The BANTAM ORPINGTON Thread

[OSUman]

Walt, I have always wondered why they didn't weight birds at shows, even just the ones that make it to champion row just to make sure they're not making a bird that is either to heavy or too light a winner.

Most judges have no sense of weight when they have a bird in hand. Although there are only a couple of bantams that say the smaller specimen should win, judges use that as a guideline many times.They place the smaller specimen even though the large LOOKING one is at weight or under weight and could be a better representation of the breed. On the other side of it some of the large fowl are quite a bit over weight....enough to warrant a DQ if they were weighed..and the judge sees a big bird and forgets about what the SOP actually says.

This has always been a problem. The ABA has an ongoing judges education program, but it does not seem to be working.

Walt

 

[fowlman01]

Walt, I have always wondered why they didn't weight birds at shows, even just the ones that make it to champion row just to make sure they're not making a bird that is either to heavy or too light a winner.

I don't know. I can see why they don't weigh all the birds. It would take a long time, but the class champs would not take long. I know that birds have been weighed after show hours with surprising results. Most exhibitors don't want their birds weighed or so it seems.

Walt

 

[Don Chandler]

I don't know. I can see why they don't weigh all the birds. It would take a long time, but the class champs would not take long. I know that birds have been weighed after show hours with surprising results. Most exhibitors don't want their birds weighed or so it seems.

Walt

Walt, remember when the old judge had the scales at the show in Oklahoma about 25 years ago and DQ several birds. He never got a judging job after that. I can't remember his name, Al something I think.

 

[fowlman01]

Walt, remember when the old judge had the scales at the show in Oklahoma about 25 years ago and DQ several birds. He never got a judging job after that. I can't remember his name, Al something I think.

That is how it is done...if you annoy the wrong people you may not get many judging jobs.....lol There have been weighings, but usually after the show room closes and it was not talked about. If you have something like a Cochin and it is a bag of feathers, it is going to look like a much bigger bird, but the weight is what we go by, not the physical size...at least that is how I understand it. There are judges that expect a Jersey Giant, Langshan or Orp bantam to look small like an OEGB. They don't seem to get that the large counterpart is a BIG bird.

It all falls under "judging practices". lol

Walt

 

[Don Chandler]

That is how it is done...if you annoy the wrong people you may not get many judging jobs.....lol There have been weighings, but usually after the show room closes and it was not talked about. If you have something like a Cochin and it is a bag of feathers, it is going to look like a much bigger bird, but the weight is what we go by, not the physical size...at least that is how I understand it. There are judges that expect a Jersey Giant, Langshan or Orp bantam to look small like an OEGB. They don't seem to get that the large counterpart is a BIG bird.

It all falls under "judging practices". lol

Walt

Yes Sir, my black orp bantams looks big, but when you get your hands on them you can tell, you have alot of feathers. I have never had one DQ, got 3 or 4 starred wins. I would rather have a good big one that a small sorry one.

 

[fowlman01]

Yes Sir, my black orp bantams looks big, but when you get your hands on them you can tell, you have alot of feathers. I have never had one DQ, got 3 or 4 starred wins. I would rather have a good big one that a small sorry one.

I am guessing that you have weighed them. Beating 100+ birds with an Orp bantam is something to be very proud about. Good job!!

Walt

 

[jeremy]

How hard is it to breed a bird down to bantam size from LF?

Would using a bantam male over LF females be the best approach?

 

[Don Chandler]

How hard is it to breed a bird down to bantam size from LF?
Would using a bantam male over LF females be the best approach?

Jeremy, I have never done this. Warren Tye says if you breed in the fall they will be smaller.

 

[fowlman01]

Jeremy, I have never done this. Warren Tye says if you breed in the fall they will be smaller.

They will be smaller, but they still have the same genetic makeup, so they can get big again in the next generation. There are bantam breeds that have been bred down from the large fowl version, but it takes a while...unless you get a bird that will help speed up the process. Large fowl want to become smaller on their own, or so it seems.

Walt

 

[Don Chandler]

It's hard to keep the big ones big and the little ones little. For me it has to be the time. Stds need to be hatched early and the bantams alot later. I had an old RIR Bantam guy tell me most RIR bantams are to large, you have show them younger and I think orp bantams are about the same.