Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[galanie]

Hello all new guy here. I have a question, I am in the process of building my coops runs and getting my birds. I'm in lobe with the orpington breed (looks and attitude ) due to the fact I have kids and a skidish wife. I am torn between these lovely birds and what everyone is telling I should get living in the Houston Tx area. If I can "shade them" or something it wouldn't be such an issue. I like the frozen water bottle idea and the frozen watermelon. But shouldn't I have birds that are cute as well as functional?

Help......please?

I live in Houston Texas and have some of these marvelous birds. It's true that the ones bred to Standard are not as heat tolerant as some other breeds. But I've had no unsurmountable troubles with them. I have large old oaks in my yard and my biggest secret.. their "pool." I have a tray that is a couple inches deep and a couple feet across that I keep water in for them to stand in and cool off. This tray is in the shade all day. They also like to sit at the base of the tree as it's cool there.

Shade and shade and shaded shade and lots of water is what they need. Double layers of shade too, as in a covered area that is itself shaded by trees is perfect. Open air flow too. My coop is completely open to the south and all three of the other walls either have large windows or smaller ones strategically placed. I have thrown beauty aside for the comfort of the birds. Sometimes I've even been known to soak their bellies with a spray bottle while they're on the roost at night.

This isn't JUST the Standard bred Orpingtons though. I also have a sex link, LF Cornish, and some hatchery hens. All of them suffer, not just the Orps.

Here's a picture I took last year. Mostly hatchery birds enjoying the cool water, etc.

 

[thedragonlady]

Hello all new guy here. I have a question, I am in the process of building my coops runs and getting my birds. I'm in lobe with the orpington breed (looks and attitude ) due to the fact I have kids and a skidish wife. I am torn between these lovely birds and what everyone is telling I should get living in the Houston Tx area. If I can "shade them" or something it wouldn't be such an issue. I like the frozen water bottle idea and the frozen watermelon. But shouldn't I have birds that are cute as well as functional?

Help......please?

All breeds of chickens suffer in extreme heat. We have 95-110 temperatures here in SC during the summer, with very high humidity too. Misters are useless here due to the humidity. I have large chain link covered sand runs that are roofed,and also shaded on the west side by hops vines. There is a large hackberry tree over head.Every run has a fan going 24/7 when the temperatures get to 90. The fans help cool the birds, and keep any mosquitoes away.

My big Buff Orps range in an orchard that is shaded during the late afternoon, with heavily leafed hydrangeas everywhere. Lots of cool, moist places to snooze in during the heat.They also have wading pools to cool off in. The Orps are happy, and lay well all summer long. You can see a lot of my set up on my page. I've shipped birds to owners in Texas and Louisiana that are doing well.

Keeping any birds in extreme heat requires some thinking about coop and run design, as well as good management, but it is very possible to be successful if you have the correct facilities for them.

 

[chicksooner]

I live in Houston Texas and have some of these marvelous birds. It's true that the ones bred to Standard are not as heat tolerant as some other breeds. But I've had no unsurmountable troubles with them. I have large old oaks in my yard and my biggest secret.. their "pool." I have a tray that is a couple inches deep and a couple feet across that I keep water in for them to stand in and cool off. This tray is in the shade all day. They also like to sit at the base of the tree as it's cool there.

Shade and shade and shaded shade and lots of water is what they need. Double layers of shade too, as in a covered area that is itself shaded by trees is perfect. Open air flow too. My coop is completely open to the south and all three of the other walls either have large windows or smaller ones strategically placed. I have thrown beauty aside for the comfort of the birds. Sometimes I've even been known to soak their bellies with a spray bottle while they're on the roost at night.

This isn't JUST the Standard bred Orpingtons though. I also have a sex link, LF Cornish, and some hatchery hens. All of them suffer, not just the Orps.

Here's a picture I took last year. Mostly hatchery birds enjoying the cool water, etc.

that tray is perfect. I have been looking for something like that. Mine will climb into the wash tub I fill with water and ice that they lay around. My birds are big enough that the water covers their legs up to their belly. Pretty funny to see but whatever works for them.

 

[TherryChicken]

[COLOR=800080]Can't get much cuter than Orpingtons in my opinion- I live in South Louisiana, and I do have half shaded coops & runs. Make sure they have shade & plenty of clean water with the heat. Here is a pic of mine to give you an idea[/COLOR] [COLOR=800080] [/COLOR] [COLOR=800080] [/COLOR]

 

[galanie]

that tray is perfect. I have been looking for something like that. Mine will climb into the wash tub I fill with water and ice that they lay around. My birds are big enough that the water covers their legs up to their belly. Pretty funny to see but whatever works for them.

The smaller tray in the picture is a concrete mixing tray I found at a hardware store. I was lucky with the big one. Mother had that made for her some 50 years ago to use when stripping furniture. It's rusty and I need to patch it from time to time but it's still the best thing I've found for them. Soon I'll be getting a roll of pond liner (the kind that just like a rubber sheet) and just use that in it.

 

[Johnn]

Well Bella's mother has just got attacked by a hen below her when she got off the nest, but luckily the top hen got involved helping Bella's mother when the 2 where fighting. Both seem very unsure about where they stand now but I just hope Bella's mother has a good nights sleep and is more fiesty in the morning and claim back her rightful place.

 

[griffinchicken]

baby custard in the middle

 

[galanie]

baby custard in the middle

 

[PugBug]

I took some pics today in the 'nursery pen'. It's rained off & on the past few days so kinda nasty out, not the best pics but here they are

 

[PugBug]

here's a few more, so many babies in there it's hard to get good pics