The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[homeschoolin momma]

So.... will I be pragmatic and logical? OR Will my curiosity & excitement win?

If youre already stashing away, there is no logical and practical to it. I'm predicting the inky will be full by Sunday.......

 

[ColtHandorf]

Some pictures of the Orpingtons this morning. I’ve decided to name the two new girls Mel and Sue from the Great British Baking Show. Lol No idea on the boys yet, although the roommate suggested Hollywood (Paul Hollywood) for the rooster I want to keep. I’m still undecided on the pullet.

@Faraday40 where do you advertise to sell your birds? I’ve had no luck on here or Facebook.

 

[Faraday40]

I advertise on Craigslist when I need to. Although, most of the people who buy chicks already bought some from me in the past or were referred by past customers. I allow those people 1st opportunity to buy chicks before posting. Then when I post, I often end up getting another waitlist.

A lot depends on timing, and Craigslist can be silly. Sometimes it takes weeks or months of emails exchanges for a person to decide which kind of chicken to select. Other times, a person wants a chicken ASAP. If I take a day to respond, they may go out & buy chicks at a feed store. Price is also a huge variable. I ended up losing money with my chocolate cuckoo orps but can't hatch enough lav orps. Right now I have some very pretty Spitzhaubens which no one is buying. They're 5 weeks old and have been posted for sale for over 3 weeks! In April, I sold all 6 to the 1st person who saw them & had to turn away the next 3 interested parties. That ad was up for just a few hours.

I never tried Facebook, but have heard that it gets a lot of exposure. I'm in a suburban area, so roosters won't sell. People only want female chicks or adult hens. Since they end up going to small backyard flocks, most people want a pretty pet. What often happens is a family gets some feed store chicks & adds 1-2 of my orps. After several months to a year, I get another call asking for more. It's the common chicken math story. They see how stunning a real English Orp is compared to a hatchery Buff orp and want more in different colors. (Or their neighbors decide to get chickens & want an introduction to the "chicken lady.")

 

[homeschoolin momma]

(Or their neighbors decide to get chickens & want an introduction to the "chicken lady.")

That's what my kids call you. When i say your real name, they say "who?" I then say the chicken lady and then they go "ooohhh."

 

[homeschoolin momma]

@ColtHandorf - I like how the one picture of your hen looks like she's giving you the stink eye! Nice lacing on her! Very pretty girl.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Well they were all quite pleased this morning. I let them out to "free-range" in the fenced in backyard and fell asleep without penning them back up. So they were all over the place this morning chasing bugs and having a good time. I just tossed some scratch back in the pen and they all ran in. lol Hopefully it doesn't rain an absolute ton today. I've enjoyed being able to walk out to the yard without feeling like I was going on an expedition through a swamp.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Bedtime...

 

[ColtHandorf]

I circled it to make it easier to see, but the third one in as many days...I’m so glad everything is getting mowed this evening...

 

[homeschoolin momma]

I circled it to make it easier to see, but the third one in as many days.

They are good for the rat population though. My DD found two a few weeks ago. I caught one and let it go behind my pole barn. Lots of mice there!

I will admit. I love seeing pictures of your silver laced. Just ever so slightly jealous....

 

[ColtHandorf]

They are also good for making sure I haven't collected eggs in the last week...

And thanks. I'm loving them so much. I can't wait to have a larger population of adult hens.