The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[BamaChicken]

This one of the Blacks I kept for Breed Stock. He didn't the best comb but he is a very large boy and not a year old yet

 

[jeremy]

Julie, I don't know which one I like better- the Blue or the Black!

 

[BamaChicken]

Thanks Jeremy. He is not the stocky boy with the short back. They are so different. The other one is so compact. I have 5 chicks hatched out of the stocky one with just that one pullet and I know you can t believe this but all cockerels. One is black and he looks like he will be the largest

 

[rebel yell]

It would be one hard decision to make between the two, swap combs on them & I would have to keep the black,
No I would keep em both,
Great looking birds Julie, keep up the good work, Hope you keep feeling better.

 

[jeremy]

Thanks Jeremy. He is not the stocky boy with the short back. They are so different. The other one is so compact. I have 5 chicks hatched out of the stocky one with just that one pullet and I know you can t believe this but all cockerels. One is black and he looks like he will be the largest

I want a Black cockerel out of that stocky boy of yours, I'm thinking about keeping Neville and a Black cockerel for breeding.

 

[Fat Chick]

They are both gorgeous boys, Bama. I am partial to the blacks, but that blue is nice and "clean" and round. Exceptional.

I have seen some blue roos lately that are really sub-par. Being English is NOT a guarantee of high quality. I know its difficult when you are working with a breed that isn't highly productive, but people need to learn when to cull. One roo can ruin a whole flock.

 

[Shaffer]

Julie,
I am not really a lover of blues because they are very hard to produce good ones with the proper lacing, You seem to have been able to do this without any effort. I like that blue male over the black male.
As far as them not being productive, well I have been getting 6 to 8 eggs every day from birds of your bloodline out of 8 hens and I am not pushing them to lay since I am trying to hold off from hatching yet. So they do make good feed since I am feeding those eggs back to my other birds. They all appear to be fertile also but then I trim all my birds even the ameraucanas and araucanas.
Good luck with your hatching Julie I am sure you will have no trouble farming those extra males out or they would also make a good meal. Harry

 

[Tartannik]

Hi everyone, I hatched this chick last year (I ordered 6 Orpington eggs but only one hatched!)
He is rather large and very friendly.
So, my questions are
1. Are Orpington Roo's notorious for being friendly? I ask because i have just to get rid of my Marans roo as he kept attacking me and I was worried for my kids.
2. Does he look like an ok Orp roo? I know it isn't the best picture but he was such a 'scraggly' wee thing at the beginning I wondered if he was going to be any good to breed from?
3. Someone told me you don't get pure black Orp pullets only the boys are black, is this true?
Thank you in anticipation!
Nik

Sorry but I can't get my pictures to show up on here, i pasted the link from photo (img code) but it doesn't seem to be working, any ideas?
Shall try this one instead!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/tartannik/jeffrey.jpg

 

[BamaChicken]

Fat Chick you are right. Every one has to cull heavy to produce anything worth while no matter where or what kind of Orp or any breed you are trying to improve. '
I kept the black due to width. I had quite a few with awesome combs but he has a few things I like and want to breed in. .
Harry believe me it is not effortless and sometimes with the blues i feel Iike I take one step forward and two back. I have a few splash males I am growing out that will be breed back to the blues to improve color so I know I will have lots of splash to spread arround. I will do some splash to blue breedings.and see what I end up with.



On that black cockerel from the hatched egg. How old is he? He seems to have possiblitly. I think you need to let him get to a yr old to make a decision and also what other alternative do you have.
In my experience the Orps are gentle Roos included. Like all breeds you can exceptions. I had a few Maran several years back and I sold them because I couldn't turn my back on the boys. Mean boys.

 

[Tartannik]

Hello thank you for replying, he was hartched the middle of July last year, glad to hear you think he is ok. I might get some Orp ladies for him then they are such lovely breeds.
I couldn't turn my back on that Marans Roo either, had to take a stick whenever i was in the garden!!