The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[Outdoorlover]

Thanks. The chickens in post #22174 look better now that they're past that awkward stage.

Here's what they looked like in early March. (They'll be a year old in late May, but will continue to fill out until 1.5-2 yrs.)

Top left pic = the female chick

Bottom middle & right pics = the boy chic

I wish I had one of those in my flock! You don't ship to MI by any chance, do you?

 

[Outdoorlover]

Haha! She looks like "How the heck did I hatch all these babies????"

Love the pics, love the caption!

 

[megalomaniac]

Hi all, been a bit since I've contributed. I'm only working with the GL orps, but thought I'd share my 'best-of' cockrel that I will be using for the next generation. He's only 10 months old and still filling out. Admittedly, I'm breeding more toward the American standard (I've taken my birds to shows) by trying to get a longer back, more visible shank, and tightening up the loose feathering a bit. This is my 5th year with this variety.

 

[Faraday40]

I wish I had one of those in my flock! You don't ship to MI by any chance, do you?

Never shipped eggs/chicks, but if you're ever driving past Chicago while on a trip, you can make a little stop on your way home.....

 

[Faraday40]

Hi all, been a bit since I've contributed. I'm only working with the GL orps, but thought I'd share my 'best-of' cockrel that I will be using for the next generation. He's only 10 months old and still filling out. Admittedly, I'm breeding more toward the American standard (I've taken my birds to shows) by trying to get a longer back, more visible shank, and tightening up the loose feathering a bit. This is my 5th year with this variety.

 

[Outdoorlover]

Hi all, been a bit since I've contributed. I'm only working with the GL orps, but thought I'd share my 'best-of' cockrel that I will be using for the next generation. He's only 10 months old and still filling out. Admittedly, I'm breeding more toward the American standard (I've taken my birds to shows) by trying to get a longer back, more visible shank, and tightening up the loose feathering a bit. This is my 5th year with this variety.

I think he's perfect!

Never shipped eggs/chicks, but if you're ever driving past Chicago while on a trip, you can make a little stop on your way home.....

Sounds good to me!....can we have it in writing? Jk

 

[Faraday40]

I think he's perfect!

x2

Sounds good to me!....can we have it in writing? Jk

We've actually gotten several hatching eggs that way. Most of our orig orps were picked up as eggs from a breeder in southern IN. Then a friend, who knew how much I wanted some Appenzeller Spitzhauben, picked me up some eggs he stumbled upon in MO. (Hatching eggs make great gifts! LOL) Both times, we got spectacular birds and 100% hatches! We "might" be driving to FL to attend a wedding in August. OH BOY! That's a whole big region of the US where I might find some some pretty chickens!

On the flip side, we sold chicks to people from WI, IN, & MI. Like me, they "just happened" to be visiting the area and wanted to bring home some souvenirs. Does it matter that we planned it from the start? One woman knew her DH was going to be in Chicago for a business trip, so she made sure he came prepared to bring home chicks. Since our daughter is always coming up with ideas for incubation experiments, we must sell off most of her hatch results. (We don't have the space for 20+ chickens) I made the decision to get the best quality birds I could find. That way, we have no problems finding homes for all their chicks. Sometimes, we have a wait list - or a friend of a friend to contact when some lav orps hatch. If not, I just put chicks on Craigslist & they sell in 1-2 days. It's not like we can hatch & sell 100s of birds, but selling 4-5 hatches per year earns our DD a little extra money to cover her poultry project costs.

 

[Outdoorlover]

This year traveling to the Chicago area is out of the question, but in the future who knows...I'm determined to own a small flock of beautiful EOs and I would travel the distance to get some if I have to....but for now there is still a chance that mine turn out to be all hens, and then I won't need any more.
Is it unheard of a pinkish comb at 4 .5 weeks that turns out to be a pullet?

Hatching eggs sure sounds like fun, but honestly, I don't think I can start from egg/straight run again, it's too stressful not knowing if I can keep my babies

 

[Chicken cas]

Gorgeous Birds! I hatched my first ELO ( English Lavender Orpingtons) Wednesday I had 4 to hatch but only one has made it so far. Where can I order some ELO? I love them and while i have the American Lavendar Orpingtons I adore the English. I do plan on keeping the strains separate and true to breed. I have 5 in my American flock, 4 hens and one roo.

 

[EdenCamp]

Chocolate Mottle cockerel