The BANTAM ORPINGTON Thread

[minihorse927]

These two just hatched yesterday, another one joined them later, but it was still fluffing up when I took these. I love the chocolate beaks!

awwww, lovely mauve babies!

 

[WVduckchick]

awwww, lovely mauve babies!

I think they are all 3 mauve! One is a little darker, but not chocolate dark. Guess that gives us a hint about daddy. Lol

 

[minihorse927]

I think they are all 3 mauve! One is a little darker, but not chocolate dark. Guess that gives us a hint about daddy. Lol

well it wasn't the black one

 

[minihorse927]

Took these last night when they were inside the barn for the night. 2016 hatches.

 

[WVduckchick]

well it wasn't the black one

Or the chocolate, because the eggs came from the older chocolate hen, I believe. She lays a larger egg, and the others had just started laying, so I only set hers, I think.

 

[WVduckchick]

Took these last night when they were inside the barn for the night. 2016 hatches.

All beauties, but I love that splash! I want one!

 

[minihorse927]

All beauties, but I love that splash! I want one!

I've got lots of mauves this year (and a regular blue!) so I should get both splash and mauve splash.

 

[Faraday40]

Well, my splash hen is broody alright. I decided to order chicks for her this time instead of giving her fertile eggs. How many LF Orp chicks do you think a bantam Orp can cover @Faraday40 ? I ordered 8 but the breeder sometimes sends a few extras.

A lot may depend on the season. If it's 30'F, I recommend putting fewer chicks with a bantam because of the danger of freezing. If it's 70'F or warmer, 7-8 chicks should be fine. As they outgrow her spread, they will also need less heat. Even if you had 20+ chicks you could still use the broody by putting her inside the large brooder with a heat plate (or heating pad broody mama) for the overflow. Meanwhile, give your hen something to sit on to keep her broody.

My bantam orp always hatches exactly 7 chicks. When I gave her 8-10 eggs, each time only 7 hatched. When I gave her 6 eggs, she stole one & still hatched 7 chicks!

I guess that's her lucky number. LOL

 

[jeremy]

Pictures of my flock, I culled hard from last year, keeping only 2 Blue & 3 Black hens. One of the Blacks is currently raising a trio of Olive Egger chicks, so she isn't pictured. My roo is Mauve. I'm really looking forward to hatching this season.

 

[teamcarp33]

Hi Everyone! Been lurking here for a while. Gorgeous birds ^ btw. I have LF orpingtons and love them. I am considering the possibility of adding bantam orps or eventually switching to all bantams. Where has everyone gotten their birds originally? I don't see many hatching eggs available either on Ebay, or here on the BST page. Anyone have any tips? Breeders that ship eggs or chicks etc? I dont show (yet ) but would like to start with good quality birds.