lay Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Both of our Chickens are settling in nicely and we feel confident that we can introduce 1 more as they are both such placid girls. We really want a Buff Orpington,but have been told it may be too big for an Eglu. So was after a Bantam. We are struggling so much as no one seems to have done any this year. We are in Hampshire but are prepared to travel further a field - does any one have a Buff Orpington Bantam? Are they generally placid? Where can we get one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 They are supposed to have a lovely nature and be great hens. I haven't seen any around, but check the breeders in the back of Practical Poultry mag, register on their forum and advertise there, also register on pekinbantams.com forum and post there as that one is great for sourcing unusual stock. You don't see a lot of them around, but they are really pretty and availabale in all sorts of colours too. A normal sized orp would be way too big for an Eglu, it might just squeeze in the door, but it's be a tight fit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 I don't know where he is based, but Rob Boyd has some bantam Orpingtons on his website http://www.orpingtons.co.uk/breeds1.asp But will you be able to stop at just one ............... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 They are in the New Forest, near Southampton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 It says that he's not breeding to sell at the moment, but it's worth getting in touch. Do you want me to post on pekinbantams.com for you? If you do, PM me with your location and I will let you know if there are any answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melcotton Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 pekinbantams would be a great site to post on if you are serious. There are lots of breeders who check it out or at least have contacts. Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lay Posted August 16, 2006 Author Share Posted August 16, 2006 Thanks Claret, I have just registered so will post on there this morning. We contacted the Gentlemen in Southampton by phone on Saturday, but have not heard back yet - might send him a quick E-mail though. I will struggle to stop at one, as I have just become a Chicken addict, if we had a bigger garden I would consider a second Eglu!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 I emailed omlet about this recently Barbara said: The run might be a bit restricting for large breeds like Orpingtons to spend long periods in but if they were allowed to free range for most of the day, they should be fine. If they spent a week or so in the run while you were on holiday, they would probably be OK but if you were able to add some run extension panels, I'm sure they'd be even happier. Note she doesn't say anything about fitting into the eglu itself. This place does full size and bantams http://www.dtbcentre.co.uk/orpington.htm Storr's poultry Sheffield had the full size when we bought T&S Erm, OH says if I get a job after my PhD I have my eye on a purple eglu..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyv Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Hi, (so long since we logged in we forgot username and password, so i had to re-register.) We got our eglu with 2 hybrids last year, and added an orpington buff (called buffy) a couple of weeks later. She fitted in with the other 2 fairly well, and 'cos of her big size maybe didnt get picked on so much. The 3 of them fit in the eglu fine, but probably 4 orpingtons would be too much for the eglu. They wander around the garden most days, but we regularly leave them in the run for a weekend and sometimes up to a couple of weeks while on holiday. (We use the 2 peanuts as feeders and have a big drinker hanging in the run - this will last about 3-4 days). Buffy is bigger than the hybrids, but i think a lot of this is the fluffy feathers - i keep on meaning to weigh them, but they wont stay on the kitchen scales long enough - i think they're maybe worried that i'm checking for cooking time.... She's a good layer, i think around 4 eggs a week, and the eggs aren't a lot bigger than the others. She's a bit more skittish than the others, but will eat from our hand, but sometimes a bit difficult to catch... Not gone broody yet, which i read was more likely in this breed. Definely a different personality to the others - i think the best desciption would be 'nice but dim'... We got her from a place about 1 hour north of birmingham - the "domestic fowl trust" i think, about a year ago. Hope this help, Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Do you have any photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Bill in France has two Large Orpingtons in a mark I He did have an albumn in the chickens gallery but it will be way back at the beginning of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Wow! I bet that's a but of a squeeze. Like most chooks, some orps are larger than others and a lot of that is feathers. Once they settle down on the nest and fluff themselves out, they take up a lot of room. Our chicken lady, Pearl, has buff orps and uses them a lot for brooding eggs as they are supposed to be excellent mothers. Lesley recently bought a broody buff orp from her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyv Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Hi, I posted a couple in the gallery - couldnt get them all to pose in the eglu door sorry Not sure if these links will embed or work... Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Aaaaaah, Andy - now you've made me stop and think - I'm meant to be picking up 2 new Bluebelles tomorrow, but having seen your Orpington snuggled up with her friends, I'm sorely tempted to change my mind to an Orpington. Maybe I should buy another Eglu, then I could have both...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 I am sure that chookiehubbie will be going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 When I suggested it to chookiehubbie, he started choking on his lunch, and is refusing to discuss it.... Blumming men, eh?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Did he get a fish bone caught in his throat or something Chookie?? Poor dear, I hope you gave him an extra big SLAP on the back...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Did he go blue Chooks? That's the trouble with men you see; they have no 'vision' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Did he get a fish bone caught in his throat or something Chookie??Poor dear, I hope you gave him an extra big SLAP on the back...... OH thinks if we had an orpington it'd eat the others and they'd just be a pair of feet sticking out of its mouth one morning. Oh and they must go BOC (really deep) rather than boc He's slowly being adjusted to the idea of Buffy the buff orpington and her friend ? in a purple eglu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 They are really mild mannered Choccy, I don't think they'd attack the others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 He was joking about its size OH got from somewhere they only lay eggs for a year, is this true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geb0205 Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Hmmmm Bantam orps... now there is a thought.... *Georgie toddles off to enquire with her beeps about a new beep to the beep congregation* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 17, 2006 Share Posted August 17, 2006 Not heard that one before Chocs They are enormous and have a lovely stately manner, a bit like an old-fashioned lady gathering up her petticoats to let all the chickies in. Lesley's orp is a very good mother and protects her little ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyv Posted August 17, 2006 Share Posted August 17, 2006 We've had ours about a year, and she's still laying i think (i've lost track of which eggs are from which chickens, but we get 3 different makes of eggs anyway...) I'll keep you updated, and let you know ever 6 months if she's still laying... Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 18, 2006 Share Posted August 18, 2006 When we went to Paula's Poultry yesterday to pick up Hunney and Darling, we had to stand for about half an hour and just admire her Orpington cockerel - He is just stunning - an ENORMOUS Splash Orpington, with a slightly defective sounding crow! So enormous, there is no way he'd get in an eglu, although his wives and babies looked like they might squeeze into one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
