Orpington Colour Combinations

[Jessica2710]

Hi there
I currently have a mix of Orpington Hens, some buff, blue and black.
I would really like to breed from them this year to increase my flock and will need to invest in a rooster. I am unsure which colour to get though.

Can anyone tell me the likely colour combinations with Orpingtons? i.e a Black rooster with Buff hen will likely produce XXXX colour chicks. A Blue rooster with a Black hen will likely produce XXXX colour chicks.

Hopefully someone can shed some light on this for me.

Thanks
Jessica

 

[Illia]

Your best bet is getting a blue or black rooster. You already have some blue and black hens, so from there you can take either to either blue or black rooster, and get BBS Orpingtons. Here's what I'm talking about. . .

BBS stands for Blue Black Splash. It goes like this:

Black x Blue = 50% blue, 50 % black
Blue x Blue = 25% black, 50% blue, 25% splash
Black x Black = 100% black

They're all recognizable colors too, unlike crossing a blue or black to a buff.

 

[Jessica2710]

Wow - thanks so much for the fast reply.

I think I might take your advice and get a blue rooster.

This way I should be able to get pure blue chicks from the blue/blue combo and a mix of blue, black or splash chicks from the blue/black combo.
Sounds perfect.

I might keep the buffs seperate and simply have them keep laying over the 3 week brooding period of the other hens so I will at least be getting some intake of eggs.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
You got it a little mixed up - Blue/Blue gives you all blue, black and splash.

If you really want a proper breeding going on, yes, I'd suggest separating the buffs. . . Or just remember which eggs they lay, and don't hatch them.

 

[Jessica2710]

Quote:
You got it a little mixed up - Blue/Blue gives you all blue, black and splash.

If you really want a proper breeding going on, yes, I'd suggest separating the buffs. . . Or just remember which eggs they lay, and don't hatch them.

Sorry - yes I did get what you were saying, just had a little blond moment

A mix of Blue, Black and Splash will be perfect for what I am after.

Thanks again

 

[BayChicks]

We love our bbs orps! I'd go with the blue roo and I also agree with separating the buffs.We have hatched some bbs/buff crosses before and the outcome wasn't too pretty if you ask me.

 

[HenThymes]

Jessica, I have two chicks that are 100% orpington "mutts" so to speak. They are from a white orpington rooster over a buff hen and a blue hen. They have really beautiful coloring but definitely not breed standard. Will post pictures later for you to see what they come out looking like when you have a non traditional cross breeding.

 

[Tony]

These Orpington`s are what I got from a Blue Roo over Buff hens, just in case you needed a visual.

3 pullets, 1 Black/Grayish and 2 Brown/Buff

Blue/Buff roo

Black/Buff roo

Brown hen

 

[Jessica2710]

Wow - they are actually really unusual. Though not recognised colours I quite like them.
Will think about excluding or including the buffs closer to spring time.
Thanks for the pics.

 

[draye]

Quote:
Anybody else, doing this cross? I think they are beautiful.