The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[ElitePoultry]

Alton

Thank you thank you thank you for taking that picture. I was already thinking about making a wall with wire somehow but took the easy way out and bought the suet baskets. But now i can probably pull that off with this picture.
I saw those bators at TSC and i think im gonna pick one up to use as a hatcher. Id like to see how you rigged up the PC fan if you wouldnt mind.

I have BBS eggs from Renies peeps and Smith Hobby Farms (thasista, slongest). I also have gold & Buff laced brahmas and Basque eggs im hatching for a customer.

I want to keep the RP eggs and the SHF eggs seperate.


Michael

 

[ElitePoultry]

I like the color on these. I don't care for the chest at all on the Roo.  They might be bigger than they look too. Dont seem to large

Good to know. Im stillblearning proper type and eveything so your comments are gladly welcomed.

What really stood out to me was their skirts. How far down the fluff hangs. It covers their feet almost. I really like Opringtons like that.

 

[thedragonlady]

Good to know. Im stillblearning proper type and eveything so your comments are gladly welcomed.

What really stood out to me was their skirts. How far down the fluff hangs. It covers their feet almost. I really like Opringtons like that.

The hanging fluff is pretty, but is NOT calledfor in the British, or Us SOP. It happens to be what is winning at the moment, rather like the oversized Rocks and Orps that are winning here when they should be disqualified according to the standard.

Think about the practicality of keeping a flock of Orps with all that hanging fluff. Could they go out in the mud and rain, and forage, or would you relagate them to being ornamentals like Cochins ? Read the APA SOP, and decide what you want to breed, especially if you ever want to show successfully.

 

[BamaChicken]

And see that is where I would totally disagree with Dragonlady. I like the fluff. I have never had mine DQ' d for that.
Everyone is entitled to breed them for what they like them to look like. I do show but that is not the reason I wanted the Imported version of Orpingtons. I like their size , their width, their fluff and the look.
If you want them to look fluffless then I say go for it. Just not what I am going to do. Also in my humble opinion, why even bother with imported birds since you can get the ones with no fluff here already. I had great big Orpingtons that did not look like Australorps prior to what I have now. I have worked hard to get that fluff on them.
Not trying to start any type of arguments, just saying there are more than one opinion on this subject.
Not trying to say I am right. Just saying I have lots of people asking for chicks, eggs. and birds and I breed them for fluff. When I look at Orps i would like to have or cross into my flock I dont look to see if they are from any particular line. I look to see how they look on a consistant basis and their flock mates. Any whooo that is my opinion for what it is worth to anyone.

 

[JHorn91180]

Gotta admit I really like the fluff too and it will def b a cull factor for all my Orps this year

 

[Kiniska]

I just wanted to thank everyone on this thread for all the great information you share and all the amazing things you do for the EOs. Very excited about getting my own soon.

 

[BamaChicken]

Okay here is a Charlie progression.
8 weeks old

3 months

4 months

5 months

5 1/2 months

Almost 7 months old here

8 months old

1 yr old

2 yr old

He went into his second moult a week ago and now has no tail feathers. When he gets through it and looks all awesome again I will take another pic.

I always love to go back and look at how dark Charlie was when he was young and remind myself not to cull to early. I can remember folks sending me messages saying he looks to dark when he was three months old. This boy was hatched in 08 and still getting the girls fertile for my good friend the UOC secretary. She has had him for nearly two years now.

 

[Christabelle]

I'm pretty new to breeding chickens, so I had a couple of questions for any one of you willing to answer. When you are working on a project, or just trying to improve your line... What do you do with your culls? Also, I want to take some Jubilee Orps to shows... I read somewhere this is how you get the color accepted. Is there anyone else showing them? Lastly, how the heck do you guys get your chickens to pose for pictures! Mine either get beak to lens- or I get a blurry retreating butt. I get so jealous of everyone's beautiful birds.

 

[BamaChicken]

Christabelle, i give my culls away to people just wanted a laying flock or sell them at auction.
As far as getting birds accepted in the standard it is a little more to it than just showing them on a regular basis. Usually you need to be part of a club working with a group of folks who are breeding that particular variety and get a standard written for that variety. The over all body type would be the same but legs and eyes and beak color might be different than other varieties. I believe it takes at least five years of breeding and then I know i am leaving somethings out but trying to give you a overall explanation, It takes a certain number of folks showing at one time a good number of the variety and it has to be set up ahead of time with APA. It does help to be showing them along. Hope you are part of the UOC.

 

[chickened]

I'm pretty new to breeding chickens, so I had a couple of questions for any one of you willing to answer. When you are working on a project, or just trying to improve your line... What do you do with your culls? Also, I want to take some Jubilee Orps to shows... I read somewhere this is how you get the color accepted. Is there anyone else showing them? Lastly, how the heck do you guys get your chickens to pose for pictures! Mine either get beak to lens- or I get a blurry retreating butt. I get so jealous of everyone's beautiful birds.

Well one good thing you can always eat your culls,lol Actually I sell them to other breeders or if they are really bad I sell them to a guy that eats them. The SOP book explains the process for admitting new colors (I should read it again). As for photos I suck at it so you better wait until someone else comes along to answer that.