The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[Heron's Nest Farm]

There was a question posted earlier and I was wondering if anyone had an answer. I'd like to expand it:

Does anyone have a chart of target weights for orpingtons by age?

 

[noahsmom]

HI, I am new to this thread and just began with some English Orps this summer. I have a little variety in the breed and am really enjoying their calm and gentle nature. My BB Orps I got from Papa Poultry and am enjoying watching them fill out. I have since gotten rid of the rest of the BB roos for one reason or another,and am down to 2. 1 for breeding and the other cause I feel so bad for him. He has bad toes and his legs are too close together. Has a hard time walking, jumping and climbing the deck stairs (when they come up to visit me during morning coffee). So I kept him to let him have a bit of life til his legs won't carry him anymore. The BB Orps are about 4 months, the chocolate is 4 months in this pic, SL project Orp 4 months, and my GL and Partridge are almost 2 months. I am enjoying looking at all of your pics, so I decided I would post some of mine. I live in Chicago and we are in the process of building a larger coop and run, (almost done, thank goodness) the chickens have cleared out the garden pretty much. and have made quite the mess of everything so please, don't mind the mess. I built a temp coop in the garage until the new coop is finished. Chicken math really grabbed hold of me this year. SL project to the left and Thor I think, to the right. Coco my Chocolate Thor Thor to the left and Crazy legs to the right My 2 pretty girls, Francesca and Sophia Gold Lace Male in front Partridge GoldLaced Female developing very slowly. She was born 2 weeks before the Partridge.

Gorgeous! I just ordered orp hatching eggs from papas too. If all goes well I plan to order more soon as well. I ordered 5 of the SL project eggs. Do you have anymore pics of how those are turning out? I got a couplelemon cuckoo eggs for fun they are gorgeous and 5 BBS.

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Gorgeous!

I just ordered orp hatching eggs from papas too. If all goes well I plan to order more soon as well. I ordered 5 of the SL project eggs. Do you have anymore pics of how those are turning out? I got a couplelemon cuckoo eggs for fun they are gorgeous and 5 BBS.

My BBS are from Papa's Poultry that I ordered as chicks, my SL project was from Mountain Valley (if I remember correctly). I only had the one egg make it to hatch. They were working on a Blue splash laced Orp. I lost my GL cockerel to Cocci, unfortunately. But I was able to save my Partridge and GL pullet. I had a grow out pen in the yard that I moved around, so they could spend some time outside during the day. This was the first time I did this with any of my incubator chicks, and will never put them out so young again unless I feed them medicated feed. This was my first time dealing with Cocci and hope to never deal with it again. So now, I am trying to work what girls are going to my SL and Blue Orp. I also just hatched out some splash Orps, they are about 2 weeks old and ended up with 2 cockerels and 1 pullet, I think. Good luck on your hatch! Hope to see some pics too!

 

[QueenMisha]

Hi there everybody. I just came from the Jubilee Orpington thread; I was there seeking advice about my rooster, Benedict, and it's come to my attention that he may not actually be an Orpington, but a Speckled Sussex. Originally, looking at his type, I always thought he was just an American type Jubilee. I've copied and pasted my post on the Jubilee thread below. Keep in mind that his tail is usually fuller than that, he's just been molting lately.

I also have a question regarding Benedict - do the Jubilees come in both American and English form? Because after doing a bit of research into it, Benny really looks more American than English. Can anybody help me out?

I purchased him as an 8 month old a little over 2 years ago, and he was the first breeder stock bird I ever purchased - I didn't even know English/American Orpingtons were different, so it didn't occur to me to ask the breeder. If he is American, what will happen if I breed him with my new English Jubilee hen? Will I get chicks in between American and English type?

 

[kittydoc]

There are no American Jubilee Orpingtons. The color was always English until imported by Greenfire Farms. That is not to say that people haven't used English Jubilees with other colors and created an American version (it's doable, but takes several generations to accomplish because there are 3 independent color genes involved, plus the body type is TOTALLY different). Speckled Sussex do resemble Jubilees (moreso the hens). I don't know if SS roos have any of that mahogany color that Jubilees do. The comb type of my 100% Greenfire derivation Jubilees is MUCH MUCH smaller than what I see in the photos above, too.

Just my two cents. Not a judgment, just an opinion as how to one might get a Jubilee-colored bird that is not English. I am doing the opposite with my lavender Orps. I have hinkjc American lav Orps, and am breeding them to high quality English Orps until I get an essentially 100% English lavender Orp. Again, takes a few generations to get the percentage of English heritage there and alter the body and plumage, but it's most certainly doable. My 50/50's even look substantially different than the 100% Americans.

I just don't know why someone would make American Jubilees unless they are trying to rip buyers off, because true English Jubilee Orps are not inexpensive birds.

 

[cutipatooti]

I am getting some chicks English Orpington chicks from a breeder that directly imports them. I was hoping I could get those of you with experience with the breed to chime in on egg size and frequency of lay. Thanks.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

I am getting some chicks English Orpington chicks from a breeder that directly imports them. I was hoping I could get those of you with experience with the breed to chime in on egg size and frequency of lay. Thanks.

Egg size is about the same as a large (not jumbo) supermarket egg. When they're not broody (which is a LOT, at least with mine) and not molting, mine lay nearly every day (note, mine just turned one, we'll see how they lay down the road).

 

[rockinpaints]

I am getting some chicks English Orpington chicks from a breeder that directly imports them. I was hoping I could get those of you with experience with the breed to chime in on egg size and frequency of lay. Thanks.

English Orps are poor layers in general unlike their American counter parts. They are seasonal layers in England and are primarily used for exhibition over there. In the USA the American Buff Orpingtons are one of our best layers. English Orpingtons are very finicky layers as well as being seasonal. They will lay well when they first start laying (between 8 months and a year), but if something changes, add a new hen or rooster, move them from winter coop to summer coop and sometimes for no reason at all they can stop laying for months. Their best production period is between 12 and 18 months. Beyond that they are hit or miss at best. They are not a dependable producer. Fertility can be excellent then out of the blue you will have zero percent fertility. We have researched this phenomenon with little success in correcting it.

We imported a lot of the English Oprs that are in the USA today, several years ago. We have learned first hand about their laying habits. If you purchase the imported English Orpingtons do it for their beauty and not for their egg production or you will be disappointed and frustrated. There are lots of other breeds that are much better producers but not many that are more beautiful. If someone tells you they are great layers they are being less than honest.

Good luck with your new chicks. Who are you buying them from?

 

[QueenMisha]

There are no American Jubilee Orpingtons.  The color was always English until imported by Greenfire Farms.  That is not to say that people haven't used English Jubilees with other colors and created an American version (it's doable, but takes several generations to accomplish because there are 3 independent color genes involved, plus the body type is TOTALLY different).   Speckled Sussex do resemble Jubilees (moreso the hens).  I don't know if SS roos have any of that mahogany color that Jubilees do.  The comb type of my 100% Greenfire derivation Jubilees is MUCH MUCH smaller than what I see in the photos above, too.

Just my two cents.  Not a judgment, just an opinion as how to one might get a Jubilee-colored bird that is not English.  I am doing the opposite with my lavender Orps.  I have hinkjc American lav Orps, and am breeding them to high quality English Orps until I get an essentially 100% English lavender Orp.  Again, takes a few generations to get the percentage of English heritage there and alter the body and plumage, but it's most certainly doable.  My 50/50's even look substantially different than the 100% Americans.  

I just don't know why someone would make American Jubilees unless they are trying to rip buyers off, because true English Jubilee Orps are not inexpensive birds.

Alright, thanks for the input. The more I look at him the more I think he's a Sussex, or possibly some kind of attempt at an American Jubilee like you described. I got some more pictures today, now that his tail is back, if anybody else has any opinons.

 

[Ren2014]

English Orps are poor layers in general unlike their American counter parts. They are seasonal layers in England and are primarily used for exhibition over there. In the USA the American Buff Orpingtons are one of our best layers. English Orpingtons are very finicky layers as well as being seasonal. They will lay well when they first start laying (between 8 months and a year), but if something changes, add a new hen or rooster, move them from winter coop to summer coop and sometimes for no reason at all they can stop laying for months. Their best production period is between 12 and 18 months. Beyond that they are hit or miss at best. They are not a dependable producer. Fertility can be excellent then out of the blue you will have zero percent fertility. We have researched this phenomenon with little success in correcting it.

We imported a lot of the English Oprs that are in the USA today, several years ago. We have learned first hand about their laying habits. If you purchase the imported English Orpingtons do it for their beauty and not for their egg production or you will be disappointed and frustrated. There are lots of other breeds that are much better producers but not many that are more beautiful. If someone tells you they are great layers they are being less than honest.

Good luck with your new chicks. Who are you buying them from?

WOW, this is wonderful information!