QUESTION ABOUT ORPINGTONS

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Didn't want to hijack the other thread but I have a question regarding orpingtons as well. I have heritage orpingtons not hatchery birds. I have a rooster and 5 hens together in a breeding pen. They just turned 1 years old. I am lucky to get one egg a day. Is this normal. Sometimes I get 2 . but I have never gone int here and found more than that. I realize they are slow to mature but how long does it take. It seems its the same two hens that lay.

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

Well I know heritage orps lay less than hatchery orps, but I dont know if it is that extreme of a difference.

Im sure someone will have a better answer soon.
Jason

 

[DawnSuiter]

What is a heritage orpington?

 

[Krys109uk]

The number of eggs laid & egg size for any breed will vary from line to line. I shouldn't say 1 possibly 2 eggs per day from 5 Orp females is 'normal'. I've seen better laying than that at this time of year, from Indian Game (aka Cornish). It could be that your birds are just having a 'rest' & will improve again. Lots of things can affect egg production, a challenge, stress......etc.etc.
Maybe they have been bred for looks without taking in to account egg production. That's easy to do when one is aiming for something in particular. Perhaps the strain needs new blood. It's hard to say.
If their laying is 1 to 2 eggs per day at best for the whole season that is not good. If ruling out health challenge & stress as a factor, perhaps some new blood might be needed. A new male for the ladies & see whether their female offspring are more productive?

Julie, who goes under the name of Bama Chickens has beautiful Orpingtons.

 

[speckledhen]

My flock rooster is from Bama Chicken, my best hen from Jim Cox in WVA and two other younger girls from elsewhere. From the three hens (and Skye is over two and a half years old now, with the younger two being over a year), I get at least two eggs a day, sometimes three. I'd say one from five is a bit low, really. I'd say the lines are what counts, as Krys mentioned.

There is technically no such thing as a heritage Orp, though. A breeder Orp, yes, which is what you must have meant, right?