The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[BamaChicken]

Okay here is my surprise. A man at the P.O. that I have become friends with wanted a few blue chicks in the late Spring. He kept seeing me mail off chicks and eggs. He came out and I let him pick out the two dayolds he wanted. A splash and a blue. Well wouldn't you know they were both cockerels. He has since sold his house and didn't want to keep the cockerels. he told me they were large. I told him I would come get them thinking if they were good I could keep if not sell at Auction. Well the boys are very large. Great tail on the blue. The only flaw I can see on him is he is too dark in color. The splash is huge and i can use him for a while. He has fluff that is awesome. Anyway I couldn't get the best pics to show how big and lovely they really are but here is two I took

Now I just took this photo cause the girl jump on the block and was posing

This five month old pullet and siblings are turning out really nice. Big John offspring

Big blue 7 month old pullet that is going to be huge

Okay I am done.

 

[HenThymes]

Oh Julie, that splash is just beautiful!

And that blue, even though dark is a very handsome boy.

 

[cherylcohen]

Do we know how many people are breeding these lovelies?

 

[justuschickens59]

See, now I love the dark blue - I like him a lot better than the splash. But what a wonderful surprise !! And those girls are beautiful. Julie - So if I send you Hagrid or Rumples you don't want them because they are dark blue?

You need to take a picture of the little W&C boy I sent you. I would love to see how he is growing out.

Congrats on your "surprise."

 

[kathyinmo]

Julie,
Thanks for the pictures! What a nice story. That was sure nice of you to take them back.
That is the darkest blue I think I have ever seen. What would you get if you put him with a light blue girl? Would that make nice medium dark blues (besides the Splash and Black they produce)? Honestly, I do love the dark blue girls, but I thought I read somewhere that judges prefer medium blues (not that I care). Is that correct? I am really liking those blacks!

 

[justuschickens59]

Winston is really dark. When I put him with Minerva, they are making some gorgeous lighter blue birds, i.e. "The B's" (Bluebell, Bluebonnet, and Blueberry)

 

[kathyinmo]

I am like you, Joy .... I just love the very dark blues. As a matter of fact, I have one girl (American Orp) that is such a dark blue that I thought she was black. I am so dumb, I posted a picture with the question if she was black (with lacing) or blue.

Anyway, it seems to me that the darker they are the more prominent the lacing appears .... at least I notice it more anyway.

 

[BamaChicken]

Well he is pretty fabulous in type. I can breed him to lighter girls and see and to splash and see what happens. His tail is just so good.
Joy I do need to get a pic of my little boy. He is really growing. Love his type. You can send my Hag and Rumples. I will definitely use them. I have lighter boys and Hoss who is the lightest and out of a Winston/Minerva cross. I am hoping he is thinking of breeding soon. I can't wait to see what he produces.
The Dark cockerel has a great comb too. The fellow told me it was a black hen. He never had Orps before and this is a late bloomer obviously.

Wish I could pics of all the folks who hatched eggs and got chicks this year. I hope everyone got a good cockerel and pullet out of each group. i MAY HAVE some chicks in the next two weeks I am going to sell. I am testing fertility and they would be from Tubby Jr. and some black and blue girls. I will know in about a week.

 

[kathyinmo]

Put me first on your list, Julie!

 

[lildinkem]

Wonderful looking cockerels Julie. I am sure they will produce outstanding babies for you and everyone who is lucky enough to get any. Great birds!