Russian Orloffs

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Quote:
Well, they figured it out while I was kneeling to do something, and once one did it...they ALL had to try it out!

That is, of course, they are literally perched on top of my toes as I walk around.

Between the Orloffs and the Flemish Giant rabbit that lives out there and climbs cages to get into whatever I'm carrying around, I feel totally mobbed and have trouble getting anything done.

Who said friendly animals are a GOOD thing?! Maybe the Dels that keep a respectful distance should be admired for that stand-offishness!

 

[Wolfwoman]

That's just TOOO funny!

 

[shelleyb1969]

Quote:
What lines are the Spangled's? Do you know of anyone who still has stock from Duane Urch? I had his stock quite a while back, and I really liked it, but Im having a very hard time trying to re-locate some of the stock that he had.

Nate

I bought my original spangled start up flock from my same breeder friend (that I got my cuckoos from). I think he bought some birds from Terry in Ohio several years back, but I'm not sure if there's another line in their pedigree or not. The spangleds are part of my "pedigree project" this winter.

I know of no one with the Urch line.

 

[SFIcelandics]

Quote:
What lines are the Spangled's? Do you know of anyone who still has stock from Duane Urch? I had his stock quite a while back, and I really liked it, but Im having a very hard time trying to re-locate some of the stock that he had.

Nate

I bought my original spangled start up flock from my same breeder friend (that I got my cuckoos from). I think he bought some birds from Terry in Ohio several years back, but I'm not sure if there's another line in their pedigree or not. The spangleds are part of my "pedigree project" this winter.

I know of no one with the Urch line.

Yeah, no-body knows of anyone with the urch line. I found one person that might have them, but havent heard back yet, I know he has orloffs, but not sure the exact line.

Nate

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Mine are Flannery / Erhard lines. The Erhard birds I'm pretty sure are imports from Germany with no out-crossing since they arrived. Honestly, I have not seen better (spangled/type) birds.

Curt (Flannery) sold some of his stock to IDEAL and it went downhill from there. The ones I got a few years ago were mostly white birds (I'd consider pied, not even close to spangled) and some are RUMPLESS???

The stock I got from Sandhill had the wrong color legs (pink?) as well as excessive white...

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

So, how many line are out there? Flannery, Erhard, I heard of some breeder in Iowa, there is a breeder in Texas I would love to get some stock from (Cyngbald's Keep, though I may have the spelling wrong,) but I don't know if her lines are unique or if they are heavily based on some others.

Where are the oldest lines? Who has the purest lines? How many old time breeders are still out there? I would love to get a better picture of what the Orloff population is like in the US. It's all so mysterious to me now.

Do you guys think it would be worthwhile to form a club similar to what the Delaware group is doing to try to network people that are interested in or already keeping the breed? I know there is supposedly already a club, but to my knowledge nobody has been able to get in touch with the contact, and that club has certainly not translated to any more available information or opportunities.

 

[SFIcelandics]

Quote:
So you are saying that Erhard has some of the best Orloffs? I have heard that his Mahogany birds are also really nice. I wish that he shipped chicks, I havent had the best of luck with eggs this year, I know his friend Royce has spagleds from him as well, so maybe he ships chicks, Ill have to check.

Nate

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
So you are saying that Erhard has some of the best Orloffs? I have heard that his Mahogany birds are also really nice. I wish that he shipped chicks, I havent had the best of luck with eggs this year, I know his friend Royce has spagleds from him as well, so maybe he ships chicks, Ill have to check.

Nate

Yes....from what I've seen. I bought a trio from him and I also have some birds out of his lines but I did not buy those directly from him. Last I talked to Royce, he didn't have any luck hatching the Mahoganies from Erhard.

I've always had a terrible time trying to hatch shipped Orloff eggs--so I'm not sure what the issue is but this has been the case with several sources. I usually get about 40% IF I'm lucky.

 

[SFIcelandics]

Quote:
So you are saying that Erhard has some of the best Orloffs? I have heard that his Mahogany birds are also really nice. I wish that he shipped chicks, I havent had the best of luck with eggs this year, I know his friend Royce has spagleds from him as well, so maybe he ships chicks, Ill have to check.

Nate

Yes....from what I've seen. I bought a trio from him and I also have some birds out of his lines but I did not buy those directly from him. Last I talked to Royce, he didn't have any luck hatching the Mahoganies from Erhard.

I've always had a terrible time trying to hatch shipped Orloff eggs--so I'm not sure what the issue is but this has been the case with several sources. I usually get about 40% IF I'm lucky.

I might have to order a couple hundred dollars of eggs from Erhard. Maybe like 2 dozen spagled, and 2 dozen Welsummer, and a dozen mahogany? Not sure yet. His eggs are a little spendy, but if the quality is good, I dont mind paying.

Nate

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
Yes....from what I've seen. I bought a trio from him and I also have some birds out of his lines but I did not buy those directly from him. Last I talked to Royce, he didn't have any luck hatching the Mahoganies from Erhard.

I've always had a terrible time trying to hatch shipped Orloff eggs--so I'm not sure what the issue is but this has been the case with several sources. I usually get about 40% IF I'm lucky.

I might have to order a couple hundred dollars of eggs from Erhard. Maybe like 2 dozen spagled, and 2 dozen Welsummer, and a dozen mahogany? Not sure yet. His eggs are a little spendy, but if the quality is good, I dont mind paying.

Nate

Or you could get hatching eggs from me for 1/2 the price next spring.

LOL