Russian Orloffs

[CluckyCharms]

Here are a few Orloffs from the U.K.

Chris

I think I just had a drooling incident, and will need a bib for all future pictures posted by you.

 

[ashandvine]

I have seen these as well and it reminds me that I forgot about Cuckoo! I even got in touch with a woman who breeds/keeps them here in the US but she isn't sharing. I was very disappointed.

For those of you who are new to the thread I would encourage you to read through the last 40-50 pages of this thread. You will see a lot of repeats of the pictures and information you are asking for or is just now being posted again. Its also good to learn who has what. NC is very knowledgable and as you can see MFB has been working on his birds for a while. I lucked out apparently. My birds are great in color (but for one who is going to another home just to give eggs) and the overall type is better than most.

For the regulars in here: I might be holding off on getting that rooster who I thought was so great until a little later in winter. I have my hands full right now and I am moving the Orloffs to the Summer Cottage which is significantly less insulated than the barn. They will share that space with my Ams and I have a roo who goes with that group so I am not in a hurry to put two roos, one a newbie, in there together and shut it up if you catch my meaning.

Readying for a potential storm here. They are even saying snow (seriously disappointed to see snow so early this year. uck.)

NC-- have you heard from Mr Casper? I haven't. I emailed him a while back but no word. Where are those pictures you keep promising???

 

[Chris09]

I have seen these as well and it reminds me that I forgot about Cuckoo! I even got in touch with a woman who breeds/keeps them here in the US but she isn't sharing. I was very disappointed.

Cuckoo wouldn't be all that hard to make, there are some good Cuckoo and Black Malays out there to add the Barring Gene to the Orloff.

Chris

 

[ashandvine]

I went to bed thinking about that.... I have a fondness for zippers but would want really good, tight zippering like heritage Dominques or BR. Because I still know so little about which ear lobe color or leg color is dominant in which breed and whose egg color masks whose I wouldn't bother mixing. BUT Please, Chris, be my guest and then sell me some

I plan to continue to work toward the type I saw in the link that NC put out there for us of russian birds, splangled Chlianskaia. GREAT type. I love that long front, almost 'all neck' appearance. Reminds me of Parmigianino lol. Art school did come in handy after all! I find it interesting that some sites say that these birds are not friendly and others say they are very friendly. Mine are both but like many breeds I feel that some folks breed with attention paid to temperament and others do not. I certainly will be.
BTW... thank you for the earlier post of the black Orloff. Certainly something to dream about. (I like black birds, too. Who says I am difficult to shop for??)

 

[NCSprout]

NC-- have you heard from Mr Casper? I haven't. I emailed him a while back but no word. Where are those pictures you keep promising???

Sorry I haven't, I have been meaning to get in touch with him to set up something for the early spring. I actually just posted a link to my Orloff album a few posts up. All the pics were taken on the 26th so they are very recent. Some of them aren't the greatest at capturing the color and type, but they are what I could get with the birds moving and not wanting to pose the way I had in mind (darn free thinkers).

One thing that may be of interest to those who want to add other colors, the thing is to select a breed that has as close a match to type as possible. Too many have been crossed out of type and that is where our problems started. As Chris mentioned, Black or Dom Malayoid would be ideal. I have a Black Thai pullet and a Blue Kulang type Asil that I plan to put under the cockerel with the most white. Both pullets came from heavy lines and have a nice upright correct type for an Oriental. The Asil line has some cocks topping out at 8-9lbs. It is difficult to find good Malay, but not impossible. Just realize that most good Orientals are not cheap. In my opinion the cross to an Oriental should be to increase size and improve overall type, color should be secondary. Also consider that in most standards accepted in other countries the Orloff cock tops out at 3.5kg which equals 7.7lbs. These are slow maturing birds.
I am also hoping for an import this spring and that appears to be on track, but I don't like to consider it done until the eggs are in my hands. Then we can celebrate.
Hopefully the weather wont be too bad this week.
Take care everyone
Ivy

 

[ashandvine]

Ooooh, Ivy, you are my new hero! Keep me/us posted on the import. I just moved my Orloffs out to their winter house. Its not insulated so lets hope those Siberian genes kick in to keep them all alive. They are sharing the space with the Ams so the numbers are high enough to keep themselves warm.... I hope.

 

[NCSprout]

I definitely will Ash. I imagine they should do fine as long as moisture is kept down. I know I'm no where near Maine, but I haven't done anything to either warm or cool the birds since I've been keeping chickens and they are in an uninsulated barn with an open front for each section(old horse stalls). They didn't really leave the barn much winter before last, but they ventured out a bit last year.

 

[ashandvine]

NC... I took that link to your birds. I love Mr Casper's birds. I am sorry that we lost his cockerel here. I will try again. Is that little blue Asil in the picture? Grey legs might be covered by the yellow, as I think Y is dominant but.... The color on his/your birds is definitely good. So... how are those feet?? lol

 

[NCSprout]

Pleased to report I have no duck feet. LOL. That is one of the blues, yes. She is not even 4 months yet. I am finding that Charlie's birds are running a bit bigger than my other lines. I'm very interested in seeing them at a more mature size. Hope everyone is okay.

 

[taprock]

I have 4 Orloffs the same age - 6 months almost 7. I can tell 2 are hens and 1 is a rooster. The other bird is still a mystery. I thought roo but now I'm not sure.

My roo on left and mystery on right.


All four together with 3rd from left in back the mystery bird.


And one of my pullets.