able to handle free range conditions. Not due to their feet (which the chicks would stand on ) but due to the chicks being chilled, by those wet skirts.Lesson well learned.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

How high are your perches??.. I have had a few to get injured that way.

24% protein in my opinion is too rich for a rooster

 

[thedragonlady]

How high are your perches??.. I have had a few to get injured that way.

My perches start at 6", and go up from there. Most of mine roost 3 feet up. I have had NO injury problems. Perch height does not enter into too low fluff for brooding and raising chicks. All of my chicks are taught to fly up to roosts in my greenhouse brooder, then outside, and will do so at maturity.

OOPS !! Thought you were asking me Renie !

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

My perches start at 6", and go up from there. Most of mine roost 3 feet up. I have had NO injury problems. Perch height does not enter into too low fluff for brooding and raising chicks. All of my chicks are taught to fly up to roosts in my greenhouse brooder, then outside, and will do so at maturity.

I was answering

Blarneyeggs
I have a question, one of my 8 month old Orp Roos is limping. I checked his feet, no obvious signs of distress, no bumble foot. Can't figure it out. I have them on a breeder feed of 24%, could this be the problem?

Sorry for not making that more clearer.

 

[galanie]

I had my perches at 5 feet and started getting injuries when my "real" Orps (as opposed to hatchery mix mutts) began to mature. Lowered them and no more problems. Do listen to advice when it comes to the heavier breeds and perch height. It does make a difference.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

I had my perches at 5 feet and started getting injuries when my "real" Orps (as opposed to hatchery mix mutts) began to mature. Lowered them and no more problems. Do listen to advice when it comes to the heavier breeds and perch height. It does make a difference.

Some Orp breeders don't even use perches for their birds.

 

[littlechicklet]

I had my perches at 5 feet and started getting injuries when my "real" Orps (as opposed to hatchery mix mutts) began to mature. Lowered them and no more problems. Do listen to advice when it comes to the heavier breeds and perch height. It does make a difference.

x2! I had one that started limping before I moved my roosts down. I put him in isolation until he healed. I can still see something "off" in his gait but its very minor.

 

[Don Chandler]

Some Orp breeders don't even use perches for their birds.

My roost are 12 inches of the ground. I don't think my buffs could make a 5 ft roost. I use 4 foot wire on my pens and they never get out.