Russian Orloffs

[ashandvine]

I'm not seeing a beard on the cockerel. ??

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Here are a few photos of pullets I raised from this year. These were hatched Jan to Feb 2012:









I have one from this year and one original hen that looks like this (next pic): Almost half and half white and mahogany. I know that doesn't fit the standard, but I think that look is so beautiful, so I'm keeping them for layers.



Here is another one:



I have a few that don't have enough spangling, like this one: Sounds like people have found they get more spangling after a molt? Maybe I should hang on to the ones like this:

pretty birds- how well do they handle the heat?

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Where did everyone go??? Did you all melt?
Here are a few pictures of my girls. Beards are growing back on all of them. Please give sound advice and educated opinions head shots first...

Chestnut.........................................Mahogany......................................Eagle with loose white feather.........


Chestnut.........................................Mahogany......................................Eagle Orloff.....................................




And two more of Mahogany cuz I liked the pics.

uneducated Orloff critic but in my opinion for what it is worth is the are beautiful

 

[desertmarcy]

pretty birds- how well do they handle the heat?

I haven't lost any to the heat. I have a mister system in my main poultry house where the pullets and hens are and that helps. My cockerels are in different pens at the moments, they don't have a mister, but they, like all the birds, have shelter with 100% shade. It has not been as hot here this summer as some years have been, although 105 degrees is plenty hot.

 

[ashandvine]

We have heat plus humidity but nothing like down south. 90+ is usually the high of summer, but we do get a few over 100 days. Mine just hang in the shade and pant like any other chicken.

Penedesencas huh?

 

[mcrooke45]

It was 111* here a few weeks ago. I lost 2 of my Dark Cornish to the heat.
Mark

 

[Hangtown Farms]

We have heat plus humidity but nothing like down south. 90+ is usually the high of summer, but we do get a few over 100 days. Mine just hang in the shade and pant like any other chicken.

Penedesencas huh?

Yes Penedesenca's are great birds for wild areas.
Combs would probably get frost damage up where you are though.

 

[ashandvine]

I put watermelon out as a treat for the birds on our super slick days and even had the kids put icecubes in their water. Because the basement of the barn is like a modern walk-out basement it is cool enough that the birds will often hide in there if they are miserable.

I have never seen a Penedesenca. I just learned about them a short while ago. I really like the predatory meaty look the Orloffs are SUPPOSED to have.

Edited to add a few pics

 

[NCSprout]

"I really like the predatory meaty look the Orloffs are SUPPOSED to have"

That is exactly why type should be the primary focus. The Asil is the breed from which most oriental games (Malay being one) are derived. They are not res jungle fowl but an ancient domesticated gamefowl. Kulang Asil can reach 14lbs for the cock. They have the type and size to achieve the desired result with Orloffs. The Spangled Orloffs already have the mottled gene.

 

[Ksane]

I adore these birds, great pictures. I've got 6 hens and am expecting 8 pullets from a hatchery this week. I've only ever gotten hatchery chicks once but I don't breed and wanted pullets. Mine have sprinklers, shade and plus their yard gets soaked down at least once a day. It's been around 110 here but surprisingly they're still laying like clockwork every day. I've got lots of different breeds but my "Loffs" are in the top 2