The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[delisha]

Some Jubilee chicks from a recent hatch. I had to show these. They're adorable. Especially, the two seemingly kissing in the middle.

awwwwwwwwwww sweet chicks

Just hatched out 10 English Orpington's. Picture is with a couple amercaunas in with them. Can't wait to see what they turn out to look like

Very very cute

quote:

Quote: sounds like you have an interesting project planned

 

[jeremy]

I was hoping someone could shed some light on the earlobes.

Can you get a clearer picture of the hen in question?

Are her earlobes entirely white like on a Leghorn? Or are they sort of "faded" or "blushed" white?

I've noticed (and been told by "those in the know") that when a hen is laying red earlobes can show white color, I'm not exactly sure why but the earlobes fade, you'll notice when they stop laying during molt or winter they should redden back up.

 

[Shaffer]

Can you get a clearer picture of the hen in question?

Are her earlobes entirely white like on a Leghorn? Or are they sort of "faded" or "blushed" white?

I've noticed (and been told by "those in the know") that when a hen is laying red earlobes can show white color, I'm not exactly sure why but the earlobes fade, you'll notice when they stop laying during molt or winter they should redden back up.

Jeremy,
With Ameraucanas I believe it is the obosete. The ear lopes appear to be lightish(flesh) color and turn redder when they start to produce eggs. I have been haunted with this in the Ameraucanas for many years and have seen very few hens that are pure red. Orpingtons, I cull them if they are whitish or pure white.

 

[Reyvaughn]

They are not white like a leghorn, more fleshy. As Harry said, I have it in my Ameraucanas, too. I just noticed recently that I have quite a few girls in my Am flock with the fleshy earlobes. This Orp breeder told me she was actually culling the white earlobe birds she was getting, but no, these are not true white earlobes.

 

[aveca]

I did not know ameracaunas had that too..We had a chart here long time ago..I can bring it back up..it is in the standard bred orpington book..I think their were minorka or one of those white lobed birds added to blk orps way back in the beginning..it showed the evolution chart....they seemed to crop up here and there and its the hard enamel white that is a big no no..Maybe harry can post quote from standard , any more than 1/4 " enamel white is DQ? they say it is too tough to work out..pinkish ..couldnt that be bred out in cochin?

 

[aveca]

I found it ..It was in william cooks book..he used minorca early on in blacks..where those stubborn lobes come from..often show up only in females....He obviously culled but some must have sneaked through like stubbs. Just in case anyone wants to know where it comes from.

.they managed to get rid of 5th toe in just 5 generations when they used dorking in creation of white orps..



minorca pic borrowed for illustration

 

[Reyvaughn]

Very interesting. So, since they are not hard enamel like a Minorca, they aren't really white. But because the gene is there it comes through as pinkish? Like with anything, I am sure it can be bred out over time. As far as I know all my bantam Cochins have red earlobes... I guess I would have to go through my flock and actually look. I never even thought about checking before last month when the Ameraucana topic came up in an email to another breeder.

I will try to get a better picture of that pullet's earlobe today if the weather holds out.

 

[jeremy]

I need to rant/vent here for a minute...

I am getting very annoyed with all of the auctions popping up out of the woodwork for "100% pure imported English Orpingtons" that then advertise birds that are clearly anything but what is stated by the pictures provided by the seller. Some of these ads look like hatchery Orpingtons! They may be a percentage of imported blood but I doubt most are. It's happening all over the auction sites now, as I figured it would eventually but I am more bothered by it than I believed I initially would be.

I don't know if it's because people are just ignorant (not stupid, ignorant or uneducated) and they think they have something they don't or if it is just people being greedy trying to make a quick buck with something that is "popular" but I feel like it is doing a major injustice to the birds that are being propagated now (not bred! A good breeder wouldn't offer stock like what I'm seeing and market it!) in the US.

I recently received an email asking if I had anything available, I'll withhold who it was from, I honestly don't even know if the person is on BYC...


Quote:

Just wondering how much a trio of your birds will cost.. I hope they are realistic .. as I have found a hatchery that sells them for 6.00 per chick.. so..

I would like to get on your list .. Send Price and pictures if possible,,

Thanks for your time,

I had to reread this email a few times because I was honestly in disbelief. First the person asks how much I would sell him for but then they clearly don't really want to know because they've "done their research" and the hatchery they have found sells them for only $6 each. I'M SURE this unknown hatchery has birds that are of the same quality that are in my flock... right.

This ties into what I was talking about at the beginning of my post, these beautiful birds that were imported only a few years ago have already fallen into the hands of careless propagators who have hatched and hatched and hatched and sold and sold and sold and now people can't even realize that they are something more special than hatchery stock?!?!

Needless to say I did not reply to this person and I don't plan to. If they are on BYC I hope they see my post and reconsider what they are asking. Every time I walk out back to visit my birds I say a quiet thank you to Julie and Joy for working so hard to get these Orpingtons into the States and then to diligently breed these birds in a manner that continues to produce beautiful chickens and then to be gracious enough to share them with their friends. There are other importers now too, but my flock is solely from Julie and Joy so my thanks goes out to them but the other importers (Marc Sacre, Greenfire, I know you have a wonderful imported flock now too Nellie) deserve congratulations too.

I hope to see quality lines of these birds continue to be bred by responsible breeders over the years... maybe I should just steer clear of the auction sites out there, my blood pressure got entirely too high this morning!

End rant.

 

[delisha]

My GLO's have arrived!!

Thank you Nellie!!!!

 

[rebel yell]

I need to rant/vent here for a minute...

I am getting very annoyed with all of the auctions popping up out of the woodwork for "100% pure imported English Orpingtons" that then advertise birds that are clearly anything but what is stated by the pictures provided by the seller. Some of these ads look like hatchery Orpingtons! They may be a percentage of imported blood but I doubt most are. It's happening all over the auction sites now, as I figured it would eventually but I am more bothered by it than I believed I initially would be.

I don't know if it's because people are just ignorant (not stupid, ignorant or uneducated) and they think they have something they don't or if it is just people being greedy trying to make a quick buck with something that is "popular" but I feel like it is doing a major injustice to the birds that are being propagated now (not bred! A good breeder wouldn't offer stock like what I'm seeing and market it!) in the US.

I recently received an email asking if I had anything available, I'll withhold who it was from, I honestly don't even know if the person is on BYC...



I had to reread this email a few times because I was honestly in disbelief. First the person asks how much I would sell him for but then they clearly don't really want to know because they've "done their research" and the hatchery they have found sells them for only $6 each. I'M SURE this unknown hatchery has birds that are of the same quality that are in my flock... right.

This ties into what I was talking about at the beginning of my post, these beautiful birds that were imported only a few years ago have already fallen into the hands of careless propagators who have hatched and hatched and hatched and sold and sold and sold and now people can't even realize that they are something more special than hatchery stock?!?!

Needless to say I did not reply to this person and I don't plan to. If they are on BYC I hope they see my post and reconsider what they are asking. Every time I walk out back to visit my birds I say a quiet thank you to Julie and Joy for working so hard to get these Orpingtons into the States and then to diligently breed these birds in a manner that continues to produce beautiful chickens and then to be gracious enough to share them with their friends. There are other importers now too, but my flock is solely from Julie and Joy so my thanks goes out to them but the other importers (Marc Sacre, Greenfire, I know you have a wonderful imported flock now too Nellie) deserve congratulations too.

I hope to see quality lines of these birds continue to be bred by responsible breeders over the years... maybe I should just steer clear of the auction sites out there, my blood pressure got entirely too high this morning!

End rant.

Well said !!!