The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[Faraday40]

I just got two chocolate Orpingtons last week. I thought they were quite young as they are quite small. When I got them home one layed an egg! So I'm now thinking they see older than I thought and I think they may be bantam Orpingtons. They are very sweet but not too good at being handled. They're getting better though. Both are currently in quarantine. Meet roo and fudge! View attachment 1942708 View attachment 1942710

They have a bantam-looking faces. You're very lucky to have found them. I've been trying to find another bantam English orp for a few years. My only one is named Cookie & she's amazing. She's getting older and I can't imagine my flock without one. Cookie's the best broody hen I've ever had!

 

[ColtHandorf]

My only one is named Cookie & she's amazing.

I want a whole flock of Cookies! lol She is absolutely precious and I love her. Plus having a little broody (or a lot) would be amazing.

 

[CCUK]

They have a bantam-looking faces. You're very lucky to have found them. I've been trying to find another bantam English orp for a few years. My only one is named Cookie & she's amazing. She's getting older and I can't imagine my flock without one. Cookie's the best broody hen I've ever had!

I actually got them from auction. I was looking for some pigeons! There wasn't any but there was this two and another full size Orpington. I got bid out on the full size and won both these for £26. I didn't realise that they could also be bantams hence why I thought they were only youngsters. I do believe they are this years, only one is laying so far and her eggs are a good size for a bantam! Also from what I understand is the chocolates are quite rare.

 

[Faraday40]

I want a whole flock of Cookies! lol She is absolutely precious and I love her.

Me too! But, I doubt anyone would want to deal with a whole flock of these!
You've probably already seen most of these pics, but I'll share them again.

Here's a rare pic of Cookie when not broody. She looks deflated. LOL

She's adorable & playful. Very dedicated mama and keeps tight control over her brood. She's not a very grumpy broody either. Just screams a lot - never really pecks much.

Here's a pic of when Cookie was young - about 10 months old. DD played with chickens more than dolls, so this image made perfect sense to me.
"Hot chicks in cars"

Cookie came from a breeder in NC - as an egg. Sadly, the breeder had some predator issues & sold off her remaining bantams.
Here's another pullet pic. I love how Cookie has the imported English orp shape. I just haven't seen it in any other bantams orps here in the US. She's not small-looking like most bantams. In fact, she might even pass as a med-sized hen. That is until you pick her up & feel how light she is. Her size is mostly fluff. Her short legs are completely hidden by her "pantaloons." (No feathered legs, just fluff hanging down from her body) This gives the illusion of her floating along the ground.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Sigh....I love cookie! If only they all could be such good mums and good looking!

 

[ColtHandorf]

I'd get nothing done at my house if I had her. I would just carry her little fluffy butt around all day.

It's been raining since yesterday. I'm happy to report I was able to walk across the chicken pen on the wood chips without sinking into a quagmire of muck. So that was really exciting this morning. The birds don't seem to mind the cold drizzle so I had to scurry out there this morning to let them out. I'm sure they'll all be hiding in the house by the time I get home from work. It is very dreary out there.

 

[Faraday40]

I'd get nothing done at my house if I had her. I would just carry her little fluffy butt around all day.

It's been raining since yesterday. I'm happy to report I was able to walk across the chicken pen on the wood chips without sinking into a quagmire of muck. So that was really exciting this morning. The birds don't seem to mind the cold drizzle so I had to scurry out there this morning to let them out. I'm sure they'll all be hiding in the house by the time I get home from work. It is very dreary out there.

Yes. I know all about those lightly rainy days. Heavy storms often keep them inside, but they seem to enjoy dancing in the rain (and looking for worms popping out of the mud.) Orps certainly don't look very fluffy when wet..... and the "wet chicken smell" is not appealing either.

Cookie's not as snuggly as some of my other hens. She'll of course hop in my lap to see what I'm doing or to see if I have treats. She's constantly underfoot. She's more of a busy-body, though & doesn't like to be confined.

My new pullet (from @homeschoolin momma ) is my snuggle chicken. She adores neck scratches under her beak & sort-of melts into it. I brought her inside a few times & she wants to be a couch potato. She loves sitting on my lap & watching TV. I tell her not to get used to it, though. I don't want to have to buy a TV for the coop. LOL

 

[ColtHandorf]

Yeah, the wood chips have helped greatly with the smell around the chicken pen. But so did moving out 11 Lavender cockerels. None of mine are very snuggly. I mean Golly, the Buff gander is constantly underfoot and loves attention, but Georgia doesn't. Dahlia and Suede have calmed dramatically since bringing them home, but the younger Blues and Chocolate (especially the Chocolate) are insane little chickens. They are terrified to walk past me to get through the gate. Little Blue Slate turkey is independent but curious. He'll check out my ring or shoelace but he's not big on being handled. Which I'm okay with. Ferdinand, my Black Spanish tom 15 years ago, was obnoxiously friendly. Like he'd stand on your feet until you picked him up and carried him around. The Silver-laced Orpingtons are all pretty stand-offish. Sterling would tolerate being pet, and Duchess got used to it when she was wearing the saddle. But Hollywood, Mel, and Sue aren't fans of being walked too close to, much less touched. The littles are a little bit better about it. I've handled them enough that they don't run from me and I can scoop them up to do whatever.

I'm really liking the new layout in the pen. I was going to grab a few pictures this morning, but the rain squelched that idea. I'm pretty sure it is supposed to rain all weekend, so it'll be next week before I can finish moving the wood chips into the existing pen. I'm going to put some down on the flower beds, but the rest I'll move into the barn and see how far it goes in covering it up.

I keep waffling back and forth about feeding gamebird pellets (22%-ish protein) to the Orpingtons and just offer calcium additionally. They've been doing much better on the non-GMO, Soy, and Corn feed I've put them on. But their molts do seem to be dragging on. I'm sure I've asked this before, but what is everyone else feeding theirs?

 

[Faraday40]

I'm sure I've asked this before, but what is everyone else feeding theirs?

My feed often varies by season & price.

Spring/summer I can get away with the cheaper feed. (For us that's a store brand called "Agrimaster") The flock free ranges & everything is lush; bugs are plentiful. The last few years I've had multiple hatches, so chick feed is also always around. The protein is higher. If meat bird feed is on sale, I will give that to my orp chicks. They're technically a meat breed - just not fast-growing. Although less protein than gamebird / turkey grower, I also found meatbird works fine older quail and poults, and it's cheaper than the game bird feed. (I start out with as bag of the "good stuff" for the 1st month & then switch to meatbird when it runs out.) I do not have quail & poults this year, but I still have meatbird for molting chickens & chicks.

When it snows, my flock won't go outside. Also, once the leaves are gone, the chickens lose safe cover. Hawks are hungry and patiently wait to snag a chicken dinner. Because the chickens stay in the run, they must rely more on chicken feed for their nutrition. I try to give them better feed. If I do buy the store brand I must supplement by mixing in some meatbird. Nutrena Naturewise &/or Pureina Layena are the middle of the road feeds. I like both & so do my chickens. I have not tried the expensive organic brands - mostly due to cost. (I feel they eat a lot free ranging and do not use any chemicals/pesticides/fertilizers on the lawn. We cannot afford to buy organic food at places like Whole Foods, so why would I spend top dollar to feed animals? Instead, we grow our own garden veggies & fruits. The chickens get scraps, so I feel their life is pretty darn good.)

The only brand that I seem to have problems with is Nutrena "Country Feeds." Every time I have used it, my chickens turn their beaks up. Also some hens had digestive issues &/or looked a little sick. As soon as it ran out and the feed was switched, those problems cleared up. I have no idea why and don't know if others had the same thing.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

My new pullet (from @homeschoolin momma ) is my snuggle chicken. She adores neck scratches under her beak & sort-of melts into it.

Awwwww, how sweet! You are definitely the chicken whisperer! Whats her favorite show?

The only brand that I seem to have problems with is Nutrena "Country Feeds."

That is what i feed mine. Mine dont seem to have any issues with it. The orps have been pigging out like crazy. Personally I think its all the cockerels that really need to go. My spitzies on the other hand barely touch the feed. They are constantly foraging in the woods and pasture. I can fill the feeder halfway and it will still be there 5 days later, sometimes a week! They arent losing weight (or don't seem to be)