The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[rockinpaints]

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.

Jeremy I do know what you are talking about, and I do know some of the sellers by name but am very reluctant to say who they are (and they intentionally deceiving buyers). I just hope that people who are buying can see that also and know what they are getting. I see nothing wrong with paying $6 for a "chicken" but they just have to be aware that that is what they will be getting. And if they are looking at yours and buying theirs they are going to be very unhappy with the finished product.

I just wanted to say also (I've said it before but wanted to say it again) Julie has some of the most beautiful orps I have ever seen. It shows in every picture, all of her years of hard work. Good job Julie!!

 

[aveca]

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.

My hens whole face will get very pale when shes about to molt..using her as an example .even her comb get a little pinkish..its very stressful time to molt... no hard enamel white on her lobes..Somone told me long time ago..gently rub the ear lobe between your fingers..if it turns darker red , then it isnt true white enamel..the hard white enamel is considered a serious fault....I went to look at some hens about 2 years ago..in the pics they presented, the birds looked really good, but when I saw them in person..they had serious white enamel ear lobes so passed on them..too bad too because they were otherwise really nice birds..you cant mistake that hard white enamel white..it looks like somone painted white nail polish on them..and it doesnt rub to pink..Harrys right, I wouldnt use her in the bantam orps. It would be interesting to see what happens with the cochins thou..its a project right? you can keep notes and help other people with the results.

This is the hen that gets very pale when she molts, but you can see red lobe..the rooster picked one of her comb points off..

 

[Don Chandler]

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.

Jeremy, this has been going on for years, I get calls and emails from folks who has bought chicks or eggs from breeders who tell them they bred to the SOP. Then they go to a show and can't beleive how small there birds are. I tell them to get the Poultry Press and look and see who is winning and go that route. I know with English type birds that won't work as good. On some of the auction places you see some sorry type birds and the people tell they are the real deal and all they are is hatchery birds with a story.

 

[aveca]

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.

My hens whole face will get very pale when shes about to molt...even her comb get a little pinkish..its very stressful time to molt...she has no hard enamel white on her lobes..Somone told me long time ago..gently rub the ear lobe between your fingers..if it turns darker red , then it isnt true white enamel..the hard white enamel is considered a serious fault....I went to look at some hens about 2 years ago..in the pics they presented, the birds looked really good, but when I saw them in person..they had serious white enamel ear lobes so passed on them..too bad too because they were otherwise really nice birds..

This is the hen that gets very pale when she molts, she is just gearing up to molt which she did in fall.. you can see red lobe..I used to have pics of the hens I went to go see. but deleted the pics a while ago as I was running out of pic room..it was a great example

 

[Reyvaughn]

My camera sucks.
These are the best 2 out of 8 pictures. I also discovered they are not used to being held. Touched/pet they are fine. They didn't know how to walk on hay until yesterday either.

 

[JHorn91180]

Hey Jermey was just reading your rant. I completely have to agree with u. I noticed this year that's auctions r popping up for imported Jubilee chicks and their eggs that r obviously half speckled Sussex. I don't know of a line of Jubilees that has been imported that u can breed together and get such poor quality birds. Im thinking these people found a deal on a Jubilee roo and seen dollar signs. I am working on a few projects but am keeping my Imported Orps pure. It makes me wonder also how many people r using pics of birds that r not even theirs to sell chicks and eggs. I feel sorry for the people that pay the imported price and end up with birds that r half at best. If there is a good thing then u will always have other people try to ruin it. I don't believe most these people r ignorant and believe they know exactly what they r doing. I wonder tho about the people that were lied too, being too ignorant to see the obvious difference in what they got and what the birds r suppose to look like and will continuing this horrible pattern. Too everyone that reads this if your Jubilees are blinding Orange and built like a New Hampshire Red then ding ding ding big red flag. I use the jubilees as an example cause that's what Im seeing the most of. Eventually maybe the word will get out and people will do their research b4 they buy and maybe look for quality. I will b working hard to build flocks of the best examples of imported orps in my breeding efforts and culling hard.

To the person that sent u that email........Do u know what an imported English Orp is as I think u have breeds confused? Hatchery Orps r something completely different and if u get those then u r getting what u paid for if not less then. Have this hatchery email u pictures of the actual birds these chicks r coming from and if they cant then u may as well go to tractor supply and buy u some hatchery astrolopes as I think u will find the quality to b the same and u will even save money. If they do send u pictures then keep in mind they r probably their best examples of the breed and Im sure Jeremy would b more then happy to do the same for u. Only then if u r seriously interested in having quality imported birds, then ask him for the price. If u find these birds look nothing alike then take a step back from contacting breeders and do some more research. I would be interested in knowing what hatchery is marketing these as pure imports for $6 a chick and would love to see pics of their adult stock. Something tells me u r not happy with their birds tho or u would have already jumped on the $6 a chick bargain and placed an order instead of sending serious breeders emails asking their prices.

 

[juststruttin]

Hi,

Several pages back people were discussing importation so I thought I would share this link to Widget Creek Farm. They imported Sulmtalers and Carolina describes the process clearly for anyone interested.

http://www.widgetcreekranch.com/import.html

 

[deek]

Since we're getting things off of our chest...

I've had three PM's from people claiming to be someone they're not. Why, I'm not sure.

1. One claimed to be a young 4 h boy. Wanted some culls to get his line started. Turned out to be a long time breeder that had pictures of Marc's birds and GF birds...
2. One claims he's a teenager when in fact he's an adult breeder with his own website.
3. Another, "don't really breed for anyone but myself"..."just wanted to have pretty birds to look at in my own backyard"... Turns out he/she sells on a regular basis, junk, on this site.

You three people know who you are. Do you think that I'm dumb? Stop trying to get something for nothing.

Why are buyers doing that?

I will not talk to anyone about the three mentioned people above. Please do not PM me about them.

Now, on a happier note, here's the cutest chick I've ever hatched. His/her name is Butterball. Enjoy.

 

[deek]

My hens whole face will get very pale when shes about to molt..using her as an example .even her comb get a little pinkish..its very stressful time to molt... no hard enamel white on her lobes..Somone told me long time ago..gently rub the ear lobe between your fingers..if it turns darker red , then it isnt true white enamel..the hard white enamel is considered a serious fault....I went to look at some hens about 2 years ago..in the pics they presented, the birds looked really good, but when I saw them in person..they had serious white enamel ear lobes so passed on them..too bad too because they were otherwise really nice birds..you cant mistake that hard white enamel white..it looks like somone painted white nail polish on them..and it doesnt rub to pink..Harrys right, I wouldnt use her in the bantam orps. It would be interesting to see what happens with the cochins thou..its a project right? you can keep notes and help other people with the results.

This is the hen that gets very pale when she molts, but you can see red lobe..the rooster picked one of her comb points off..

Pretty girl Lynne

 

[JHorn91180]

Since we're getting things off of our chest...

I've had three PM's from people claiming to be someone they're not. Why, I'm not sure.

1. One claimed to be a young 4 h boy. Wanted some culls to get his line started. Turned out to be a long time breeder that had pictures of Marc's birds and GF birds...
2. One claims he's a teenager when in fact he's an adult breeder with his own website.
3. Another, "don't really breed for anyone but myself"..."just wanted to have pretty birds to look at in my own backyard"... Turns out he/she sells on a regular basis, junk, on this site.

You three people know who you are. Do you think that I'm dumb? Stop trying to get something for nothing.

Why are buyers doing that?

I will not talk to anyone about the three mentioned people above. Please do not PM me about them.

Now, on a happier note, here's the cutest chick I've ever hatched. His/her name is Butterball. Enjoy.

OMG I do have to agree that chick is too cute. Butterball is a perfect name.

Dear Deek,

Im a young asain girl that's completely riddled with mad squirrels disease and only have months to live. My last wish is for your to send me Butterball free of charge as that would make the squirrel hair growing outta my left knee stop itching so bad. While your at it please pay the shipping and add some of Butterballs siblings in with it for warmth.

Thank u