Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
That is interesting! My buff was used to pellets but since I got the blue I haven't bought pellets.
I was thinking pellets would be better to feed in winter; idk they won't blow away and are more substantial/solid?
The big bag I just bought will last a long while, maybe next time.

I tried so many times to switch and the birds would just dump out all the pellets looking for the crumbles. Plus the crumbles are easier for me to mix into other feed for my waterfowl. I finally found a good local brand (Faithway) that has nice sized crumbles that retain thier shape. (think there is molasses in it- it smells funny)
I hate the stuff that turns to dust after the co-op guys throw the bags around a few times.

 

[turkeybreeder]

saw some lemon cuckoo orpingtons
really nice by pricey and also the chocolate
orpingtons but they were bantams
that would be cool if they were large fowl
chocolate orpington

 

[aveca]

Beth G. :

Hi,

I find my Orps are very late egg laying bloomers

Most of my girls born after April do not lay until Early Spring the next year. Mine are very big bodies and I think they put of their energy into growing into their frames. My Biggest girls usually don't lay for me till close to a year old. But, I'm not fond of putting lights in coops. I feel when you force a young one into laying too early you put stress on the reproductive organs forcing them to maturity faster and I've never had good experiences with that with Pullets in their first year pre-lay cycle. I've seen an increase in birds becoming egg bound and ovary passing from forcing birds into maturity too fast. But, that's just an opinion I am not an expert at all. I just go with my experience and gut.

I bet before you know it you will see eggs just when you've given up on looking for them to lay

That always seems to be the way with me. I clean my nest boxes out every weekend and tend to not look at the young ones nest boxes at all unless I know someone is laying. A couple of times I went a week later and had a nest full of eggs

Yes a waste but, that just seems my luck

Quote:
Wow, I had to edit all my horrible typing errors

I think it's time to hit the hay

be patient..I was a little freaked out at first because my orp pullet was 8 mos..no eggies yet but I now see that this is part of they way they are..I also own australorps who can start laying right at 6 mos..and dont need artificial lighting mid febuary and they are an egg production line..so the orps were new for me..a learning curve..thank God for BYC..just ask and they will help you out.​

 

[feathers4fun]

I have some lavender Orpingtons that I got as eggs from a person in my area. They're 8 months old now and I'm needing to choose the roosters I want to keep. Will keep 2; I like to have a back-up. So I'm going to attemt to post 2 pics each of Roos #1, #2 and #3. Would greatly appreciate opinions, good and bad

I know these boys have some faults but I'm not wanting to start all over again and I like the hens just fine thus far. Thanks!
First 2 pics is #1

Next 2 pics is #2 I didn't get very good pics of him

Here's a pic of #1 on the right and #2 on the left

And here's #3

 

[tennesseeckn]

Quote:
Not a lavender expert, but number two looks like he has the least red leakage to me. Do lavenders even have red leakage?

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
Not a lavender expert, but number two looks like he has the least red leakage to me. Do lavenders even have red leakage?

No- lavender dilutes red so leakage would appear more of a pale gold. They just appear a bit sun washed though- instead of getting brassy like blues do the roosters get a buttery color on the old feathers.
I like all 3, but the last I am just guessing is the least dominant? He seems the most narrow in body, but Orps can take so long to fully mature. Still- I would keep 1 & 2 just because you already know they'll be nice and round.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Has anyone shown their Self Blue/Lav Orpingtons?

We shown our Splits as Blacks this fall and the judge placed them Best of Variety and Reserve of Variety , then Reserve of Breed. That was over all but one Buff and several good Blacks. He said they ahd good Orpington type. It was a county fair, but teh judge is an excellent breeder and has judged county fairs a long time. Pat Malone and I was talking about him at Crossroads. They have been friends for over 30 years.

A friend in Texas has raised Orps for over 40 years and he told me this week, his SB/Lav Orps are the very good Orp type.

Buffs will sunbleach easy. The Whites will trun yellow in the sun. Now the lav gene will trun gold. If you are going to show them, you must keep these exhibition birds in the shade. Thankfully we have a wide tree line along our back fence.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I keep some of my lavender ameraucanas under "smoke" tinted PVC roofing, and move the whole pen into the shade from June- October. The roos still got sunbleached by summer's end. Doesn't happen in the females though.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

Quote:
I think the sun contributes... but honestly ... I feel there is more to it than that. I think it is just a sign the feathers have done their job for the season and it is time to shed them for new ones. They are just plain worn out. My black pugs show rust in their coats as they get closer to shedding for the season too. New coats come in glossy black

 

[galanie]

Quote:
Wow, I had to edit all my horrible typing errors

I think it's time to hit the hay

No eggs here yet

(hatch date May 1st)
Question though!
Would you keep using grower/finisher feed at this point, or is layer feed okay since they can actually lay any day?

Hatch date March 5th, no eggs here yet either. I thank you for this, Beth G. These are the first non-hatchery Orps I've had and good sized. I felt like it was just part of the breed, they are big after all. But it puts my mind at rest a little. You know how it is, you always want your pretty girls to hurry up and lay! But even my bigger hatchery orps took a good 7 months to start up. *sigh* So I guess I will try not to get antsy about it till February. Try.