Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Mother of Chaos]

The quarter-final Synchronized Preening Event:

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I suspect that the Sussex is higher quality than the Orp. I’ve had hatchery quality of both but I’ve seen a quality Sussex before and it was a ball of fat speckled delight. I believe quality Orps are supposed to be the same way but I’m not an Orp person so I won’t pretend to know.

Interesting! I’ve heard references to English Orps and American Orps, but I don’t remember which is usually bigger.

It’s interesting, because Buffy has always seemed the big ‘un, but she’s being left in the dust.

… but I’ve seen a quality Sussex before and it was a ball of fat speckled delight.

And to think that my family vetoed “Butterball” for Buffy’s name as bad karma.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

And to think that my family vetoed “Butterball” for Buffy’s name as bad karma.

Hahaha I love that name! I had a golden Cuckoo Maran named Butterball. After the turkey at the grocery store because she just reminded me of one.

 

[Shadrach]

Three and a half hours this afternoon. Warmer than yesterday and it stayed dry despite some threatening looking clouds.

That black dot in the sky is a Red Kite I think which circled over the field and glided off towards the city. Of course, I didn't notice until Sylph dashed into the run and got under the coop and Mow came and sat closer to me.

Mow got on the ramp and peered in. Sylph did a very careful outside tour.

I haven't been able to get the auto door to work. The people who write these instruction manuals should test them out on a couple of keepers before they publish them.

 

[kattabelly]

Interesting! I’ve heard references to English Orps and American Orps, but I don’t remember which is usually bigger.

English are definitely floofier. I think they're also meant to be slightly different shapes underneath the feathers but I couldn't say how exactly. If you look at the breed standards, the weights given for Orps are the same both sides of the pond and about 400g (just under 1lb) heavier than Sussex.

 

[kattabelly]

Recycled-from-my-own-thread (I'm away again, I'll get new chicken pictures when I'm back on Sunday) breed standards tax: one of my Barred Rock cockerels lasted a day back at the breeder's, before he'd managed to teleport out of a secure pen and into the neighbouring pen of young Buff Orpingtons and a few other pullets.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

Those of you with English breeds, or at least those available from US hatcheries: would you expect Sussexes to be bigger than Orpingtons?

I had thought that Orps were the ultimate chonk breed (outside of Brahmas, etc.), but here are Tessa, Speckled Sussex, 18 weeks, and Buffy, Buff Orpington, 9 months, side by side or butt by butt:

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I think my Speckled Sussex and Buff Orpington, who are the exact same age, are about the same size. I would have to weigh them to be sure though.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I think my Speckled Sussex and Buff Orpington, who are the exact same age, are about the same size. I would have to weigh them to be sure though.

Yeah, Tessa (the SS) hasn’t started laying yet, and she still regards me as an axe murderer or something similar, so I haven’t tried weighing yet.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

English are definitely floofier. I think they're also meant to be slightly different shapes underneath the feathers but I couldn't say how exactly. If you look at the breed standards, the weights given for Orps are the same both sides of the pond and about 400g (just under 1lb) heavier than Sussex.

I’m impressed how similar their feeding styles are. They don’t usually go crazy chasing for tossed treats, as the others do. They just methodically munch their ways through whatever’s in front of them, and don’t waste calories running back and forth.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Recycled-from-my-own-thread (I'm away again, I'll get new chicken pictures when I'm back on Sunday) breed standards tax: one of my Barred Rock cockerels lasted a day back at the breeder's, before he'd managed to teleport out of a secure pen and into the neighbouring pen of young Buff Orpingtons and a few other pullets.
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He looks quite proud of himself.