The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[klf73]

ok, got it

i just need to know who to cull...need to cull 6 cockerals and figure out who is best. I was going to post pics but knowing what I am looking for will be sufficient. I am a prof dog groomer and have shown dogs. I have a fairly critical eye and just need to know what traits to look for and importance of said traits. None of my Julie boys have the cut away chest so I need a list of desired traits in a list of importance.

 

[jeremy]

Quote:
Type.
Color.
Temperment.
Breeding method. (Lazy breeder vs. Agressive breeder, etc.)
Tail.
Eye color.
Comb.

I might be showing my inexperience as a breeder but that's my list of things that are pretty much required by me to be included as a breeder bird in my flock. I by no means know everything there is to know but I feel those things are good things for beginner breeders to be able to recognize and evaluate to according to the standard. The British Standard when it comes to these Orps, not the APA SOP.

One thing both Julie and Joy told me is that you need to wait until your boys are older, at least around 8 months of age before culling anyone. These guys go through such drastic transformations during this first year of life, a 4 month old bird will look nothing like a 8 to 10 month old cockerel.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
Comb is 5 points out of 100. Type is worth more points. With any breed of exhibition you always pick type first. If you have two birds of equl quality and one has 6 points and the other five points on the comb, use the five pointer and keep the other as a backup.

The larger breeds like Orpingtons, Cochins, Brahams etc take a long while to mature and develop. A cull at 6 months may be a champion at 18 months.

 

[fifelakelooper]

I have been told this (hold off on culling for 8 months) by several people. I believe you...just want to know HOW you keep 6-8 roos from fighting while you wait for that time period. Also...another question...is it possible to keep two roos with 11 hens in a 7X11 coop for 3 months with no outside access/run?? (without fights, issues) My husband has decided he cannot handle the long winter and needs to go to Florida for Feb, March and April. I bought a travel trailer to convert and have arranged for a friend to care for them for those 3 months. However...I have two breeds and need my two chosen roos for these breeds. I do NOT want to let my flock mingle with his flock due to biosecurity ....he has no health issues with his...I just want mine apart. I can haul my flock over there....just have no outside area for them. Generally mine don't go out in the dead of the winter anyway since we live in N. Mi. and it is harsh...but I have never had two roos enclosed. What are the odds I can pull this off? I have tried to talk hubby into just 2 months but he isn't budging. Should I divide the RV into two areas? That makes the coop area even smaller.

 

[fifelakelooper]

I have been told this (hold off on culling for 8 months) by several people. I believe you...just want to know HOW you keep 6-8 roos from fighting while you wait for that time period. Also...another question...is it possible to keep two roos with 11 hens in a 7X11 coop for 3 months with no outside access/run?? (without fights, issues) My husband has decided he cannot handle the long winter and needs to go to Florida for Feb, March and April. I bought a travel trailer to convert and have arranged for a friend to care for them for those 3 months. However...I have two breeds and need my two chosen roos for these breeds. I do NOT want to let my flock mingle with his flock due to biosecurity ....he has no health issues with his...I just want mine apart. I can haul my flock over there....just have no outside area for them. Generally mine don't go out in the dead of the winter anyway since we live in N. Mi. and it is harsh...but I have never had two roos enclosed. What are the odds I can pull this off? I have tried to talk hubby into just 2 months but he isn't budging. Should I divide the RV into two areas? That makes the coop area even smaller.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
Not sure on the temperment of the UK Orp, but my Buff Orpingtons get along fine. We introduced two adult Buff Orp males, brothers but raised on seperate farms, into the same breeding pen as adults. A fight broke out, lasted 2 seconds and they have ben friends ever since.

I would suggest placing them in side by side pens for a few weeks. Then try them together in a larger area, like free ranging. They will get aquainted and should do fine. For a coop, check out our BYC pages. One of the coops we built for Buffbeaty's Buff Orps. A similir 6'x12' coop would easily house your flock "if" they are given plenty of feed and something to keep them busy. Like a Hen Treat hanging toy or a head of lettuce/cabbage. If the boys get bored they may spar a bit. Lots of exterior and interior roosts would help.

Good luck in your attempt. Personally, I would prefer the northern winters to what we have been getting. 106 yesterday in Southeast Arkansas.


ETA: Your coop is 7'x11'? Sadly, equipment trailers are 6'x10', 6'x12 and 6'x16'. You could just build a new coop and take them with you! Juliechick on the Arkansas thread bought a "deer hunting trailer". Its a 6'x16' equipment trailer that was professionally built as a deer camper. Looks very nice. Julie went inside and gutted it and built coops.

 

[fifelakelooper]

mine is a regular travel trailer. The real measurement is larger but I did not include the tongue, etc....just interior space. We have already "gutted "...but have not put up nests, and perches. I will put 'poop" boards under the perches. I have already put my English (part and part American) Orps with the Jersey Giants. They are 3 weeks apart in age. These are two LARGE breeds as you know. I have 3 coops here but went ahead and put the two breeds together ..NOW..in preparation for the winter. After winter is over and I'm back home...I will put the Orps in one coop and the Jerseys in another and the 3'rd will be for "grow-outs". Presently...there have been no major fights. However...I have two English roo's and about 6 Jersey Giant roos. The "jersey's have been getting into each other somewhat so I would like to cull those roos not wanted but they are shy of 3 months and everyone keeps saying to wait. I have a empty coop at present and could separate for more room but wanted them to stay together so they would be ok in the winter trailer. Just not sure what to do. Would be a lot easier if I could just pick my roos and have just the 13 flock keepers. The Orps are over 3 months and the Jerseys not quite 3 months....too early to pick really. The black English roo is huge and I'm pretty sure I'm keeping him over the "splash" English roo. The Jerseys are another thing...so many to chose from. It sounds like you think they will be ok if raised together and that is my hope.....

 

[fifelakelooper]

Hubby will NOT let me haul them to Florida with us. He drew the line there!

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Have never raised Jersey Giants, so don't know about them. Our Black Orpingtons are very calm. We introduced a 3+ year old male to an established breeding paddock. About 50'x50'. The new male is the sire of all in the pen. the sire was top dog for about 5 minutes, then the boys ganged up on him. All is well now, but he is the last to the rfeed, last to the roost and has only one or two hens that will hang out with him. He is the largest we have. But its not the size of the rooster in the fight, its the size of the fight in the rooster.

We had a Buff Orpington Bantam male that was the most gentle bird we have ever had. Took him to the schools to show him off. Yet when I introduced a Jersey Buff tom turkey(fully grown) the Orp bantam whooped him good. The Orp Bantam KNEW he was 6' tall. The Tom "thought" he was 2" tall. The Orp weighed about 34-35 oz. The tom weighed over 25#. The Orp was never agressive towards anything else. Just the tom. That Orp Bantam was from the master breeder J. Ralph Brazelton. Sure miss him and Ralph. I guess that was about 1984 or 85.

We have seen chicks fighting it out in the brooder. Some strains of males are morea gressive than others. But you should be able to house them together as long as they stay together. A pecking order will be established and they will mostly stay with it. Occasionally one boy may try to take over, but that should not take long.

Suggestion. After your husband hooks the travel trailer up and goes to bed, switch trailers! When you get to Florid he will have to leave your bird trailer and go back for the other.

 

[aveca]

Quote:
Not sure on the temperment of the UK Orp, but my Buff Orpingtons get along fine. We introduced two adult Buff Orp males, brothers but raised on seperate farms, into the same breeding pen as adults. A fight broke out, lasted 2 seconds and they have ben friends ever since.

I would suggest placing them in side by side pens for a few weeks. Then try them together in a larger area, like free ranging. They will get aquainted and should do fine. For a coop, check out our BYC pages. One of the coops we built for Buffbeaty's Buff Orps. A similir 6'x12' coop would easily house your flock "if" they are given plenty of feed and something to keep them busy. Like a Hen Treat hanging toy or a head of lettuce/cabbage. If the boys get bored they may spar a bit. Lots of exterior and interior roosts would help.

Good luck in your attempt. Personally, I would prefer the northern winters to what we have been getting. 106 yesterday in Southeast Arkansas.


ETA: Your coop is 7'x11'? Sadly, equipment trailers are 6'x10', 6'x12 and 6'x16'. You could just build a new coop and take them with you! Juliechick on the Arkansas thread bought a "deer hunting trailer". Its a 6'x16' equipment trailer that was professionally built as a deer camper. Looks very nice. Julie went inside and gutted it and built coops.

mine also get along, its when you separate them say for show, then try to put them back together that the problems start, unless your lucky which has happened. I give them a rather large yard surrounded by stomp fence to play in...mine pick a little but for the most part all get along..they are around 6 mos. 5 boys , 2 are standing out to me so entered one and grooming 2 for show in sept..one just really stands out to me ...but never know what next spring might bring, sadly I only have one female to choose from in this group..shes good not great at this point next year she will be much better but taking her along for the ride to the show.. her feathering is wonderful color color everything but shes just not going to go over that line this time around..good experience for her..