The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[fifelakelooper]

It is pouring rain out and 40 degrees...but I turn on my computer and go to the Imported English thread on BYC...and go into a dreamworld! The pictures of all the BEAUTIFUL chicks and FANTASTIC roos/pullets are....well....overwhelming!! Just beautiful!! Joy thank you for the close up of the feather difference in girl vs. cock. My American Orpington chicks are almost 4 weeks and I see the comb difference fairly easy but didn't know what to really look for in the feathers. Very helpful.

 

[BamaChicken]

Jeremy I knew Neville was going to be a looker. He is a really nice splash. He hatched Nove 3 so he is still just a baby. Looks like he will be very wide. You should get some excellent looking offspring out of him and those girls you have.
That hawk can kill a large chicken by hitting them from a dive.

I will pm you on the soap.

 

[justuschickens59]

Oh good Linda - I'm glad the pictures of the feathering was a bit helpful.

Julie - Wow - the head on that black chick in your last picture is huge !! Is that a Taylor chick? Can't wait to see how those grow out.

Daphne - Nice pictures !! Everything looks pretty and green.

Jeremy - Neville looks like he is going to be a fine boy when he grows up. That pullet beside him needs to have a beeper when she backs up !! She is wide as a tank !! Gorgeous. I love your hawk - especially that last picture - great shot !! I can't help it - I think hawks, any bird of prey, are just magnificent and majestic and I love them. I know they aren't good for chickens - but that doesn't negate their beauty. I also love your reference to the picture that looks like "American Gothic"!! IT DOES

Here is a picture of our resident hawk. He has been here since we bought the place, and I believe he is the guardian. I dubbed him "Mr. Hawk" (original, huh?). He has never attempted to bother a chicken. I only see him when it rains. I just love it when it rains and he comes out.

 

[jeremy]

Joy, I like the wee little hawk, too. I call him "baby hawk".

I think the squirrel population is keeping him fed right now pretty well and I bet he figures the squirrels are an easier snack than the chickens... especially after his encounter with Neville. I hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying all of this... *knocks on wood* We will end up covering the runs with netting, time to start shopping around I guess. The crows do a good job of keeping the hawks away, too. I've seen them chasing the little hawk a couple times. As long as he doesn't ever bother the chickens and with the right preventative measures in place I don't see how he could, baby hawk can live here in our trees and munch on the squirrels all he wants.

I don't have a name for the wide load Blue pullet yet, she's one that just recently has caught my eye.

Julie, thank you for the soap description in the PM you sent me, I'm excited to use them. I thought the Drakkar bar was a homemade Lever 2000 scent!

 

[HenThymes]

Julie, here are a couple of pictures I took this evening of some of your beautiful blues. I still have to figure out all the details of who they originated from but I do know the parent stock had come directly from you. A lady (unknown to me) personally drove down and picked them up from you in 09/10?? She got real ill and had to part with her entire flock and I got these offspring from the person who has them now.

At any rate, they are gorgeous blues and big kids to boot!! They are 7 weeks I believe which is right in line with my blacks I am growing out. Still having a tough time deciding if they are pullets/cockerels, any thoughts??

I know this black is a pullet, she is 8/9 weeks

 

[justuschickens59]

Tricia - Nice babies !! They all look like pullets to me !!

 

[HenThymes]

Thanks Joy.

You know that what I am kind of thinking today too. The lady I got them from thinks they are cockerels but looking at them today I am really not so sure.

I guess I will just have to watch these big chunkers grow up and then I'll know.

 

[BamaChicken]

They all look like pullets to me too. Nice blues. I like the first one best.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

I agree with Bama.... they look like girls to me too..

 

[HenThymes]

Look what one of our girls layed over the weekend!!