Russian Orloffs

[Kim95037]

BOO HOO A GOOD HOME FOR MY ROO???????

I would be willing to drive him to a location in Ca depending on the distance and would also consider shipping. Ive never shipped an adult chicken, I just want him to arrive safe and have a wonderful new home. This is a tough one, Im really attached to this little stinker.......


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/735089/boo-hoo-i-dont-wanna-get-rid-of-my-roo

Heres some good pics!

 

[ashandvine]

If you are referring to the pictures that I post I didn't say that they were Russians or Russian Orloffs. I was using the pictures to show comb type since a lot of people don't understand what a Spikeless Rose Comb (as the U.S. SOP called for) looks like and they seem to confuse it with a Walnut Comb, Straberry or even at times a Cushion Comb..

Chris

OH!!!!!

It read like you were saying that Russians were what you were showings pics of and Orloffs were something different. Thanks for the clarification. Funny.

 

[ashandvine]

He's finally here!

Following are terrible pictures of my new Rooster in his dog crate quarantine in the barn. He was completely wacky when I put the camera near him. I think birds must think its one big predator eye! Better pictures on another day after the Poultry Congress.

He is two years old and I chose him over the other offered to me because this boy was wider and slightly taller. I love his posture and large muffs. His color is pretty dark but he has a few places that are not up to standard, like too many white primaries etc. BUT type is important (and he was free) so here we go.

 

[desertmarcy]

Congratulations on your new boy!

 

[BlackPanther]

I think the number of people with Orloffs on the forum is misleading - outside of the forum, they are really hard to find. Very few people are breeding them seriously. They are nearly impossible to find, unless you go with a hatchery. I did, because I wasn't willing to spend a fortune on hatching eggs when I was just starting out with them.
About half of my hatchery birds are pretty nice quality, IMO. Half I sold or culled. I am hoping to get some nicer stock next year.

I have been reading through the thread and several people have said that they got there Russian Orloffs from hatcheries.
Do you recall which ones they were?

 

[karenbrat1]

I don't have Orloffs yet... may get some from Kummer Farm. But hatcheries I know of that carry them are Ideal, Welp, and Strombergs.

 

[ashandvine]

There are a few other sources as well, preserves if you will. Take a look at their stock before you order. There are a few sites out there that don't seem to have working contact info anymore which is disappointing, like Spring Hill. They had some of the best I had seen but I can't seem to reach them. There are also a few breeders that are private as well. Try searching through this website and see who you can find. I can recommend one woman here in Maine who has some she is breeding. I haven't seen the hens but the cockerels were pretty good. I think she got hers from Red Rooster or Red Barn?? Can't recall clearly.

Thank you Marcy! I know those pics were crap. He has finally settled down a little but so have the temps so better pics are possible but not desireable. brrrr. I selected him for his width and height. His brother had better color but I knew which one was harder to breed for. I now have an Orloff pen, complete with Orloffs. Now if only they would decide to lay!

 

[desertmarcy]

Guess I better take some new photos and post. I picked the best 6 pullets for breeding and put my reddist, nicest cock in with them with intention of hatching this winter. Well, only one pullet was laying, and out of 6 eggs I incubated, all were infertile. Now none of them are laying. I can't figure this out. Last winter, my original group of pullets, which hatched on 6/24/11, were laying up a storm and I hatched out a lot of them. This group is almost a year old since I hatched last Jan-Feb. No eggs! They are in the same pen as I had the original group, so getting the same light level (natural light, I'm not supplementing). I need to test this male and see if he is in fact fertile. Hard to do when none of the pullets are laying. Then I put my two nicest original hens in with one of two sons that I held back---got one egg to incubate and then they quit laying, too. That egg hatched with a group of Black Copper Marans. Funny seeing the lone Orloff with the black chicks. I have to say, it is not just the Orloffs that are off this year. A lot of my birds are not laying well this winter. Last winter was gang-busters. I was pretty happy with my first group of Orloffs as far as laying, but right now, I have to say, I'm pretty discouraged at the rate of lay. Guess I'll just have to wait and see if they pick up when the days get longer. Either that or run a loooong extension cord out there and put a light on a timer on them.

 

[RhodeRunner]

I got a few snapshots of the birds today. It was 6 degrees, with a chill to the bone wind. But, Orloffs have to play...

Zoya waiting to be let out of her pen.

Dimitri, Irene and Zoya.


Bantams - Mini May and Ollie

 

[RhodeRunner]

Congratulations on your new boy!

X2 He looks quite promising. Hope you get some nice chicks out of him!