The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[Lydia&Andrew]

Hi! Sorry if I change this for a moment but we have four Orpingtons, 23 & 25 weeks old and still no eggs. I believe this breed are late to mature? I just thought I would ask advice from Orpington experts as we are new to chicken keeping.
The photos of the chicks are gorgeous by the way!

Thank you!

 

[BamaChicken]

They do tend to mature later and grow longer than hatchery birds but one thing I have noticed to is the season of the year that they come into POL. If they hit 6 to 7 months of age in the fall they may not lay till they are 8 to 9 months of age. If they hit that age early summer they seem to start laying a little sooner. Just my own Personal observation.

 

[justuschickens59]

Germaine - They look just great !! I am so happy that you are satisfied with them. I can't believe that they are not the least bit subdued after that long journey - resilient little creatures are chicks. Sorry for all the noise with my drumming fingers. I did look at the pictures as soon as you posted them ysesterday evening, but was too tired to type a response. Anyway - keep us posted with pictures !!

WA4-H: These chicks that I hatched for Germaine are a mix of 50% and 75% English. I'm working on building my 100% English flock (I have ten 100% English birds so far). It is slow going with only one hen, and added to that, she is molting and not laying, so it will still be a while before I have 100% English available.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
Joy, I was just joking about the finger drumming LOL I was hurrying as fast as I could because I wanted to let you see them and knew it was getting late where you live.

As for being satisfied, they are more than I had ever expected and I am very, very happy!

I just went and checked on them because I could hear some very loud chirping and I was worried that one may have jumped out of the brooder (it has happened to me before) But it was just one little blue chick who wanted to chirp.

So I put my hand in there to pick it up and put it over by its siblings and OMG it was like lightening the way it took off back over to them.

Are everyones Orp chicks this fast? Did ya feed the Hen and Roo parents Wheaties?

 

[kla37]

http://www.orpy.demon.co.uk/The Orpington Breed of Fowl.htm
This is a really interesting article.

 

[justuschickens59]

Quote:
I think it is their morning fare of hot oatmeal and yogurt

 

[cherylcohen]

OH WISE AND WONDERFUL BBS EXPERTS.....

These 4 I hatched from Sandy's FAB eggs. They are 3 1/2 weeks now.

I have one that looks very different than the others. Very slow to feather and has white feathers. I understand they can have white but I'm trying to follow the "typical" pattern of sexing and she/he has no tail coing in and slow to feather, BUT her comb looks girlie!

The other 3 are all developing tails similarly but I think some are boys.

Oh I'm really confused...CAN YOU TELL

#1 GIRL? Late featherer

#1 and #2

#3 and #4

 

[jeremy]

#1 & #2 are cockerels, #3 #4 are pullets, IMO.
Look at the proud stance the first two are already exhibiting, those have got to be little boys!

 

[cherylcohen]

Quote:
I wish I could depend on the proud stance as an indicator, but if you look at all the pics I took last night they all stood that way in some pictures...

 

[buffbeauty]

Quote:
good article. I kind of giggled at the end where it said the Americans have done work on the bantams "but the Americans don't want to talk about it" now really??!!