The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[Margitas]

While I await to hear what gloom awaits in the shadows from rockinpaints....I went to check on the babies. First a disclaimer...it was 100 degrees and the fan was blowing! So his feathers are a mess. Also, I'm a newbie and must have put too much DE in the sand because we all come out looking like we bathed in white chalk. So...their legs look white and not their slightly slate color.

OK, here is bachelor number 1...affectionately known as left yellow since I'm not naming the boys. He is five weeks old...

Here's his good side.


Here he sees our new bunny that appears in the shade garden 30 ft away.




This one just so you can see his emerald eyes.


Although this is suppose to be their ugly stage...mama hen here thinks he's adorable.

Nice laceing,what line they from?

 

[deek]

Nice laceing,what line they from?

Thank you Margitas. They are from Greenfire. The boys have vibrant, bold lacing- all of them actually. Only one, of the 5 girls, has nice bold lacing. The other girl's lacing pattern is nice, but not bold- rather dull at this point. Not sure if a molt would help that or not. Do subsequent molts change their coloring? I'm hoping for an "ugly duckling to swan" scenario.

 

[blackbirds13]

... I have found the new English imports to be more fragile, especially the Chocolates (and the Gold Laced)....

rockinpaints, would you mind elaborating please? I have 12 Gold Laced Orps and would like to know more. So far, knock on wood, they're doing beautifully. What do I need to know?

Judges4, I am sooo sorry for your loss!

Dee

I am also interested in the fragility issue, especially with the Chocolates. Which lines specifically? I have 4 Rob Boyd line bantam chocolates and they seem to be doing well so far (knock on wood). I even had them outside early as my husband was not happy with them in the basement. They have feathered out pretty well and are like little balls of feathers and fluffs.but are there specific issues I should be aware of or on the look out for?

The Gold Laced are gorgeous! Those chick are to cute!

 

[deek]

I put the surviving eggs into the incubator tonight. It'll be quite the miracle, but I'm hoping some will hatch

Sending good vibes your way. Miracles do happen. Please keep us updated. We are rooting for you.

 

[deek]

I am also interested in the fragility issue, especially with the Chocolates.

There is public knowledge on the Greenfire website about the Chocolates.

quote from their site:

Although the British chocolate Orpington lines have many strengths, they also carry with them some notable weaknesses. We have found that all lines of British chocolate Orpingtons currently in the United States occasionally produce chicks with light feathering on their legs; a deviation from the breed standard. Of greater concern, chocolate Orpingtons may also have low disease resistance, and low fertility is also common in this variety. These problems may be linked to inbreeding. To address these problems we have acquired championship lines of black Orpingtons to cross into chocolate lines in order to further boost the genetic diversity of this variety. This strategy has proven effective in reducing the frequency of these flaws in the chocolate young they produce while carrying forward the best traits of the British bloodlines.

I'm sure others will chime in. Not sure if the above helps. If it were me, I'd specifically ask your breeder since the genetic diversity between lines might not show the same issues.

Dee

 

[blackbirds13]

There is public knowledge on the Greenfire website about the Chocolates.

quote from their site:

Although the British chocolate Orpington lines have many strengths, they also carry with them some notable weaknesses. We have found that all lines of British chocolate Orpingtons currently in the United States occasionally produce chicks with light feathering on their legs; a deviation from the breed standard. Of greater concern, chocolate Orpingtons may also have low disease resistance, and low fertility is also common in this variety. These problems may be linked to inbreeding. To address these problems we have acquired championship lines of black Orpingtons to cross into chocolate lines in order to further boost the genetic diversity of this variety. This strategy has proven effective in reducing the frequency of these flaws in the chocolate young they produce while carrying forward the best traits of the British bloodlines.

I'm sure others will chime in. Not sure if the above helps. If it were me, I'd specifically ask your breeder since the genetic diversity between lines might not show the same issues.

Dee

Sooooooooo
what you're saying is I need to buy more chickens....hmm... I think I can do that.

Since I really like the look of the UK birds I have I think i'll have to investigate black Uk Orps next year...I'll start research now.

My poor husband.

Judges4 - sending you some good bator vibes also!

 

[RisingStar]

Took some pics last night of my orpington chicks, that hatched this year from the chicks that I got from Bamachicken last spring. They are all so beautiful and healthy...I also have 2 older chicks from Rebel yell, that I got this spring. Take a look and let me know what you think....the 18 that I hatched in the incubator did great, now I have 2 broodies with babies that are doing great as well. Threw in a pic of them as well. Amazing as it is, I actually have more pullets than roos!!!!

 

[rockinpaints]

I wanted to share some information with the readers here on BYC. I realize this is probably not the place to list this but larger fluffy breeds (our English Orps) are at a litter higher risk of heatstroke than small birds although it can affect even chicks. If this must be removed by the moderators as being in the wrong forum I understand.:


Several weeks ago we went out of town on a family emergency. Where we were in PA the temps were 75 and rainy. We were only gone for the weekend but the heat was extreme here at home while we were gone and our loss was great. (Actually 37 people died that weekend from heat related issues)

I first want to say it was NOT our caregivers fault. They did absolutely nothing wrong. They did exactly what we had asked. Our birds were fed and watered as we had written in the instructions. In 25 years of raising poultry I had never lost a bird to heat so it did not occur to me to tell them what to watch for.

The affected birds that did not die the day we returned home (at 100 degrees) we lost daily that following week. I kept thinking they would pull out of it and get better but after much research I found that the brain damage is already done and they generally will not recover. The birds that were unable to stand DID NOT get better. The ones that were disoriented and weak did recover after a couple weeks of intensive care. Most of the birds lost were from our flocks of huge fluffy imported orpingtons.

I want to add ALL the birds had plenty of water and shade but it wasn’t enough. With the intense heat that they were not used to and no breeze, they needed more. I want to share what we are doing now to help our birds deal with the heat, signs of trouble and what will help once the birds are in trouble:

If the temps reach 90 the birds could need extra cooling, if it reaches 95 it is a must. The sooner the better.
Heat stressed birds will pant and hold their wings away from their body.

In the early stage of heatstroke they will do much the same thing except they will seem more stress and agitated or have a blank stare on their face.

As it worsens the panting will become heavier and the bird could loose balance and be unable to stand and lastly go into convulsions.
THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANY BIRDS WITH THE HEAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING, EVEN IF THEY HAVE WATER AND SHADE.
What can be done to help with heat stress and prevent heatstroke:

1. Change their water often. Drinking water that is the same as the outside temperature only adds to the problem. It could need to be changed every couple hours or more. When you change the water dump the old water on the ground in their pen to help cool the ground they are walking on.

2. If the birds are inside keep the air moving, a fan or open windows, but moving air is a must. When the chicken release the heat through its body the heat hovers around the birds and it is still unable to cool. Moving the air away from the bird will greatly help it cool it’s self.

3. Electrolytes in their water will help their depleted systems because of excessive panting to stay cool.

4. Birds help cool their blood by circulating it through their combs and wattles. Sponge them in cool water if they are overly stressed.

5. Mist or spay their coops with cold water (mist inside if necessary) I even mist the birds if the humidity is not overly high so they will dry.

6. Place jugs filled with ice around randomly in their coop or in pans of water, they will lay against it if need be to stay cool. I have even seen my chicks lay against their waterier to cool.

7. And lastly if your bird is in trouble you can submerge it in a bucket or pail of cool water (not cold as that could cause shock and seizures) to help cool it’s body temperature. By feeling your birds feet and legs (or combs) you can pretty much tell if they are getting cool.

If anyone has any more tips or suggestions I am always open to new information as I am sure a lot of the readers are. I hope this information helps to keep your birds safe in this horrible heat wave we are having

 

[deek]

As always, beautiful lacing and the most amazing eyes. I know you are proud. Congratulations.

 

[deek]

I wanted to share some information with the readers here on BYC. I realize this is probably not the place to list this but larger fluffy breeds (our English Orps) are at a litter higher risk of heatstroke than small birds although it can affect even chicks. If this must be removed by the moderators as being in the wrong forum I understand.:

WOW. I am sorry for your loss.

To come home to that after a family emergency. Thank for sharing the info. Didn't know about the comb and wattles. Need to familiarize myself with a baseline before something changes.