The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[delisha]

I know very little about hatchery birds..My layers are large birds. I have been breeding these for 30 some years. They make great table fair and lay 3 oz eggs. Nothing puny here. I never knew there were so many hatchery's till I started on BYC. I live in Farm country and purchased most of my stock when my daughter started 4H. We have some of the best chicken breeders in the world in Wisconsin. We just need top Orpingtons in Wisconsin, and Silkies. The stuff you see at the shows need a little help. That is why I am here to learn from all of you wonderful people. I am stuffing them Orps. They eat 2 lbs of feed a day, plus vegetables, fruits, bugs and what ever they find. They are very active about foraging and I like to see that. Even in the deep snow they are out looking for food. I love my Orps!! I just wish I could fill them up and not worry about making them fat and unhealthy.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

aww..how cute!!! what color are the light ones? they look Lavender from the pics...they are too cute!!

They are splash

 

[delisha]

Renee,

Your baby's are so fluffy.
I have my first ones in the bator doing a test, and I have a few under a broody too. It is a bit cold out for a broody, -7 this morning. Brrrr. She is setting tight on those eggs. They should be hatching anytime now. I never considered hatching under a broody till I started on here at BYC, it seems so many winter hatch. I think this will be my first and last winter hatch, too nerve wracking.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

Thank you. I have mine set up in the pug room. They don't mind sharing the space with each other.

 

[thedragonlady]

I know very little about hatchery birds..My layers are large birds. I have been breeding these for 30 some years. They make great table fair and lay 3 oz eggs. Nothing puny here. I never knew there were so many hatchery's till I started on BYC. I live in Farm country and purchased most of my stock when my daughter started 4H. We have some of the best chicken breeders in the world in Wisconsin. We just need top Orpingtons in Wisconsin, and Silkies. The stuff you see at the shows need a little help. That is why I am here to learn from all of you wonderful people. I am stuffing them Orps. They eat 2 lbs of feed a day, plus vegetables, fruits, bugs and what ever they find. They are very active about foraging and I like to see that. Even in the deep snow they are out looking for food. I love my Orps!! I just wish I could fill them up and not worry about making them fat and unhealthy.

If your Orps are out and foraging every day, I doubt they will get fat. This time of year they need some animal protein and greens. Try some cat food, alfalfa pelllets, soaked, and Calf Manna. It will keep your gang healthy, and laying until spring, when the grass and bugs come in.

 

[Kiniska]

Oh... the chicks are so cute! Hope your hens lay lots soon Renie, I want a lap full of peeping babies while I paint.

 

[Lots A Cluckin]

Quote: aww!! well they are cute.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

Thanks gals ") Should pick up soon

 

[aveca]

If your Orps are out and foraging every day, I doubt they will get fat. This time of year they need some animal protein and greens. Try some cat food, alfalfa pelllets, soaked, and Calf Manna. It will keep your gang healthy, and laying until spring, when the grass and bugs come in.

Thats exactly what we do Vickie..My vet told me a long time ago that jungle fowl in ideal conditions have a wide variety of insects, lizards, salamanders, every sort of greens and seeds, small minnows..she told me, with these big boned birds you have to make up for what they cannot get by forraging in winter..the feeds arnt more than a good filler in this nothern climate...

She told me something interesting ...an egg is a complete food..every vitamin and mineral is represented with a complex protien ..She said take your extra eggs , if your a salmon eater add bits left over into a scrambled egg for your babies..it builds amazing feather and bones ..Dogs get shiney coats from eggs..as they get older , dont need as much of it ..the world champion sebright breeder in england only feeds his babies oats and eggs..not sure why that combo except he said it gives feathering and development every advantage...combs come up nice and straight unless they have inherited fishtail or other inherited trait..it makes the combs more stout while growing ..amazing what a little protien and greens will do..I give them every other day..we eat a lot of salmon ect up here so lot of left overs..The babies are very well developed from it..the cockeral looks amazin

In summer, I dont have to worry about too much. tons of small salamanders out there I saw something hanging out of the blk orps beak one afternoon..Caught her, picked her up , it was a big salamander she hadnt finished..BLUK...but they love them..

We also chop fresh greens..Im always a little leary of that buying in grocery because of occasional salmonella recalls..I am NPIP certified...have been for long time..I wash everything they get befor chopping...otherwise alfalfa works for me.

 

[BamaChicken]

I took a few pics of my sweet babies tonite. I think this may be the sweetest group I have hatched in a long time. They run to me when I talk baby talk to them. Dont seem the least scared. I think they think I am their momma.

I have two little Choco babies in this hatch