The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[Faraday40]

That goofy Choc Cuckoo does this weird thing to get through the crowd of bigger Orps. He sticks his neck and beak straight out like an arrow and just kinda shoots his way through. Sometimes he does it right INTO the crowd so they all scatter. I believe he does it purposely to get them to run. Its hysterical. He's such a goober.

My choc cuckoo was also wonderful. He was so "dumb" as a chick but gentle, sweet, & so very handsome! He let those hens walk all over him and did whatever it took to keep them happy. He'd always run up to grab treats from me & then turn around & give them all away. He'd always tidbit for the hens & never ate any treats for himself.

I have a feeling everyone on this thread will soon be drooling over these 2!

 

[flgardengirl]

Thank you. I love those two (Isabels) they mostly hang out together. They seem to know they are the same and ignore the others lol. Its like they are in their own little bubble. The Choc Cuckoo male doesnt like any of the chickens except the Isabel female..haha I think he thinks he is a person :/

Your Chocolate Cuckoo boy sounds so sweet. Do you plan on getting more Chocolate Orps? Maybe mine will grow out of his goofiness too lol. I think the Chocolate Gene must have a extra dose of sweetness added in. My Chocolate Bantam Orps were all little sweeties. The male was the most docile loving thing. Like yours, he let the females rule and kept watch over them. I really miss him. I only have the one Chocolate female left from that group (Tootsie). Hopefully she can be mated to goofball lol. She's kinda weird too. I think of her like one of those one-person little dogs. She's very sweet, wants to be petted, live in your pocket. She doesnt really like the other chickens that weren't in her original flock.
My male solid Chocolate Bantam Orp..miss this guy!

Tootsie

 

[Faraday40]

Your bantam orp "Tootsie" has the same ball shape as my "Cookie." Does she go broody a lot - like Cookie?

I had LF choc orps. I sold my last choc hen last week. I can only keep & breed so many colors, so I decided to let the cuckoos go a couple years ago. I held on to a few choc hens but sold them this year.

I've had the lav & black orps the longest. For some reason, people just go crazy for the lav orps. I like them, but the shiny, majestic blacks remain my fav. I also love my laced orps. Even though it can be a challenge to separate them in spring, I'm going to breed them again next year. I found the laced orps just don't sell as well. (But again, no orps seem to be as popular as the lavs.) I lost a lot of money trying to breed the choc cuckoo. Those chicks were so awkward looking, no one wanted them - even when I could guarantee female chicks. As point of lay pullets people would offer $20 each, but that didn't cover my cost of hatching, feeding, & raising all the chicks for 5 months only to sell the females.

Next year I plan to breed lavs, black/lav splits, & laced (both blue & black laced). I will also have an occasional blue orp. I wish I could find some imported bantam orps. I've only seen bantam buff orps available via hatcheries. They don't look round enough to me & I prefer to avoid buff if there are other choices. I still have my dear, sweet, 6 yr old, "Cookie" but when she's gone, I may have to get a cochin or some other round bantam type to replace her. ( Even though I heard great things about them, I never tried a cochin. I prefer clean unfeathered legs.)

 

[homeschoolin momma]

I also concur with @Faraday40 on genders.

I currently have two of Faradays chocolate orps from last year. They just finished molting and are 99% pretty again. I dont think my black roo carries the chocolate gene as no babies were chocolate this past spring. But its ok, I like the blacks, lavs and silver laced best. These girls will just be good egg layers to earn their keep.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I think the Chocolate Gene must have a extra dose of sweetness added in.

Lies! lol Prudence, my Chocolate pullet is a complete witch. She's gorgeous an oh so perfectly round, but such a hateful heifer. She's been like that since I brought her home. That's why her, the Lavender and the Blue make up "The Weird Sisters" like in the Sabrina the Teenage Witch reboot on Netflix. Plus Agatha, Dorcas, and Prudence sound like English names and fit the naming scheme.

Guessing on the sexes of the Orpington chicks:

Black Split - cockerel
Lavender 1 - pullet
Lavender 2 - leaning towards cockerel
Lavender 3 - cockerel
Lavender 4 - cockerel
Isabel Pair
Chocolate Cuckoo - cockerel of course.

 

[Faraday40]

Lies! lol Prudence, my Chocolate pullet is a complete witch. She's gorgeous an oh so perfectly round, but such a hateful heifer.

I had a choc who was more aloof. Not "bad" but not the usual docile, gentle, cuddling orps I'm used to. Her name was Godiva and she thought she was above it all. She never wanted me to hold or pet her, but she demanded her own treats. She would not scramble with the flock when I threw down scratch. Instead she would look at me & "Honk." If I gave her some individual treats, she was fine. If I tried to ignore her, she'd follow me around perpetually "honking" until she got what she wanted. She was such a persistent pain!

 

[flgardengirl]

Your bantam orp "Tootsie" has the same ball shape as my "Cookie." Does she go broody a lot - like Cookie?

She doesnt go broody a ton. I would say average, but I can always give her eggs to a Key West hen they are even broodier than Silkies! Two will get together and raise 30 chicks cooperatively, if you let them.
The daddy roos are great with the chicks and the mommas are the fiercest things I've ever seen, when protecting their babies. They will be in good hands lol.

 

[flgardengirl]

Colt, I like those 3 weird sister's names! Cute lol..I sure hope I dont get Lav & Split Lav 4 roos That would be just my luck

 

[ColtHandorf]

Colt, I like those 3 weird sister's names! Cute lol..I sure hope I dont get Lav & Split Lav 4 roos That would be just my luck

Thanks! And That's my luck too. lol I always over guess on roosters so I can be pleasantly surprised.

 

[flgardengirl]

All my little baby orps just spent their first night in their big birdy coop last night. Poor little babies :/ They were scared at first but I think they are getting used to it now.