The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[deek]

My azaleas are blooming in Feb. It was a beuatiful day today. Mid seventies. We have bluebirds trying to nest and robins everywhere.
I am getting spoiled with this good weather. It think we have run the AC as much as we have used heat this Winter. Just hoping our summer isnt to hot. I know the folks in OK had some of the worst heat this past year along with drought.
Is anyone else's gas prices going up again?

Bama, same here. My azaleas are starting to bloom as are my camellias. I see tiny buds on my dogwoods. Makes me very nervous because this could mean a very nasty heat wave! Let's enjoy it while we can!

 

[deek]

Looking at my babies, I can tell that the hen determines the size of the chick and I've read the gender. Down color seems to be 50/50. Are body type, comb, wing carriage...50/50 also? I've read on BYC that temperament comes from the Cock bird, but I only believe a bit of what is on some of the forums.

What is your experience? If someone has seen somewhere where I can read about it, please share.

 

[aveca]

Well, I ran the AC last night and today. We had a "cold front" that PLUNGED temps into the ... 60's? Already getting ready to plant tomatoes. Not the seeds, the plants. And 10 years ago I'd have laughed myself silly at the idea of doing that in Feb. - but mid March is just too late to do that here now.

Can you get a big fan and blow some of that up here?

 

[Slongest]

Welcome to this crazy forum Slongest!

Thank you I appreciate it I absolutely love some of these pics there are some beautiful orps on here.

 

[thedragonlady]

I think we are going to get pounded!

You girls stay safe ! This looks like a bad one.

 

[yaya1215]

Hello everyone! Kind of new to the site and have been laying low just soaking in the info. Love the pics being posted and especially all the helpful info. Does anyone have an opinion on showing the splashes? I know they are not an accepted color yet, and I have only been to a couple of shows, so I don't know if they are actually exhibited at all, since there were none at either of the shows. I was thinking of trying since I have a couple that I feel are quite nice, but I am not sure of the protocol. Help? Anyone?

 

[thedragonlady]

Looking at my babies, I can tell that the hen determines the size of the chick and I've read the gender. Down color seems to be 50/50. Are body type, comb, wing carriage...50/50 also? I've read on BYC that temperament comes from the Cock bird, but I only believe a bit of what is on some of the forums.

What is your experience? If someone has seen somewhere where I can read about it, please share.

From years breeding Silkies, I can tell you that wing faults are carried by the cock bird. Silkies have a breed problem with slipped wings...the primaries fold outside the secondaries. Sometimes it is just one wing. If you find it on a pullet on the left, look at the cock bird's RIGHT wing. It switches sides. Why? I don't know, but it does.

A nutty, flighty hen will raise nutty chicks. In incubator hatched chicks, the sire seems to throw his temperament, especially to his sons. In the next generation of those sons' chicks, the bad temperaments will come out in the pullets, even if outcrossed.Soon you have a flock of nutty, and sometimes vicious birds. No excuse for that with birds the size of our Orps. Some of the hatchery Orps are the worst. If I see any trace of a Leghorn looking comb on one of those boys , I stay clear.I still have a deep scar on my left calf from one of those who belonged to a friend. Our English Orps generally have nice temperaments due to the added Cochin blood. I don't think I've ever met a bad tempered Large Fowl Cochin cock bird.

Some of this may be written down somewhere Dee, but I don't know where.Just my experience in breeding birds for 50 years.

 

[tkay6205]

And Our pride and joy 100% English Black Mottled roo

Love him!!!!

 

[deek]

From years breeding Silkies, I can tell you that wing faults are carried by the cock bird. Silkies have a breed problem with slipped wings...the primaries fold outside the secondaries. Sometimes it is just one wing. If you find it on a pullet on the left, look at the cock bird's RIGHT wing. It switches sides. Why? I don't know, but it does.

A nutty, flighty hen will raise nutty chicks. In incubator hatched chicks, the sire seems to throw his temperament, especially to his sons. In the next generation of those sons' chicks, the bad temperaments will come out in the pullets, even if outcrossed.Soon you have a flock of nutty, and sometimes vicious birds. No excuse for that with birds the size of our Orps. Some of the hatchery Orps are the worst. If I see any trace of a Leghorn looking comb on one of those boys , I stay clear.I still have a deep scar on my left calf from one of those who belonged to a friend. Our English Orps generally have nice temperaments due to the added Cochin blood. I don't think I've ever met a bad tempered Large Fowl Cochin cock bird.

Some of this may be written down somewhere Dee, but I don't know where.Just my experience in breeding birds for 50 years.

As always..

You need to write it all down then and publish! I'll be first in line, as since my babies are your God Chicklets, I want an autographed- first edition.

Did your boy make it to its destination?

 

[BamaChicken]

Yaya welcome to the thread. Yes you can show the splash. They can win for their variety but not for overall Best of Breed and upper wins. I have shown a splash before and been at shows where there were at least four or five shown.
There is good info on line for prepping them for a show. If your going to do any kind of washing do it a few days ahead so their feathers can look their best.