The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[flgardengirl]

Many years ago I got 6 chocolate bantam english orp eggs and hatched 1 roo and 4 hens ( how lucky is that?) They were the sweetest chickens. I had a predator that got ino their coop last year. Only one hen survived. She is so tiny. Her name is Tootsie. I recently got some chocolate cuckoo english orp eggs and Im pretty sure I have a little roo. When he's older I hope to mate him with my bantam choc orp hen, Tootsie.
Here's a few photos. I thought I had more on my phone. I will have to look on my laptop tomorrow.
Little bantam chocolate roo..he was such a sweetie.

Bantam Chocolate English Orp hen

 

[flgardengirl]

Heres some of my newest English Orp additions...In all in hatched 2 Isabel Cuckoo, 1 Choc Cuckoo, 4 Lavenders, 1 Black split to Lav. from shipped eggs.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Precious babies!

 

[Faraday40]

@flgardengirl
Cute baby orps. Take lots of pics now. They don't stay small for very long.

I also had a hatch. My son's serama went broody, so he gave her 4 eggs. 3 hatched last night & today, but I don't think the last will. Sadly one chick died after a couple hours. The mama is happily bonding with her 2 chicks now. (One yellow & one white) These serama chicks are the size of a quarter. So adorable.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I am going to have to get some Seramas. They are so stinking cute!

it dried out enough for me to get the rest of the chicken pen covered with at least a couple inches of wood chips. Of course this morning there's a "10% chance of rain" with 97% humidity and a mist so thick you can't see more than a hundred feet or so in any direction. I wish I'd had time to do the area outside the gate that has no grass from me walking in and out so often. It gets quite treacherous when it's wet. The mud is so thick it'll pull your mud boots off when it gets really bad. Looks like rain on and of all week until the weekend when hopefully I can get the wheel barrow back there to throw some more down.

Dahlia is definitely laying. Or at least getting ready to. When I turned them out onto the yard this morning before work she burst out of the hen house cackling and singing her egg song. I walked in there and she hadn't actually laid, but she'd built herself a very nice nest on the floor as the nest boxes are apparently not good enough for her. Personally I think she's so big she's the one that keeps flipping the milk crates over...lol

 

[homeschoolin momma]

I am going to have to get some Seramas. They are so stinking cute!

You have no idea. Once you have one, you'll want more!

(They are very snuggly)

 

[ColtHandorf]

My roommate really wants some. I showed them to her and she was like, "meh"... and then she met some in person at the breeder that I got the Silver-laced Orpingtons from and she was just in love with them.

 

[CCUK]

I just let mine out into the main run whilst all the others were outside. They loved having the extra space. I'll give it another week before I try introducing them.

lve also been replacing the woodchip. I ran out before I'd covered it all

I'll try and finish it before the bad weather sets in.

 

[ColtHandorf]

We've had nothing but yuck weather. I just barely got the wood chips down in the pen in time. Now I need to do in front of the gate and a low spot in the yard the white poodle likes to run through but it's been too wet. It's supposed to be below freezing on Thursday. I'm trying to decide if I need to bring all the little back in. English Orpingtons are so low to the ground all the youngsters looked like they went swimming this morning.

@Faraday40 - How do your younger birds handle their first winter?

But I just love those Chocolate Bantams. They are sooo cute!

 

[CCUK]

We've had nothing but yuck weather. I just barely got the wood chips down in the pen in time. Now I need to do in front of the gate and a low spot in the yard the white poodle likes to run through but it's been too wet. It's supposed to be below freezing on Thursday. I'm trying to decide if I need to bring all the little back in. English Orpingtons are so low to the ground all the youngsters looked like they went swimming this morning.

@Faraday40 - How do your younger birds handle their first winter?

But I just love those Chocolate Bantams. They are sooo cute!

I'm envious of your coop and run. It's looking good. When it's finished your chickens will hopefully appreciate all the hard work! Wood chips are a must though. Its OK when there is grass but when that's gone it just turns into a wet, muddy, poppy mess that isn't fun for anyone. The woodchips do wear out though. I first did mine last year, they were ready to be replaced a couple of months back. It is easier to lift them after it's been a bit wet though.