The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[OnlyOrps]

When do Orps typically start laying? I have 2 Jubilee pullets that are about 8 months old & they still haven't given me anything. I also have a cockerel for them that isn't even crowing yet (that doesn't bother me so much lol) & he doesn't seem too interested in the girls either. Tia

My mottleds laid at 6 months

 

[kittydoc]

When do Orps typically start laying? I have 2 Jubilee pullets that are about 8 months old & they still haven't given me anything. I also have a cockerel for them that isn't even crowing yet (that doesn't bother me so much lol) & he doesn't seem too interested in the girls either. Tia

I guess it depends on individual lines, but mine were laying and breeding between 5-6 months (Jubilees that were mostly GFF and partly Marc Sacre). I have had some English Orp cockerels start breeding (successfully) at barely over 4 months, and crowing at 3.5 months. That's not the norm, but I believe the generally quoted range is 5/6-8 months for Orps to become sexually mature. Yours should start any time. Have their combs pinked up? Do the pullets squat when you reach down to touch/pet them? Those are indicators that egg laying is not far off.

You may want to check with the breeder to see what the norm is for their Jubilees, too.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

My Chocolates lay the earliest at around 5 1/2 to 6 months and other varieties are later. You'll find with most other Jubilee breeders that the Jubs are the slowest - regardless of lines.
Edit to add that I keep calendars on my birds (ie, hatch date, first egg laid & weight of egg, etc).

 

[BeachBumBiddies]

Thanks everyone for all the info. I guess my gals will start laying soon enough. Their little faces are still a light pink. I'm just a lil' eggcited to get some eggs. I'm hoping my cock bird is not a dud. lol I don't think I have ever even heard him crow! I'm used to slow growers, as i have Brahmas as well, but it seems like they're taking forever. Thanks again y'all!!

 

[green egg]

. I have read that starting them on layer food too soon can have them laying earlier, but it is not good for them because of an excess of calcium. I have friends who feed all their birds layer food and just grind it for the babies. There chickens seem to lay earlier than mine.

I do what is recommended on my feed as to when to start layer feed and the oyster shell. Feed could account for some of the differences. I am assuming your feeding a layer feed at 8 months, but if not I would have them on oyster shell and making sure they have the layer nutrients.

I have three jubilee chicks that are with a mix of other colors. They are my first jubilees so it is good to know they start laying later. They are the biggest of the babies and tower above the others like little giants. Very cute. The mahogany color is so pretty.

 

[henless]

When do Orps typically start laying? I have 2 Jubilee pullets that are about 8 months old & they still haven't given me anything. I also have a cockerel for them that isn't even crowing yet (that doesn't bother me so much lol) & he doesn't seem too interested in the girls either. Tia

Mine are 3 1/2 months old, so I can't help with the laying, but my boys starting crowing around 3 mos. They started harassing the pullets a few days later, so they got put in with my older hens. They behave a lot better now.

I had a hatchery Buff I got last year, and she has never laid.

 

[QueenMisha]

. I have read that starting them on layer food too soon can have them laying earlier, but it is not good for them because of an excess of calcium. I have friends who feed all their birds layer food and just grind it for the babies. There chickens seem to lay earlier than mine.

I do what is recommended on my feed as to when to start layer feed and the oyster shell. Feed could account for some of the differences. I am assuming your feeding a layer feed at 8 months, but if not I would have them on oyster shell and making sure they have the layer nutrients.

Layer feed can't cause birds to lay earlier. It's not as if it contains some special laying supplement that makes them lay - it's the same as any other feed except that it has the exact minimum protein and calcium content required by adult chickens. Given the choice, birds will only eat calcium when their bodies require it - a 16 week old will eat oyster shell if she knows she's going to lay at 17 weeks, and a 25 week old will eat oyster shell if she knows she's going to lay at 26 weeks.

I feel the need to mention this - and make no mistake, I don't go around telling people how to care for their animals, as everybody has their own method - but it really concerns me when I hear of animals who are possibly in danger due to woefully ignorant (or even stubborn?) owners. I can tell you, layer feed has a serious detrimental impact on birds younger than 16 weeks; specifically, it does a lot of harm to the kidneys. The younger they are, the worse the effect usually is - a 14 week old isn't gonna have a huge of damage done from layer feed, but an 8 week old? A 4 week old? A 1 week old? It's not likely to kill them immediately but it's liable to do severe long term damage to their internal organs, and I'd be very surprised if it didn't shorten their lifespans by quite a bit. This isn't even mentioning the very low protein content, which can easily result in scrawny, stunted birds. Again, please understand that I know everybody including your friend(s) have their own method of keep, but this is not a good way of ensuring bird's long term health and survival.

Just to say, the correct age to switch to layer is 16 weeks. This is about 1 month before most hens will start to lay, but right at the correct age that the earliest few will. This provides immediate support to early layers and allows later hens to begin building up calcium in order to form strong, healthy first eggs.

(For those who want a source, I work at a poultry specialty store and we are required to know this stuff in order to answer questions people may have about the correct type of feed to buy. I was taught this information by my boss who has 35+ years experience and who has discussed this extensively with the feed company we purchase from.)

 

[danotoyou2]

How do you decide which cockerals to keep? My chicks are currently about 4 weeks old and I'm just starting to identify some of the roos in the bunch. I only have enough space for one or two additional roosters, so I'm going to have to get rid of some of these guys. But choosing the best coloring/feathering/type is *hard*!

 

[rockinpaints]

How do you decide which cockerals to keep? My chicks are currently about 4 weeks old and I'm just starting to identify some of the roos in the bunch. I only have enough space for one or two additional roosters, so I'm going to have to get rid of some of these guys. But choosing the best coloring/feathering/type is *hard*!

Pretty much impossible till they mature as far as quality goes

 

[robgray]

How do you decide which cockerals to keep? My chicks are currently about 4 weeks old and I'm just starting to identify some of the roos in the bunch. I only have enough space for one or two additional roosters, so I'm going to have to get rid of some of these guys. But choosing the best coloring/feathering/type is *hard*! 

I only got one Roo from my shipped hatch and he's gorgeous. I would strongly advise to wait until fully developed and as you know they tend to develop later than most breeds.