The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[thedragonlady]

Deek,
Your chick is so cute. Congrats.

Thank you too. Her mother is named after me, and I'm her dad's God Mother. She will be totally spoiled rotten!

 

[delisha]

Quote: She will than be very special indeed....

 

[delisha]

I have a question about English cockerels and sexual maturity.

I realize every bird is different and Heritage birds sexually mature later than hatchery birds. I am looking for a ball park figure in what age do you look for.

Thank you

 

[jeremy]

I have a question about English cockerels and sexual maturity.

I realize every bird is different and Heritage birds sexually mature later than hatchery birds. I am looking for a ball park figure in what age do you look for.

Thank you

Mine usually start showing interest in their girls around 5-6 months old. Before then they act like goofy/clumsy teenagers.

 

[jeremy]

Dee, that baby is just precious!

 

[BamaChicken]

Nice chick Dee.
I thought i would post some pics a friend from England sent me several years ago when we discussing Cut away breast on Orpingtons which is not desirable. She sent me pics so I could get a visual on problem. Thought these might help others who might have some that would be culls for breeding improvement.

You can see how the breast cut back and doesn't roll all the way to the bottom. Here is a photo of a nice round breast that she sent. I could probably post a pic of one of my own birds but I will go with what she sent.

Hope this helps some new to breeding Orps

 

[BamaChicken]

Also wanted to say when I can I want to make pics of those chicks that hatched on Nov 1 . Dont know if any of you remember the pics and what large chicks they were. I am amazed at them at 8 weeks old. If they have decent lacing they will be some very fine chicks. I gave a few of the cockerels away at the show in Pensacola and wish I could see how big those are getting. I have a few more from that pair growing out and then a few really large chicks growing from a really large splash pullet and a blue cockerel. The cockerel is not my fav except his size but he has the genes and the girl is awesome so i will see if it will be worth hatching anymore from these two pariings..
One of my blue hens has just started laying again. I don't have her in with a Roo cause of show season right now and am waiting for a young cockerel to get another month old so I can use him . No blacks laying any eggs yet.

 

[thedragonlady]

I have a question about English cockerels and sexual maturity.

I realize every bird is different and Heritage birds sexually mature later than hatchery birds. I am looking for a ball park figure in what age do you look for.

Thank you

I get fertile eggs at 6 months. The boys start breeding about 5 1/2 mos. but it takes them a while to perfect things.

 

[deek]

oops sorry

 

[aveca]

Nice chick Dee.
I thought i would post some pics a friend from England sent me several years ago when we discussing Cut away breast on Orpingtons which is not desirable.  She sent me pics so I could get a visual on problem. Thought these might help others who might have some that would be culls for breeding improvement.

You can see how the breast cut back and doesn't roll all the way to the bottom. Here is a photo of a nice round breast that she sent. I could probably post a pic of one of my own birds but I will go with what she sent.

Hope this helps some new to breeding Orps

Thank you for sharing this Julie..

I would like to see even more examples, more severe, mild case ect and how it affects The bird and why it is culled..everyone culls it but there has never been an explanation as to why..I think that would help a lot of people understand what their goals are breeding orpingtons..I know the Brits dislike the square breast as well..another issue that it would be really nice to have an expert explain to us..I believe it is a breast that was to the extreme..

A lot of helpful posts like this tend to get lost in a thread and people starting out or questioning What Issues they Are Having Find a hard time searching them out..

It would be nice to have a learning center based on each breeds ideals written by experts..