Russian Orloffs

[shelleyb1969]

Quote:
Why thank you, HappyMtn!

I'm working on getting a complete pedigree of my birds. My young pullets are coming of age, so soon I'll be hatching pure cuckoo Orloffs. I've got several new spangled ladies for my spangled roosters, and my crele project birds are coming along VERY nicely...I'm very pleased with them. I also just acquired a quad of BANTAM spangleds...so I'll be working on those this winter as well. I guess I've become ORLOFF CRAZY! I adore this breed...they're great.

Here's one of my standard pullets from this spring's hatch.

And my new bantam roo:

 

[shelleyb1969]

Wolfwoman: I LOVE Stormy.

Very nice baby. Reminds me of a few of my girls when they were little. I predict that Stormy will be a real looker in a few more months.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Rachael and Wolfwoman: I wouldn't be too concerned with the whole beard/muff issues with your hatchery Orloffs. The hatchery stock that I have seen did appear to "muff out" much slower than breeder stock birds. And the pullets can sometimes, BUT NOT ALWAYS, develop their beards/muffs at a slower rate still. So don't worry about that...and it's definitely not an indicator of sex.

And as for the excessive white (not that it was even mentioned

)...that's nothing to be worried about in youngsters either. Most of it SHOULD grow out as they mature. And it works in reverse as well...most birds without much spangling will acquire more as they age. Orloffs are really unique in that for the most part everything just works out in the end. The only thing I cull for in young birds (3+ months of age) is body TYPE e.g. body carriage and leg color. It can take muffs, beards, and color (or lack thereof) MUCH longer to come in. So those traits I really don't pay much serious attention too until they're AT LEAST 6 months of age. I'm not saying this is the right/best way, but it's how I do it in my program.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Shelley I might have to get some spangled eggs or chicks from you soon. I'm doing a test run of EEs to make sure I can keep the temps decent.

My older pair are getting red in the combs! They are the strangest birds though. They chat all day long- very softly, but they both make the same noise "hoomph hoomph hoomph". I really don't want to lock them up, but they free range so far I'm afraid they are going to be stolen or run over.
Love them to death- but they sure stress me out!

 

[shelleyb1969]

Right now, HappyMtn, my spangled hens are still in with my cuckoo rooster...so no eggs are available yet. I'm building new pens right now to get everyone set up for the winter, though...so hopefully very soon I'll have eggs available. The girls are laying, but the eggs aren't pure yet. I completely re-worked my Orloffs this year and sold all of my adult roosters and kept, out of MANY chicks, the best 2 roosters. They're just coming of age, so as soon as the pens are finished they'll be going in with the laying Orloff hens.

This is my first year letting some of my Orloffs free range. My original adult breeders had been confined their entire lives and I just couldn't chance letting them loose as they had NO clue as to self preservation LOL, not to mention the rooster fighting issues. My youngsters have been free ranging all summer and I really hate to pen them up...but it's for their own safety this winter.

Edited to correct who I was directing this post, too. I should've had more coffee before I started posting this morning.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Thanks and I hope he develops well, he is after all, a $75 chick...

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Does anyone find their Orloffs to be very flighty? Mine are, but not in an annoying way. They take flight to get TO me faster, rather than away from me. They seem very practical about it, LOL.

Shelley, I would LOVE to see pictures of your cuckoo or Crele birds! I'm especially interested in the cuckoos!

 

[Wolfwoman]

Quote:
Yes, almost so much that I'm afraid I'll step on them!

 

[shelleyb1969]

Quote:
I'm embarrassed to say that I don't have any recent pics of my cuckoos.

If it's not raining tomorrow, I'll try to get that done and post some. The weather is getting pretty nasty out there tonight...but I'll do my best. My crele project chicks free range, so they'll be a lot harder to get a shot of...but I'll get it done.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Alaskan Snow Chicken.

Ptarmigan, the Alaska state bird. They bear a remarkable resemblance in coloration when the Ptarmigan is in its transitional color phase.

RLW Standard Cornish pullets look kind of similar to the Ptarmigan type-wise.

Hehe, I'm loving my Alaska Chicken collection!