The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[Heron's Nest Farm]

MO. is in the flyway and has just recently gone on quarantine. Other states are following suit in the west coast and midwest. The man from npip testing says for me to keep my hens in an enclosed run with wire on top to prevent other birds and waterfowl from spreading it to my small flock. As the ducks and gueese fly south they are bringing it with them. Its also in Arkansas. This is also from the guy with the npip testing of the agriculture Dep. information. I hate this but have been afraid it would happen when I heard they had found it in the western states. The sites are not up to date. Sorry

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE!

I have my birds out, but have never seen a bird in their run. I may go into lockdown. I'm over here in Oregon. Praying God's protection!!!!!!!

 

[Cearbhael]

Went back to page 700 to try to catch up on posts (being new and all) and seems to me that maybe I should just go with one color variety . Maybe lavender and work on cookoo and partridge genes in that color (Isabelle and lav cookoo). I really love the Crele but females seem dull to me (though the standard Crele roo is to die for.) the lav version of Crele (called Isabelle) is beautiful in both hens and roos. Think I have found my English Orp nitch. I know that Lav breeds true. Now I am wondering...Should the Roo be Isabelle? What about the hens? Does the Crele genetics breed true? If I have a flock of Isabelle's what will they produce?

 

[rockinpaints]

Went back to page 700 to try to catch up on posts (being new and all) and seems to me that maybe I should just go with one color variety . Maybe lavender and work on cookoo and partridge genes in that color (Isabelle and lav cookoo). I really love the Crele but females seem dull to me (though the standard Crele roo is to die for.) the lav version of Crele (called Isabelle) is beautiful in both hens and roos. Think I have found my English Orp nitch. I know that Lav breeds true. Now I am wondering...Should the Roo be Isabelle? What about the hens? Does the Crele genetics breed true? If I have a flock of Isabelle's what will they produce?

I have some good information on both Crele and Isabel, as well as the cuckoo genes

. http://thefancychick.com/CreleEnglishOrpington.html and
http://thefancychick.com/IsabelCuckooOrpington.html Then the cuckoo gene http://thefancychick.com/CuckooOrpington.html
Enjoy!

 

[Cearbhael]

Oh Thanks for that information. Now I do have another question. When you need to boost the color in the Isabelle, you mention breeding to a standard partridge roo. Why can't you breed to a standard Crele roo? Does the partridge gene need boosting? I am very new to this so excuse any really dumb questions.

 

[McCoyPoultry]

Well like I said I'm adding a couple new coops here very soon and I'm so excited! And right now we have 2 colors breeding. A black Roo and a blue hen. We are hatching the BB eggs so we can get some good chicks to sell! We also got Red/Buff orps we are trying to hatch for just eating eggs lol. So we have some gold laced orps we are raising right now and a cuckoo roo we are raising too! We will probably seel out chocolates when the cuckoo roo gets old enough to breed. we will only have trio of gold laced orps

 

[McCoyPoultry]

Great news though!! McCoy Orpingtons is getting a GREAT! new color!! White laced gold orps!!!

 

[rockinpaints]

Oh Thanks for that information. Now I do have another question. When you need to boost the color in the Isabelle, you mention breeding to a standard partridge roo. Why can't you breed to a standard Crele roo? Does the partridge gene need boosting? I am very new to this so excuse any really dumb questions.

If you have a crele roo you can certainly use him but I think you get better color if you use the isabel roo over partridge hens. You will get all creles from this mating if your roo is double barred, but they will be split for the lavender gene. It is these birds that you will put back over your isabels. I use a split roo over my isabel hens, then I get 1/2 beautifully marked isabels and 1/2 crele split to isabel.

If you use a partridge rooster over you isabel cuckoo hens you will end up with sex linked chicks - this generation only- all males will be barred crele and all hens will look like partridge but split to lavender - in this case split to isabel. So it is best to make the roo the barred bird - either crele or isabel cuckoo roo.

Yes, the isabels do tend to get washed out after a few generations of breeding isabel to isabel I think, as do a lot of the barred birds. These are all matings that I have done myself. Hope this information helps.

I should add also that you can keep this breeding arrangement and produce both crele and isabel if you are short on space and like them both,or you can go back to to isabel over isabel once you obtain good color. Just pass on to anyone who gets the offspring that they carry the isabel gene.

Jeremy, if something on here doesn't look quite right your input is always appreciated

.

 

[Cearbhael]

Again, thanks VERY much for that info!! I can hardly wait! I believe it is your chickens that I have been looking at that has been driving this decision. Since the actual chickens will be bought one or two years down the road, I will go crazy waiting but they will be worth it. Pricey chicks, but what the heart wants, the heart wants (heard that in a movie once LOL) yes, I do love both versions, Crele and Isabelle, and if it is possible to have both together, that is "WOW" fantastic.

 

[rockinpaints]

Again, thanks VERY much for that info!! I can hardly wait! I believe it is your chickens that I have been looking at that has been driving this decision. Since the actual chickens will be bought one or two years down the road, I will go crazy waiting but they will be worth it. Pricey chicks, but what the heart wants, the heart wants (heard that in a movie once LOL) yes, I do love both versions, Crele and Isabelle, and if it is possible to have both together, that is "WOW" fantastic.

Good luck! I don't always see all the posts so feel free to PM me or browse our website for information. We try to keep it up to date with information we think might be useful. And there is a world of information on BYC forums

and so many people on here willing to help.

 

[Heron's Nest Farm]

Went back to page 700 to try to catch up on posts (being new and all) and seems to me that maybe I should just go with one color variety . Maybe lavender and work on cookoo and partridge genes in that color (Isabelle and lav cookoo). I really love the Crele but females seem dull to me (though the standard Crele roo is to die for.) the lav version of Crele (called Isabelle) is beautiful in both hens and roos. Think I have found my English Orp nitch. I know that Lav breeds true. Now I am wondering...Should the Roo be Isabelle? What about the hens? Does the Crele genetics breed true? If I have a flock of Isabelle's what will they produce?

I am no expert. The Fancy Chick has great info on this. I don't think she will mind me posting her link.
http://www.thefancychick.com/IsabelCuckooOrpington.html
You may even wish to order from her. There is plenty on the other breeds you are considering. Looks like you will need a partridge around if you plan on breeding these with successful coloring.

So many birds! So little space. I have ordered and paid for a couple chicks that I am now wondering if they will be able to ship them!