The BANTAM ORPINGTON Thread

[gootziecat]

Thanks Don. None of the birds are pinched in the tail. In other words, they all have a nice t-pee appearance from the back. They look good from the side, some deeper than others. But looking at the top of the bird some do look a bit pinched, or indented, where the saddle feathers fall over the wing. Most of them are like that, but some are better than others. I'm trying to figure out how to cull and of what importance to place on this, over some other faults, ie, eye too light. Would you recommend I post this question on the regular Orpington thread? B TY these birads are 5 mo. old.

 

[Don Chandler]

Thanks Don. None of the birds are pinched in the tail. In other words, they all have a nice t-pee appearance from the back. They look good from the side, some deeper than others. But looking at the top of the bird some do look a bit pinched, or indented, where the saddle feathers fall over the wing. Most of them are like that, but some are better than others. I'm trying to figure out how to cull and of what importance to place on this, over some other faults, ie, eye too light. Would you recommend I post this question on the regular Orpington thread? B TY these birads are 5 mo. old.

Cat, thats a good idea, post it on the orp pics thread. Sometimes what looks like they are pinched is because of the wings also. I think at 5 months you should be able to tell whats going on in a bantam. In a std it takes longer. My bantam pullets are laying at 5 months. What blood line are your blacks?

don

 

[OSUman]

One thing you can tell from the top is width of body, which yours are good in. Another thing that a judge had pointed out to me was fluff sticking out the side too much I circled where that happens, yours arent sticking out too much though. I hope you dont mind me using your picture

 

[gootziecat]

OSUman, thank you for the response. You are pointing out exacting what I was trying to convey. I didn't know what caused this indentation in the body type, and thought it could be the wing position (tight or not tight) under the saddle feathers. But as you said, it has something to do with the amount of fluff. So at least I'm better educated that it's simply a feather thing. There are a couple birds that are quite smooth along the sides, but the majority of them look more like the picture or an even more pronounced dip. It is distracting for me and it's not helping the culling one bit as I tend to like the smoother look. So what you're telling me is as long as the indentation isn't pronounced, it's ok?
Thank you.

 

[OSUman]

I dont know about the indentation, mine had feathers sticking out at the saddle

OSUman, thank you for the response. You are pointing out exacting what I was trying to convey. I didn't know what caused this indentation in the body type, and thought it could be the wing position (tight or not tight) under the saddle feathers. But as you said, it has something to do with the amount of fluff. So at least I'm better educated that it's simply a feather thing. There are a couple birds that are quite smooth along the sides, but the majority of them look more like the picture or an even more pronounced dip. It is distracting for me and it's not helping the culling one bit as I tend to like the smoother look. So what you're telling me is as long as the indentation isn't pronounced, it's ok?
Thank you.

 

[fowlman01]

OSUman, thank you for the response. You are pointing out exacting what I was trying to convey. I didn't know what caused this indentation in the body type, and thought it could be the wing position (tight or not tight) under the saddle feathers. But as you said, it has something to do with the amount of fluff. So at least I'm better educated that it's simply a feather thing. There are a couple birds that are quite smooth along the sides, but the majority of them look more like the picture or an even more pronounced dip. It is distracting for me and it's not helping the culling one bit as I tend to like the smoother look. So what you're telling me is as long as the indentation isn't pronounced, it's ok?
Thank you.

The wings appear to be tight against the body as noted and making this segmented or indented look. It is good that there are no feathers hanging out as OSUman talked about. That totally ruins the look of the bird. As Don has stated....we need a side picture as well...that way we can use both pics to come up with an answer. It appears that the bird has good width of back. This may not be a problem and I am guessing that when a judge tilts the head of the bird down (facing him/her) while being held it won't look bad. Many of the Brit Orps wings really press the feathers in and they look like a figure 8.......even from the rear.

Walt

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
As always, thanks Walt!

 

[gootziecat]

Walt, I very much appreciate your assessment.

I took a bunch more pictures, different birds from the last two pictures, as they are scattered foraging today. I'm no photographer so hopefully they will show what you need to see. If not, say so and I'll try to take what you need. Wasn't a lot of cooperation either, with the exception of the cat trying to stand on my back giving his point of view. These are not necessarily what I consider my best birds.

Roo 1










Roo2






Roo 2, second pix, the wind was blowing his feathers on the one side. Look closely at the right side and you will see the indentation.

As I state before, I don't know whether the indentation where the body joins the saddle feathers is good or bad, and how I should cull (or not) this. Thank you for your help.

 

[Don Chandler]

Walt, I very much appreciate your assessment.

I took a bunch more pictures, different birds from the last two pictures, as they are scattered foraging today. I'm no photographer so hopefully they will show what you need to see. If not, say so and I'll try to take what you need. Wasn't a lot of cooperation either, with the exception of the cat trying to stand on my back giving his point of view. These are not necessarily what I consider my best birds.

Roo 1










Roo2






Roo 2, second pix, the wind was blowing his feathers on the one side. Look closely at the right side and you will see the indentation.

As I state before, I don't know whether the indentation where the body joins the saddle feathers is good or bad, and how I should cull (or not) this. Thank you for your help.

Is the last pic a choc?

 

[fowlman01]

Walt, I very much appreciate your assessment.

I took a bunch more pictures, different birds from the last two pictures, as they are scattered foraging today. I'm no photographer so hopefully they will show what you need to see. If not, say so and I'll try to take what you need. Wasn't a lot of cooperation either, with the exception of the cat trying to stand on my back giving his point of view. These are not necessarily what I consider my best birds.

Roo 1










Roo2






Roo 2, second pix, the wind was blowing his feathers on the one side. Look closely at the right side and you will see the indentation.

As I state before, I don't know whether the indentation where the body joins the saddle feathers is good or bad, and how I should cull (or not) this. Thank you for your help.

Well it appears that some have a larger indent than others....but as a judge just looking at pictures, I would not be too concerned with it, but I would try to get them looking more like the second to last pic. They don't appear to have excessive feathering or fluff, but may have a softer feather than you want and that is what you see the wings doing to them when observed from above.

I do see what appears to be a low tail angle and that can be serious. It also looks as if they need some stiffer feathers in the tail and that may be an indication of the softer feathers that cause the indent. The birds in the pics appear to be up in the front because of their alert stance and that would affect the tail angle some, but it does not look as if you have a 25 degree tail on any of them.

Walt