Russian Orloff

[Bzychknmama]

Hi, I have been reading backyard chickens for a long time and have found some great information so I would love your input to help me make a decision. I have had my chickens for going on three years, and this year I purchased 2 Russian Orloff pullets to add to my flock. I really like their temperaments. Well they are going on four months and I am pretty sure that Henie is a Henry. So with this development I find myself in a dilemma. I am thinking about keeping the two and breeding them, which would mean building a new coop and the additional care for Orloffs because I do not want to dilute the breed by just adding them to my flock or just selling the pair, I had thought maybe trading Henry for a hen but they are a pair and always together. Is their enough interest in the breed that I should or could just keep the pair?

 

[vtguania]

Welcome to BYC!!! There is another thread for the RO (Russian Orloff). https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/297764/russian-orloffs The latests posts are the most current. There are a few people out there with this breed including myself. The Spangled is the most common here in the US although some Mahogany are available if you want hatching eggs. There's also a club being formed http://usorloffs.freeforums.net/. I am very new to this breed but to me it's worth the long hours I spent trying to acquire them. Please post some pics if you get a chance.

 

[Bzychknmama]

Hi, thank you for the information. I did follow the links I have spangled Orloffs, mine have a lot of the mahogany color. I am wondering if there is a market for them in my area. I do not have room for additional chickens for my flock, I have 23 including my Orloffs. I would like to keep the two, and would like to raise them. I like the idea that they lay even in the winter, that is what drew me to the breed in the first place. Last winter many of the the people in my area who sell their eggs had a large drop in production. I live in Portland Oregon area,

 

[vtguania]

Yes the Spangled is the most common in the US. I only have 3 that have a lot of Mahogany, the rest have a lot of white on them. I'm not sure what you mean by a market for them. They are very cold hearty & are suppose to do well in the heat as well but a few fellow memebers have been losing a few due to the extreme heat in their area. I know there are a few people in the Washington area that have Orloff but I'm not sure about Oregon. Here's a pic of two of what I think are cockerels




& one of my Orloff which I think is a pullet at 7 wks old

 

[Bzychknmama]

Very nice looking birds.. did your hens hatch them? how long have you had Orloff's? What made you think the two are cockerels? I like that each Orloff's markings are different. Henry has a white face, he is just larger then the frawnie who I just thought was maybe a couple of days younger. But Henrys legs are longer and thicker. I guess what I meant by marketing is selling the chicks or raise them for a few months, people in my area like buying birds that are about 3 months old. I do not have much room for more birds and the girls I have now pay for themselves by selling their eggs. So I guess I just need to reacherch it a little more.I will see if my son in law can get some photos this weekend.

 

[vtguania]

Very nice looking birds.. did your hens hatch them? how long have you had Orloff's? What made you think the two are cockerels? I like that each Orloff's markings are different. Henry has a white face, he is just larger then the frawnie who I just thought was maybe a couple of days younger. But Henrys legs are longer and thicker. I guess what I meant by marketing is selling the chicks or raise them for a few months, people in my area like buying birds that are about 3 months old. I do not have much room for more birds and the girls I have now pay for themselves by selling their eggs. So I guess I just need to reacherch it a little more.I will see if my son in law can get some photos this weekend.

I bought these as day old chicks from a breeder in Ohio. Have only had Orloffs for 8 wks tomorrow, these being my first. Started out with 14 but lost three. As far as the top two being cockerels, the second pic is the way he stands as opposed to the pullet in the last pic (the way she holds her tail for me). Also had a few experienced Orloff members from the UK tell me as well. There are always someone looking to buy Orloff, whether they are new to the breed or someone looking to add a different line. The thing to remember is that this breed having been critically endangered it is important to try to breed to a standard so sometimes a chicken we may think is good & favor may not always be the one we should keep for strengthening the breed. I look forward to seeing pics of Henry & Frawnie. I've yet to pick names out for mine, being thinking of a few though, once I can distinguish each one from the rest.