The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[Faraday40]

We've been entirely too quiet. How is everyone doing?

Lots going on here - both good & bad.

As far as chickens: I've got 20 developing eggs for the Easter Hatch-a-long. It's way too many for me, so I hope there are people wanting English Orpingtons & a few useless seramas when they hatch. I moved the eggs into my NR360....... so now my big coolerbator is empty (fits 5 doz eggs).

I'm trying to hold off and wait for turkey & duck eggs from friends. I want to keep 2-3 poults and zero ducks..... but I enjoy hatching. It's safer for me to hatch for others. LOL

I separated my SLO flock so we'll see what hatches. So far, the fertility of the SLOs is not as good as the lavs. I'm hoping Awesome is the father of the developing SLO eggs (and not left-over lav)

 

[Faraday40]

Well. I'll ask what maybe a stupid question, but I'm a newbie
and just have one hatchery BO that to me is kind of boring looking
Had 2, but just sold one. I've gotten interested in the English and plan to add some to my flock. I can't have roos, so they'll be no breeding.
I'm fortunate to live an hours drive from CRC, and Wellford, and 3
hours from Greenland Farms. I'm planning on buying pullets that
I can pick up. The breeds I'm seriously considering are Isabel Cuckoo, Crele, Blue, Lavender, Black, and Lavender Cuckoo.
I already have a Black Astralorp, and may get a blue one also. Any
comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Go for the English Orps! They're sweet and beautiful and so fluffy! I think you'd be happy with any of those colors/patterns.

The blacks look amazing in the sunshine - which you probably already know. Blue orps are also stunning. My silver laced orps are by far the friendliest, so if you find a breeder near you with some laced, those would be my top pick.

 

[rayrose]

Go for the English Orps! They're sweet and beautiful and so fluffy! I think you'd be happy with any of those colors/patterns.

The blacks look amazing in the sunshine - which you probably already know. Blue orps are also stunning. My silver laced orps are by far the friendliest, so if you find a breeder near you with some laced, those would be my top pick.

Thanks very much.

 

[Honora]

Getting bigger

 

[Honora]

 

[Faraday40]

View attachment 2579275

I love his shape. I think the hen adores him too. Just look at how she lovingly stares at him.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Lots going on here - both good & bad.

Same here. I've had a ton going on.

As far as chickens: I've got 20 developing eggs for the Easter Hatch-a-long. It's way too many for me, so I hope there are people wanting English Orpingtons & a few useless seramas when they hatch. I moved the eggs into my NR360....... so now my big coolerbator is empty (fits 5 doz eggs).

So I got a Sportsman incubator and a Sportsman hatcher. The incubator is literally stuffed with eggs. I set 50 SLO last Friday and I'll have about that many to set again. Usually 15-20 BBS, a handful of Chocolates. The geese and ducks are cranking eggs out too.

I'm trying to hold off and wait for turkey & duck eggs from friends. I want to keep 2-3 poults and zero ducks..... but I enjoy hatching. It's safer for me to hatch for others. LOL

You're telling me! I realized last night I can't set all the eggs and hatch what I want this year. I'm going to have to start shipping. They are just laying too many.

I separated my SLO flock so we'll see what hatches. So far, the fertility of the SLOs is not as good as the lavs. I'm hoping Awesome is the father of the developing SLO eggs (and not left-over lav)

My Silver-laced have been decent. The BBS have been 100% fertile. Chocolates are alright.

Getting bigger

How beautiful! I'm still waiting on the bantam Buffs I'm getting.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I ended up shuffling a ton of birds around last night after work.

1. Pomeranian Geese and Khaki Campbells
2. American Buff Geese (one broody)
3. Silver-laced Orpingtons, F1 Blue Silver-laced and Muscovy Ducks
4. Blue, Black, and Splash (plus Mauve) Orpingtons; added some older started birds
5. Bourbon Red Turkeys
6. Lavender Silver-laced cockerel over the Recessive White hens; I figured now that I've hatched out a dozen White chicks after letting the SLO males that carry Recessive White cover them I might as well let the Lavender do it and create Silver-laced that are split to Lavender and to White. I'll have to be super careful labeling their eggs and keeping track of the chicks. I also added the trio of Butterscotch Calls to this pen. They've not produced a fertile egg yet up in the breeding cage so I'm hoping the ground might help.
7. Lemon Blue Bantam Cochins
8. Chocolate Orpingtons and the "yard" girls. The only egg I'll have trouble telling apart in the whole batch is the Lavender and the Chocolate Orpington eggs. The Ameraucana, Mars Bars, and Splash Copper Marans all have distinctive eggs.
9. Silkies/Satins; I'm not planning on breeding these, per say, but I wanted them for little broodies.
10/11. Seramas

I've got three cages outside with chicks and started birds, a tub of chicks indoors, and four large empty breeding/chick cages. I set 146 eggs last Friday. I've lost my mind.

 

[Faraday40]

How beautiful! I'm still waiting on the bantam Buffs I'm getting.

Me too!

If I had better fertility, I'd send some SLOs to you. I've got a bunch of eggs just sitting on the counter tempting me. @homeschoolin momma is in the same boat. The laced orps are having fertility issues. BUT My lav boy - no problem at all! He's even fertilizing the non-orps.

 

[ColtHandorf]

If I had better fertility, I'd send some SLOs to you. I've got a bunch of eggs just sitting on the counter tempting me. @homeschoolin momma is in the same boat. The laced orps are having fertility issues. BUT My lav boy - no problem at all! He's even fertilizing the non-orps.

I'd love to get some SLO eggs from y'all. I'm going to have to start shipping. Would either of you want to try your hand at hatching some test-shipped eggs? I'm going to order the foam egg shippers and try those out. They are so much more convenient than bubble wrapping each egg and going through all the time it took to ship eggs how I used to.