Fairy Tail Farms English Orpingtons

[JacinLarkwell]

I think I might be interested in Orpingtons again. I do love the massive birds, even if they eat a lot. Do you consider them easy keepers? Or do they eat an insane amount to not lose weight? My hatchery Whites finally got very nice sized, but they eat a good amount too

 

[ColtHandorf]

I think I might be interested in Orpingtons again. I do love the massive birds, even if they eat a lot. Do you consider them easy keepers? Or do they eat an insane amount to not lose weight? My hatchery Whites finally got very nice sized, but they eat a good amount too

I don't find that they eat all that much really. I mean I'm sure they aren't the most efficient birds, but they are pretty so I don't care. I keep their feeders full and each pen gets out in the evening after work for a little free-ranging and they go back to bed. Some of them are really good foragers. Others, not so much. lol

 

[Faraday40]

I think I might be interested in Orpingtons again. I do love the massive birds, even if they eat a lot. Do you consider them easy keepers? Or do they eat an insane amount to not lose weight? My hatchery Whites finally got very nice sized, but they eat a good amount too

Orps do like to eat. (Yet, not as bad as meatbirds & turkeys. Free-range foraging helps.) They're not very bright & the English bloodlines can get poopy butt.
BUT
Orps have awesome personality, docile temperament, jumbo eggs, and incredible beauty that's hard to beat. They really are as stunning in person - and they're HUGE!

There's a big difference in hatchery orps (more streamlined) and English orps (from imported bloodlines). The English orps have more fluff, looser feathering, and are bigger. My Hens are 9-11 pounds. Roosters 13-15lbs.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I love those birds!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

There's a big difference in hatchery orps (more streamlined) and English orps (from imported bloodlines)

Yeah. The hatcheries I order from had either assorted English or white/buff/Lavender/chocolate American that I could actually choose from. Plus the difference in price was also a factor (5.60 for a female white american or 15.80 ea. for a female Asst. English of which i had to buy at least 5 of a sex instead of the normal 5 per variety). At the time I wanted specific coloring and I was already ordering a huge expense, so I was mainly looking at that.

Now I learned my lesson and have actually seen decent pictures of the English (the one picture for the Asst. English in the catalog was an awful group photo that didn't show much of anything) so I know what one I prefer.

Not that my hatchery ones are ugly. I quite like them, they're just.... Not quite right for me.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Here are some decent pictures of the fat boys.

The Red is Rupert, the White is Balthier, and the Buff is Phillip.

 

[Faraday40]

Here are some decent pictures of the fat boys.
View attachment 2874726View attachment 2874727View attachment 2874729
The Red is Rupert, the White is Balthier, and the Buff is Phillip.

I never wanted to own a buff orp - - until now. Beautiful!!!!

 

[ColtHandorf]

I never wanted to own a buff orp - - until now. Beautiful!!!!

Right? I never wanted any really, but when I got there to pick up the White and they were like, "please take some more..." I just couldn't help myself. Let me get you the pics of their breeders. Not good photos, but you can see the width of some of these birds.

So here are some coop pics:

Gold-laced:

Reds: I prefer the dark and told them to breed for that, not the lighter variant. There's two bloodlines and one is dark and the other light.

White:

Buff:

Chocolate Cuckoo:

Chocolate:

Blue, Black, Splash:

Black:

Silver-laced (my bloodline):

 

[Jennc-123]

I took your advice @ColtHandorf . I love them!

 

[EmmaRainboe]

No shame from me - more for meeee!

Share??
Calico/Mille fleur even though not accepted, are probably my favorite variety. Along side birchen. And mottled.