The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[homeschoolin momma]

I love the people of Texas. They are warm, kind and will help you no matter what. But I could NOT live there with that heat, especially after growing up in the deep South. While I don't love the state of Illinois, I do enjoy the weather. I believe our heat is done for the year. I know my birds are happy about that.

I spent a little time installing a little perch for the chicks in the big coop, trying to get them to stop sleeping in the nest boxes. Not a single one wanted to try to try it tonight. So until they decide to behave, I've got a piece of plywood in front of the nest boxes at night. Hopefully no hens have to lay an egg!

Will try to get some updated pics of my babies.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Some updated pictures of my orps.

These are ones I hatched after i got back from my mums funeral. There is also another black, lav and double white, and funky gold laced mess that didnt want their picture taken.

Next are one or two from the "bowling ball" eng orp that i ordered from a breeder down in Texas and Faraday40 hatched for me. 7 hatched and my dog took care of the strange sickly one.

Last are my ccls. My uncrested one was curious about picture time. Her sister was not......

My spitz babies were dashing around in the woods. No pictures of them. Even these arent great. I just have wild child chickens.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Oh I forgot. Lavender roo wanted to have his picture taken.....

 

[Faraday40]

Oh I forgot. Lavender roo wanted to have his picture taken.....
View attachment 1888656

Oooo! I like him! Was he one of mine or from the Texas mail order group?

I'm just not happy with my current main lav roo. It's just a matter or time until I "retire" him. It's really only his tall lanky appearance I dislike. I have a lav from DS's May 1st hatch. He still acts pretty cowardly and gets picked on by most of the flock. It's hard to see a big masculine-looking cockerel get beat up by a tiny sebright. Of course she's broody right now and he really should learn to stay clear of broody hens - no matter the size.

Speaking of broody..... I have 3 hens trying to hatch golf balls. All LF too! I also have 2 hens mothering chicks. Today I actually got more eggs from my little useless chicken cage than my entire flock!

Back to the lav roo, I would have already had some backyard soup if I felt the lav cockerel was able to offer some protection. I heard him crow a few times (back when we still had the Spitz cockerel who made all the males crow) but haven't heard any since. i also have not witnessed any mating. Perhaps he'll step up once the big lav roo is gone.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Oooo! I like him! Was he one of mine or from the Texas mail order group?

He was one of yours. He's the one you were eyeballing last year when you came at the end of summer. He's yours if you want him instead of a bowling ball. He's pretty, but just too busy for my girls. He needs his own harem.

 

[Faraday40]

Still working on recovering my data & stumbled upon this pic.
Here's the vicious little Sebright hen (named "Trouble") who likes to bully my giant lav orp roosters.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Babies are looking good. I'll have to grab some updated pictures of them this evening after work. I had to rescue one of the Lavender pullets from the goose pool this morning. I heard a distressed squawk or two and saw a couple of flaps. I honestly thought something had grabbed her like a snake or something. I finally got across the yard and over to her and she's just floating like she wanted to be in there. Of course she managed to soak me before I got her out. Silly chicken...

 

[Faraday40]

Babies are looking good. I'll have to grab some updated pictures of them this evening after work. I had to rescue one of the Lavender pullets from the goose pool this morning. I heard a distressed squawk or two and saw a couple of flaps. I honestly thought something had grabbed her like a snake or something. I finally got across the yard and over to her and she's just floating like she wanted to be in there. Of course she managed to soak me before I got her out. Silly chicken...

My kids sometimes bring some of their fav chickens into the kiddie pool. Our little silkie, Xansie, seems to really enjoy swimming. Teddy (the silkied serama rooster) prefers to stand atop a foam kick board - like he's surfing. He looks so regal & serious. Perhaps he thinks he's the lifeguard.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I didn't get any pictures taken yesterday after work. I had a horrid headache and called it a very early night. I'll see if I have a chance before pool today after work but usually I have to leave the house pretty early to get there on time. Since I'm the captain on the team it's kind of a big deal if I'm not there. lol Photos may have to wait until this weekend.

We finally got some rain and it's cooled off a bit. The pen of course became a mud fest. I'm going to have to super fix that before the fall hits and we start getting more rain. I hate the mud.

I was going to try to get the Lavenders to start roosting with the Silver-laced birds, but they thwarted that by going to bed in their little coop last night before I had a chance. Maybe I can get them in the habit over the weekend.

Still no eggs from anyone, which is annoying. I've had a couple of people message me on Facebook about eggs. No one wants to pay for chicks. Out of curiosity, and of course prices vary, what is everyone here charging for eggs, chicks, started birds, etc? Prices online are all fairly high.

 

[Faraday40]

I didn't get any pictures taken yesterday after work. I had a horrid headache and called it a very early night. I'll see if I have a chance before pool today after work but usually I have to leave the house pretty early to get there on time. Since I'm the captain on the team it's kind of a big deal if I'm not there. lol Photos may have to wait until this weekend.

We finally got some rain and it's cooled off a bit. The pen of course became a mud fest. I'm going to have to super fix that before the fall hits and we start getting more rain. I hate the mud.

I was going to try to get the Lavenders to start roosting with the Silver-laced birds, but they thwarted that by going to bed in their little coop last night before I had a chance. Maybe I can get them in the habit over the weekend.

Still no eggs from anyone, which is annoying. I've had a couple of people message me on Facebook about eggs. No one wants to pay for chicks. Out of curiosity, and of course prices vary, what is everyone here charging for eggs, chicks, started birds, etc? Prices online are all fairly high.

I really only sell eggs to teachers or people I already know. The schools don't care about breeds, so I give them a mixed dozen with diff egg colors & sizes. The classrooms really enjoy the variety. If we make arrangements before the hatch, I'll sometimes take the chicks back. For the schools, I ask only $20/doz and slip in enough extras so I'm sure they'll get about a doz chicks. Yes, some will be purebred orp eggs but others will be mixes. If someone wants just a few eggs for a broody hen & only wants the English Orpingtons, then I sell those for $5 an egg. I know many breeders get more, but people on Craigslist are not willing to pay much. It's a shame because people buying eggs off the Internet will have a lower hatch rate and end up paying more per chick. Buying local hatching eggs is better. Several times, I've made plans to pick up eggs along the drive home from a vacation. This way I could be sure the eggs would not arrive scrambled.

For some reason, the lav orp chicks are easier to sell than the laced. I think it's because of their cuteness factor.