These were supposed to be RIRs but I don't know....

[savingdogs]

Well goodness I never thought they would be a rare or unusual breed. When I look up RO online, they sure do look like mine, they even said they have a more "upright carriage" which is true but I did not know how to describe that.
I feel like checking to see if the feed store was also selling Orloff's that day. I can only find one Orloff breeder online even remotely in my area with a quick internet check. I'm in southwestern WA near Portland, Oregon. However I think there might have been some there.

Any suggestions what I can do with these birds? Do you think I could sell them as Russian Orloff's considering how I acquired them? If so, what would be a good price to ask for a started pullet...these are now 13 weeks old. Anyone know when they begin to lay or their selling points? Mine are not that friendly. I do have one really friendly one I would probably keep but the other five are very skittish and one pecks me (I think it is afraid).

Would I make money buying a roo to go with them and selling rare birds? I was actually hoping to sell a few eggs to cover our feed and other chicken-keeping expenses and get our eggs and eggs for our friends for free. I was going to acquire a nice buff orpington roo and just let a broody orp hatch the light colored eggs, but I just read online that the Russian Orloff also lays light brown eggs so could I tell them apart? This messes up all my plans.

I have 19 pullets total so was going to get just one cockerel for them to train......Now I'm not sure what would be the best choice for raising a little money. Any guidance from you experts would be appreciated!

By the way, this was totally awesome how fast I got answers. I've been scanning the internet for weeks now looking at chicken pictures, never ever would have thought to check russian orloffs.
Thanks everyone for your imput. I looked at the specked sussex photos and that is not as much like them. I had also thought EE but the colors were not like any I found, just the face feathers. Thanks again. Russian Orloffs........

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

You need to realize that chickens are not a money-making venture unless you are going for high egg production or meat production. (OR a huge hatchery or hatchery specialized in exhibition fowl.) Anything else is merely to replace feed costs and living expenses.

Being as they are hatchery quality, they will not match the standard exactly because hatcheries produce birds for production. The more birds they can sell, the better.

They are certainly Orloffs so you should have no problems selling them as such.

 

[M To The Maxx]

They look like Easter Egger crossed with Sussex.

 

[hinkjc]

Quote:
EEs are not the only breed with a beard.

They are definitely Russian Orloffs. There are also RIR in the pics and a couple Buff Orpington. They look like a nice healthy flock.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Russian Orloffs! I luvs them!

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
This is what I thought, too - the coloration is CLASSIC Speckled Sussex. The Russian Orloffs look different to me in the pics that I saw...

But I'm no expert, so I'll defer to the Russian Orloff enthusiasts.

Although if they are such a "rare" bird, what are the odds of getting them when you were trying to get RIR's?

 

[gardenak]

They are spangled Russian Orloffs and very pretty! What you might consider doing is look for a show quality roo and breed them- they'd be a better quality and I'm sure folks would buy them since it seems everyone likes them. just a thought.

 

[savingdogs]

Thank you all for your wonderful imput. I am aware that we have a couple real RIR and some buff orpingtons, it was just those speckled birds I was trying to identify. I left the other birds in the pictures for size references, guess that was dumb...thanks for thinking they look nice. I am rather attached already.
I did call the feed store today and asked to speak to the folks who were selling the chicks last spring. Sure enough, they were selling Russian orloffs in the tank right next to the RIR. The lady apologized and we both thought possibly people were handling them and then put them back in the wrong tank. So those of you that thought orloff were correct, they were not selling sussex. The lady confirmed that the chicks they had looked very much like the RIR chicks and would now be red, black and white.
I realize I will not "make" money on my chickens but wanted to sell enough eggs to cover their feed. Reading about orloffs, they sound like they are more of a meat bird and have fewer, smaller eggs. I'm thinking that I'll keep the one that is my favorite just for fun and sell the others and hopefully buy more orpingtons or RIR or the roo I'm needing. I don't particularly want meat birds, small eggs or these funny looking chickens. Perhaps they improve with age but compared to my other breeds, they are really pretty ugly and flighty, not that I'm an expert. The one is prettier and friendlier, I call her "Pretty" isn't that a dumb name? And the mean one I call peckerhead, isn't that terrible?

But since a whole tankful at least were sold in my area, they are not exactly a rare bird here in SW washington. Sounds like the only good thing to say about them is that they lay their eggs pretty much year round and rare sounds interesting even if there is a local glut.
I suppose they would interest the kind of folks who want one of each interesting kind? We thought to only breed the one type since we are new at this and only breed enough for us to replace the hens that get old, not to sell, perhaps eating the cockerels if we can stand the thought of butchering our little friends. Somehow I doubt that would happen. Nor would I want to eat these pullets even if they are a meat bird so I doubt being male would make me feel any different.
Any further suggestions for me would be appreciated! But you guys were tons of help!

PS: Russian Orloffs can fly! Pretty flew the coop this morning. Luckily I got her back.

 

[Jamsoundsgood]

I would put an ad on Craigslist if you really want to get rid of them. Maybe for about $10-20/pullet. If they were selling them at the feed store then there is a market for them in your area. There are probably people that lost some as babies and wish to replace them or didn't get them while they were at the store and are now regretting it. It shouldn't be that hard to find a new home for them! Good luck.
Emily

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Oh goodie!! I got one right! That's what I thought they were, very pretty!