The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[michaelinnc84]

I have been looking for a breed that lays and is also a good meat bird with wonderful broody instincts as well when I came across the Orpington. I must say the buffs are absolutely beautiful! I am thinking of ordering some chicks from mcmurray unless someone here has better suggestions of where to get started with this breed? I am also in Western NC if any breeders are near me feel free to PM me! Thanks everyone for letting me jump in on your thread and look at your beautiful birds!

 

[kathyinmo]

I have been looking for a breed that lays and is also a good meat bird with wonderful broody instincts as well when I came across the Orpington. I must say the buffs are absolutely beautiful! I am thinking of ordering some chicks from mcmurray unless someone here has better suggestions of where to get started with this breed? I am also in Western NC if any breeders are near me feel free to PM me! Thanks everyone for letting me jump in on your thread and look at your beautiful birds!

I would not call these (Imported) Orps good layers. At least mine are not.

Also, you can not get anything like these from a hatchery.

 

[galanie]

I have been looking for a breed that lays and is also a good meat bird with wonderful broody instincts as well when I came across the Orpington.  I must say the buffs are absolutely beautiful!  I am thinking of ordering some chicks from mcmurray unless someone here has better suggestions of where to get started with this breed?  I am also in Western NC if any breeders are near me feel free to PM me!  Thanks everyone for letting me jump in on your thread and look at your beautiful birds!

As Kathy said, you can't get anything like these from a hatchery. The imported English birds might be over your budget for a dual purpose bird but their counterparts bred to the American standard could be just what you're looking for. You won't get a good dual purpose Orpington from a hatchery though, ever. This breed, like most dual purpose breeds, have been bred by whoever raises them for hatcheries for egg laying only, and the body sizes are very much smaller than you'll need. I strongly urge you to look around and try to find breeders rather than McMurray or any other hatchery if you want true dual purpose birds.

I still have a few from a hatchery right now that are two years old and half the size of my breeder birds that are all a year old or less. HinkJC farms is a great place to start though from NC you'd have to get hatching eggs. Most will not ship chicks though there are a few that will from time to time. There are breeders within driving distance of you though I can't say who or even whether they're currently selling anything. Look for the thread "Post Pictures of Orpingtons Here" I think it's called, also.

 

[radirevo]

Hi,

If you're interested in imported Orpingtons, buffs, i will have juvenile birds available this spring.
My website is www.HeirloomOrpingtons.com
Thanks and have a nice day,

Marc

 

[rebel yell]

ruth, relly lovley birds!

and rebel yell always love it when you post new pics...hope you get the comp issue resolved soon.

Thanks aveca I will try to post some more pictures this weekend if my job dont work me to death, mine are all trimed up for breeding right now so they dont look there best but they are nice & healthy, i just love these birds, cant help it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[michaelinnc84]

Thanks everyone for the great information. I will try and find the other orpington thread also. What is the difference between the american and imported english? Sorry if that is a stupid question. I am set on this breed it is so awesome from what I have read and does everything I want including a great broody

 

[galanie]

Thanks everyone for the great information.  I will try and find the other orpington thread also.  What is the difference between the american and imported english?  Sorry if that is a stupid question.  I am set on this breed it is so awesome from what I have read and does everything I want including a great broody

Basically a shorter back and a much more full, fluffy body. Also they are larger. There's more differences but that's the ones you notice first. I've not had experience with them myself yet except for my part english and they've only started laying. They are plenty big though.

 

[tennesseeckn]

I have another question for the experts.

I'm wondering about head size...

My older girls seem to have broader heads that this year's hatch. I was hoping someone could tell me if the younger girls' heads will, ummm, fill out or if I've made a breeding blunder. The older girls are about 17 months old and the younger are about seven months old.

 

[aveca]

the meat quality of the import buffs is outstanding..they are the prefered table bird in northern europe..better than hatchery birds pluss they are real eye candy. nicest looking birds. the english black orps from what few i have are decent winter egg layers...you wont go wrong to buy from breeders in here..the only draw back is you cant order lot of hens and a couple hens...you get what you get which might be a lot a roosters but overall so worth it...the quality is just so much better.

 

[jeremy]

This thread has gotten quiet.

If the weather is nice this weekend I hope to get some new pictures of my Neville posted, he's finished up his molt for the most part now.