Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[cbnovick]

aveca- thank you. It would have been okay if it had been a cockerel but I will take a pullet. LOL

Here's some of my buffs. The girls are filling out nicely. If I can get the majority of my blues to look like this I will be doing a happy dance.

Nice!!

 

[thedragonlady]

it depends on how they have been bred...if she was bred to be a show bird which it doesn't look like she was...so looks to have a longer back..and if that is the case she was bred to be a layer. So she should as with most orpingtons start laying around 6-8 months

My English x US crossbred Orps ,who are show quality, lay at 5 months old.

 

[littlechicklet]

Pretty girl.

Nice!!

Thank you both. I think its 2 different pullets, not the same one.

 

[Lots A Cluckin]

Quote:

wow I have never had an orpington to lay that early!!!

My 100% English Black pullet started at 6 months...but even my full american lavenders did not start until 6 months.

 

[littlechicklet]

wow I have never had an orpington to lay that early!!!

My 100% English Black pullet started at 6 months...but even my full american lavenders did not start until 6 months.

x2 on the early laying. Mine have never started on/before 6 months. Its usually more like 7-9 months on mine. I have some coming up on 6 months and am eagerly waiting on eggs. Mine are not English but may have some English in the lines.

 

[thedragonlady]

x2 on the early laying. Mine have never started on/before 6 months. Its usually more like 7-9 months on mine. I have some coming up on 6 months and am eagerly waiting on eggs. Mine are not English but may have some English in the lines.

My 100% English also lay at 5 months.They have been properly wormed, ( 6 times before 5 months) fed a high quality diet, and dusted for external parasites. Orps are supposed to be a dual purpose breed.

 

[bbishop]

 

[littlechicklet]

My 100% English also lay at 5 months.They have been properly wormed, ( 6 times before 5 months) fed a high quality diet, and dusted for external parasites. Orps are supposed to be a dual purpose breed.

I knew they were suppose to be a dual purpose breed but have never had one lay early. My pullets do not even lay every day once they start. I worm mine but not that much, they are treated for external parasites, fed a good quality food and allowed to free range for 3-6 hours most days. I am far from an expert and only have a year and half or so with Orps but compared to hatchery layers and EEs they do not begin to hold a candle to them in the egg laying. Now, they can sure out do the mutts when it comes to consuming food!

Again in my limited experience I think the "show" quality Orps have lost some of the traits they once possessed. I am not saying all show lines have lost the laying part of the dual purpose in the breed but many have. IMO like many AKC show lines in dogs they have evolved to something other than the original goals they were bred for. I am not trying to open a can of worms or start a bickering match just merely stating my opinion based on my limited experience with Orps.

 

[thedragonlady]

I knew they were suppose to be a dual purpose breed but have never had one lay early. My pullets do not even lay every day once they start. I worm mine but not that much, they are treated for external parasites, fed a good quality food and allowed to free range for 3-6 hours most days. I am far from an expert and only have a year and half or so with Orps but compared to hatchery layers and EEs they do not begin to hold a candle to them in the egg laying. Now, they can sure out do the mutts when it comes to consuming food!

Again in my limited experience I think the "show" quality Orps have lost some of the traits they once possessed. I am not saying all show lines have lost the laying part of the dual purpose in the breed but many have. IMO like many AKC show lines in dogs they have evolved to something other than the original goals they were bred for. I am not trying to open a can of worms or start a bickering match just merely stating my opinion based on my limited experience with Orps.

The Orps that fit the SOP should lay well. When you get very short backs, like in some English lines, laying is decreased. Look at the top laying breeds. All long backed. If you get Orps too short, you are showing the Cochin blood bred into them , particularly by the English. Cochins are not heavy layers. I aim to have a longer bird, while keeping the depth, and the UMPH, that provides meat. A true dual purpose bird.All the birds that I have sold to people over the US lay early also, if they are well reared.

 

[OSUman]

Quote:
What is your worming schedule for birds?