The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[BamaChicken]

I have been doing test breeding on this very subject. So far I bred a light blue Cock to a splash hen resulting in darker blue offspring that are a bit to dark except for one. Less than half were splash. I am now hatching off splash cock over blues and I will let you know how the color turns out on that scenario.
I have three hatched from a darker blue cock over splash hens and hatched two blues and a splash. The blues so far are looking like they are feathering with a good color of blue. I will let know how it turns out.
It may be that is has to be the Splash Cock over the blues to lighten.

 

[Elliemae 77]

Oh that's good to know. Thank-you for sharing. Just getting my feet wet. These birds were the first chicks that I hatched last May, so I have alot to learn. I did set eggs from this pair that just hatched this past Friday when I was out of town. There were 3 splash and 3 blues. Since they took so long to mature, I wanted to get an early start this year and if the chicks were less impressive than I hoped for that I could just keep them for a little free range flock for bug patrol and eating eggs, while I worked on something better suited for breeding. I had promised a few of the chicks to a friend since she was kind enough to let me have Squeaks and Miss Piggy back after the massacre last summer. So now I have one splash and one blue chick to work with.

 

[delisha]

In a nicer topic, my BBS Orp eggs hatched this weekend! We have four cute fuzzy babies in the brooder.

This lady is loving her new nest box. Thanks Marc for the nice hen. It's one of those storage bins from Wally world. I use these to store feed. They can hold (2) 50 lb. sacks. Of course, I had to snap another pic of my new big fella.

Phantom Rooster, that Roo has the prettiest face! I guess he's proud since he has that pretty lady.

I've received a question, via email, that I need help with in answering. I've been asked if a GL x Black cross would help improve lacing if crossed to blue? Opinions anyone?

I am interested in the answer also

Quote: Love the blacks!!

Quote: Great information!

Oh that's good to know. Thank-you for sharing. Just getting my feet wet. These birds were the first chicks that I hatched last May, so I have alot to learn. I did set eggs from this pair that just hatched this past Friday when I was out of town. There were 3 splash and 3 blues. Since they took so long to mature, I wanted to get an early start this year and if the chicks were less impressive than I hoped for that I could just keep them for a little free range flock for bug patrol and eating eggs, while I worked on something better suited for breeding. I had promised a few of the chicks to a friend since she was kind enough to let me have Squeaks and Miss Piggy back after the massacre last summer. So now I have one splash and one blue chick to work with.

Nice chest on your cockerel..he should fill out really nice as he matures.

 

[Elliemae 77]

Wait...you mean to tell me he's gonna get bigger?! Holy smokes! He already rivals my Narragansett hen for size. Good thing He's a gentle giant....lol..

 

[deek]

Hi Alton, is the roo the LF chocolate split ?

I was wondering that too.

 

[ElitePoultry]

My turn to share pics. This is Squeaks, my 10 month old rooster. He was my backup rooster who became my main rooster after a Rott tore through my fencing and killed all the birds inside the pen last summer. Fortunately, Squeaks was at a friends house when the attack happened along with my hen Miss Piggy that was also at a friends house. They both have faults. Squeaks has too many points on his comb, but no side sprigs. Miss Piggy is very dark. I'll post a pic of the hen a little later, but how is the type on Squeaks? Worth keeping on as the King of the pen or should I start over

Hes a handsome fella. He looks nice and solid. Have you weighed him? If hes 10 months he should be in the 6-8lb range i believe?? Im kind of the same boat as you. my splash roo has faults and my blue hens lack proper type. But I have a new splash roo and blue pullet from Renie who look very promising.

I have been doing test breeding on this very subject. So far I bred a light blue Cock to a splash hen resulting in darker blue offspring that are a bit to dark except for one. Less than half were splash. I am now hatching off splash cock over blues and I will let you know how the color turns out on that scenario.
I have three hatched from a darker blue cock over splash hens and hatched two blues and a splash. The blues so far are looking like they are feathering with a good color of blue. I will let know how it turns out.
It may be that is has to be the Splash Cock over the blues to lighten.

Just wrote that down in my notebook. Good notes to have. Thank you

 

[Elliemae 77]

Thank-you, I thought he looked pretty good to my untrained eye, but I don't know what to look for... you folks are.the experts. So your complements mean a lot. To be honest, I was a little nervous about posting pics. I wasn't even sure if he's English. He's a lot bigger and deeper than the black American Orp that I used to have....sweeter temperment too. He came from Dick Horstman. Nope, never thought to weigh him....I'll drag the scale out to the barn with me when I do chores this afternoon.

Now that I look closer at the pic of Squeaks, I can see Miss Piggy to the left of him on the roost...So you can kinda see how dark she is, but I'll still get a better pic of her.

 

[JHorn91180]

The original Gold Laced Orpington was Gold Laced Blue. The Gold Laced Black was created from the Gold Laced Blue. Marc of Heirloom Orpington imported both the GL Blue and the GL Black. I think Nellie of FancyChick has both also.


The crossing black back into the GL is not to improve the lacing. It is an attempt in removing or minimizing the shafting in the pullet.

Thanks for the info but have no clue what u mean by "shafting". Im ignorant on that one so do u care to explain? Im picturing the feather shaft.

Also does anyone know of anyone that has BLR orps in the US yet that r English in type?

 

[JHorn91180]

Hi I need everyone's opinion please as this will be my first year selling chicks from these. What would be a fair price for a started pair of BBS English Orps around 8 to 12 weeks of age? These r not culls altho I do have a couple that r blue and very typey but lacing is not really good but those will be sold with a black of the opposite sex. I am only keeping back some really dark laced blue pullets, most the black pullets and a handful of black cockerals to grow out.

I plan to sell these locally and not fool with shipping this early in the season so don't be afraid to post different amounts then others cause market varies by location. I would really appreciate everyone's opinion please and thank u in advance.

BTW forgot to include b4 people ask these r pure English from imported lines. Again any help would b greatly appreciated.

 

[ElitePoultry]

Thanks for the info but have no clue what u mean by "shafting". Im ignorant on that one so do u care to explain? Im picturing the feather shaft.

Also does anyone know of anyone that has BLR orps in the US yet that r English in type?

Shafting is when there is a shaft of light color in the middle of the feather. Kind of looks like a shaft, going all the way through the middle of the feather. It happens to most laced birds and fromvwhat i know is a cull factor. Laced birds are not supposed to have shafting.

Ill post a picture when i get home, if no one else beats me to it.