Russian Orloffs

[gander007]

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Yes the Orloff chickens are the best personality of any chicken I have ever owned and sell so well and the only way I can keep them is to hide them from any buyers that come around but very slow growing and the fact that in the winter when the other chickens stop producing egg's the Orloff will keep on going but in the extreme heat they stop but I can just walk up to my rooster and pick him up even when he manages to get out when the door is opened long enough for him to walk out ....

You are right it is impossible for me to go anywhere unless I take them with me and I have loaded up the truck and trailer for a road trip more then once and taken a mobile cope and other smaller cages to keep them all safe but that is really for family and I always manage to get rid of some stock to some buyers somehow ....

In all my life I have only run into a few people who could care for animals without supervision and also willing to stay for any period of time so good luck on that one ..

I have good fencing all around the property and a hand full of years ago I spent $ 10,000 dollars on fencing 360 degrees so it is all fenced in with sectional fencing across the property and cages are made of lighter fencing as it would be outrages to have the coops & run made out of the extra heave fencing also but the 1/2 inch wire for the coops and cages works for the most part but when the Bob-Cats come in groups it changes everything so I had to reinvest in some guinea to make noise and it is suppressing to see them chase of some of the predators and several months ago one of my boy's got to shoot a Bob-Cat under one of the sheds because the guinea had chased it under there and yes it was a smaller one only about 10 pounds when we hung it up ....

 

[WeatheredWings]

My birds are a full time job as well, but it is only me doing most of the work. My partner helps out a little bit, I would say 5%....but I'll take whatever I can get
We keep trying to get a caretaker to live on site and help out, learn the ropes of the property so we can get away from the heat a bit in the summer, but can't get someone to stay long term.

My Marans do well in the heat and when a lot of the other breeds stop laying in the heat, I still get Marans eggs. Of course I know it's theirs since they are dark brown.

Bobcats are the bane of poultry keeping around here since fences don't keep them out: all the tops have to have covers and the wire has to be strong, making pen building ever so much more expensive.

I wonder how Speckled Sussex take the heat? They are beautiful like the Orloffs, good ones also not so common. I don't know anything about their personality. The personality of the Orloffs was what had me keeping them as long as I did---I have not had a breed quite like them in personality, they are wonderful.

I'm in WI, so I'm not sure about the heat tolerance of the sp. sussex, but I'm really loving their temperaments! This is my 1st year with RO & SS.

 

[WeatheredWings]

11 weeks old now. These are my 1st Russian Orloffs. Do they both look like pullets?

 

[EledaWV]

My very very novice guess would be one of each, left looks roo.

 

[WeatheredWings]

My very very novice guess would be one of each, left looks roo.

That's what I've been thinking, but combs aren't looking much different, maybe they wouldn't look different yet? The poofy cheek feathers make it look very roostery but is that common in a RO pullet?

 

[EledaWV]

I was looking more at legs & body type, they are notoriously slow maturing...

 

[WeatheredWings]

I was looking more at legs & body type, they are notoriously slow maturing...

Oh really! Like I said these are my 1st RO's and actually they were sold to me as pullets, they "didn't" have roosters available. Maybe it was my lucky day! He/she is quite beautiful/handsome either way!

 

[EledaWV]

This is my 1st year as well, I spent many hours looking at photos trying to figure it out
Don't hold me to it though! There are definitely those here more "expert" at this whole thing!
It might help if you post a pic of them from the back too (tail, saddle)...

 

[WeatheredWings]

This is my 1st year as well, I spent many hours looking at photos trying to figure it out
Don't hold me to it though! There are definitely those here more "expert" at this whole thing!
It might help if you post a pic of them from the back too (tail, saddle)...

 

[vtguania]

WeatheredWings both are pullets. The bottom one has no beard/muff therefor I suggest not using her for breeding purposes if it's what you plan. Here's a link to our facebook group page if you're interested in joining the Russian Orloff Society of USA and Canada https://www.facebook.com/groups/uscaorloffs/