The BANTAM ORPINGTON Thread

[Don Chandler]

I don't think no one said anything about how they were to be shown, We like our English breed & will keep them that way if we please, no matter who likes it, some of us have not ever even shown a bird but I would not part with my English birds for nothing, we love em. I think the UOC is happy to be a sister club with the UKOC, If you will remember that is where they were originated

If you like those English birds, go for it. It doesn't matter to the UOC, we like all people that breed orps. One of our bigger deals is our new United Orpington Club Youth Program. Mrs. Pittman from NC is handling that and should be great for the Youth. They are the future of the orpington breed.

 

[tkay6205]

I started with the bantam orps last year. I bought eggs from some fellow BYC'ers. Here are a few of the pullets I've kept back. Opinions wanted. Thanks!

 

[OSUman]

Some of those look like they might have white in their earlobes, but it could just be the picture.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Some of those look like they might have white in their earlobes, but it could just be the picture.

The Standard allows some white, though zero white is best. Type looks pretty good.

Just a side note, we have some Blue Orpington Bantam chicks ready to ship. We have a Majestic lane Black over Dick Hortsman hens Link is in our signature below.

 

[Rachy]

This is the chocolate Bantam Orpington pullet I'm hoping to collect this weekend. She's five months old and
she will be my first Orp

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

Alot of places the English crosses are winning. The blacks and white gene pool was about gone, with a new shot od blood these guys will be up and running. Funny thing, some of the best std buffs today have a shot of English blood from a few years back and most folks don't know about it. Today you can look at some of the buffs and they have a little to much fluff. Are they winning, yes and have been for a while.

I don't disagree with you. I just get tired of the statement that judges judge to the American Standard...not all of them do. I have had some nice American Standard stock in blacks and blues. They don't hold a candle to the English/Cochiny mix that I show against. I like both breeds. I am concentrating heavily on my bantams presently and know that in a few years all of this American vs. English will have calmed down, blended, whatever.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Majestic Lane - These chicks are a cross with your Black Orpington bantam male and Dick Hortsman's Blue/Splash Orpington Bantam hens. The extra chicks were from the University of Arkansas hatching eggs.

The judges agree to judge by the Standard. However, some breeds are more rare in some parts of the country. Some judges have never placed their hands on a good Orpington. I still believe that many of our Orpington Bantams are too oversize. Our Blacks from majestic lane a nice, but a bit large for me. The Hortsman Blue Orps are smaller. It takes time and lots of effort to breed an Orpington bantam to its proper size.

Don't get me wrong. We really like these Blacks. They are extreemly gentle and should compete well at Lucasville.

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

No offense taken. I've had two nearly total package girls with cage cards marked SIZE, lol. They were right under weight-wise but it's not like the judge goes around with scales. They must rely on past experience and their own two hands. I knew entering them were risky but I just wanted to see if they would be judged. Now their full sister who was more compact took BB although in my mind she paled to the other two. I also love what I learn from the judges and other enthusaists. That's the thing I like about chickens, dogs, horses, etc. Breeding animals is always a work in progress. If memory serves me, the bantam hen you now own (from my eggs to one of your 4H kids) took BB in Ohio, correct? Just goes to show that it takes dedication and work. This is by far my favorite breed.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

These birds below were from your eggs. She won Best of Breed -Junior Show at Crossroads - Indianapolis, IN. I think the hen is perfect. Its the fellow that is a bit large. But he was not DQ for size at crossroads. Took Reserve Breed with a few more in competition.

Fixing to eat lunch, then Jacob (9) and I will start loading for the mile drive to the county fair. Its not a great show, but we should come home with more than $50 in Premium money.

​

 

[fowlman01]

No offense taken. I've had two nearly total package girls with cage cards marked SIZE, lol. They were right under weight-wise but it's not like the judge goes around with scales. They must rely on past experience and their own two hands. I knew entering them were risky but I just wanted to see if they would be judged. Now their full sister who was more compact took BB although in my mind she paled to the other two. I also love what I learn from the judges and other enthusaists. That's the thing I like about chickens, dogs, horses, etc. Breeding animals is always a work in progress. If memory serves me, the bantam hen you now own (from my eggs to one of your 4H kids) took BB in Ohio, correct? Just goes to show that it takes dedication and work. This is by far my favorite breed.

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