The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[Blarneyeggs]

Some of my 13 week old English BBS babies!

Beautiful! Although, I'm suspicious of a few in the third picture...they are some funny looking Orps. In all seriousness, love the chest on that blue girl.

 

[Gardengirl73]

Beautiful! Although,

I'm suspicious of a few in the third picture...they are some funny looking Orps.

In all seriousness, love the chest on that blue girl.

What, those aren't Orps? I've been hornswaggled!

Yeah, those guys were hatched and brooded together. Gonna feel a little guilty when I have to separate them. Thanks for the comment. She is a pretty girl.

 

[RedReiner]

Took some pics of my juvies, its very late in the evening and just about dark, but I opened the barn so they could come eat grass. caught them all trying to sleep under my tarp on my hay. its tarped to keep them off of it lol. horses not fond of chicken poop.

I have a question though, have 3 or 4 boys with bald backs, someone is pecking feathers. why would they do this? just squabbling? missing something? they are still on medicated chick started and some occasional wet cob as a treat, they do get some grass and also eat my alfalfa. but someone is plucking feathers off the others. and its all on the boys. they have the run of my entire barn, I would say its at least 25x25 and there are 13 of them out there,. two big feed pans and water dishes.

Thia is my blue boy, he gets wider by the day, lower left is a black pullet that I just love

pretty blue pullet, she is light and really nice lacing

 

[PugBug]

Took some pics of my juvies, its very late in the evening and just about dark, but I opened the barn so they could come eat grass. caught them all trying to sleep under my tarp on my hay. its tarped to keep them off of it lol. horses not fond of chicken poop.

I have a question though, have 3 or 4 boys with bald backs, someone is pecking feathers. why would they do this? just squabbling? missing something? they are still on medicated chick started and some occasional wet cob as a treat, they do get some grass and also eat my alfalfa. but someone is plucking feathers off the others. and its all on the boys. they have the run of my entire barn, I would say its at least 25x25 and there are 13 of them out there,. two big feed pans and water dishes.




Thia is my blue boy, he gets wider by the day, lower left is a black pullet that I just love



pretty blue pullet, she is light and really nice lacing

Very pretty! As to the feather picking- I have a few of my lavenders doing that lately. I give fermented feed-( layer pellets, scratch grains, alfalfa pellets, chopped apples + chopped fresh veggies from my garden, also add milk, yogurt or cottage cheese several times per week) They also get to free range a few days per week so I don't know what they might be missing from their diet? And it's only some of the lavenders doing it not all & none of my other birds...

 

[RedReiner]

I dont get it either, they peck feathers off of only a couple, and its only the boys. they get greens and good treats. fruit and veggies and sometimes meat. plus their own food and clean water, and I know there is enough room. I turned their light off now, its warm enough they were not using it, they all sleep in a pile. maybe with no light they will stop it.

 

[Zenchic]

Awesome breed, makes me want to add them to my flock. I have Buff Orps and they are just so sweet.

 

[PugBug]

I dont get it either, they peck feathers off of only a couple, and its only the boys. they get greens and good treats. fruit and veggies and sometimes meat. plus their own food and clean water, and I know there is enough room. I turned their light off now, its warm enough they were not using it, they all sleep in a pile. maybe with no light they will stop it.

With mine it looks to be a few of the boys picking feathers off a few of the girls- and the only place on the girls I can see picked is the sides of the wings? In about another month or so I should be able to cull a few of those boys out- more than a few actually since I only want to keep 2- maybe that will stop some of the feather picking?

 

[RedReiner]

I dont get it either, they peck feathers off of only a couple, and its only the boys. they get greens and good treats. fruit and veggies and sometimes meat. plus their own food and clean water, and I know there is enough room. I turned their light off now, its warm enough they were not using it, they all sleep in a pile. maybe with no light they will stop it.

[COLOR=800080]With mine it looks to be a few of the boys picking feathers off a few of the girls- and the only place on the girls I can see picked is the sides of the wings? In about another month or so I should be able to cull a few of those boys out- more than a few actually since I only want to keep 2- maybe that will stop some of the feather picking?[/COLOR]

I have 13 juvies, 4 of them are pullets.... lol I am going to cull some out soon, they get new homes, I am not feeding them long enough to cook em. I think its a black boy in particular, just have to identify him by catching him in the act., then he is dog food...

 

[PugBug]

I have 13 juvies, 4 of them are pullets.... lol I am going to cull some out soon, they get new homes, I am not feeding them long enough to cook em. I think its a black boy in particular, just have to identify him by catching him in the act., then he is dog food...

In my lavenders I have 14, looks like 5 are boys I've kept them longer- most are 4-5 mo now- but I wanted to see who was going to grow out the best. I pretty much think I know who I want to keep, but gonna give them about another month... maybe...

 

[heirloomorps]

Congrats! What was their hatch date?

The girl who is laying was mid-December. The girl who isn't laying was mid-November.

On the topic of Partridges, does ANYONE have an older (3-4 months) Partridge rooster? We are looking to have two breeding pens and can only seem to grow out pullets. I am not complaining that we only grow out pullets but now we need a roo.