4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Nicola O]

As I mentioned last week, I've collected my cube and extended run and was going to set it up soon and look for the Orpingtons that I really, really want in the spring......

 

but......

 

on Monday I was dealing with a customer at work, a lovely chap who runs a poultry farm - mainly RIR type birds as he sells eggs. But he mentioned that a friend of his used to rent a corner of the field and bred 'posh' birds but had just decided to pack it in and asked my guy to sell his birds for him. He reeled of a few breeds, one of which was Orps and so I mentioned that I was looking to get some soon.

 

Today I had to phone him, and he mentioned that there were nine Orps - Buff, Blue and some 'brown ones with white on them' (he couldn't remember what they were) and that if I would like some I could have them - FOR FREE !!!

 

So at last to my question - The cube has TWO extensions on the run, so how many chooks would fit comfortably in that - I was thinking about five perhaps ?? In the spring/summer/autumn my chooks freerange most days, but not as much in the winter. Opinions would be gratefully appreciated as I don't want to get carried away and overcrowd them.

 

Nicola

[Cooks]

congratulations!

[craftyhunnypie]

Orps in a cube? I'd say 4. They are big, big!

 

Emma.x

[Ygerna]

top result That really is a lucky break.

[The Dogmother]

Four maximum - they might even have trouble getting out of the run door

[Daphne]

You lucky girl! The 'brown ones with white on' are jubilee orpingtons (assuming we're talking large fowl). They are less common than the other colours, and generally a bit smaller as well.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

What a bit of luck . Chickens of fate . Congratulations (in advance!) .

[Nicola O]

You lucky girl! The 'brown ones with white on' are jubilee orpingtons (assuming we're talking large fowl). They are less common than the other colours, and generally a bit smaller as well.

 

Thanks for that info. I've just googled them and they look gorgeous - I'll have to have one of them.

 

I'm currently thinking one of each colour - buff, blue and jubilee. If there is a fourth colour he hasn't mentioned I'll have one of them, if not another jubilee perhaps.

 

It's so nice of him to say I can just have them. My first instinct was to have as many as possible but I know for the sake of the birds I must restrain myself so I thiink I will stick to just four.

 

Nicola.

[Chickvic]

How lucky is that! Can't wait to see the pics

[Nicola O]

What a bit of luck . Chickens of fate . Congratulations (in advance!) .

 

I hadn't thought of that ANH - my own Chickens of Fate . It was sheer chance that I saw this chap as there are three other ladies in the office where I work and any one of them could have seen him.

 

The chooks are apparently about 20 - 24 weeks - he says that is old enough to see they are not boys (is that right?) but not old enough to be laying yet.

 

Claret - I spoke to Dad about the small run door, and he recons that if need be we could put the run clips on one side of the entire end panel (like a giant hinge) and use other clips (perhaps the sort that are on the end of a dogs lead) all round the other sides and open the entire end when I let them out. OR... he said if we hinge the top half of the end panel to drop it down he would make them little ramps to go up and down each side of the bottom panel - does this sound feasable (spl?)

 

Nicola.

[Janty]

You might be alright with the run door. My cochins and brahmas manage fine and they are large girls (similar to Orps). See when you get them.

[Groovychook]

Congratulations! Lucky you!!

 

I love orps... I really, really want some!!

[chelsea]

You might be alright with the run door. My cochins and brahmas manage fine and they are large girls (similar to Orps). See when you get them.

 

 

I agree, I have cochins which I think are bigger than orps and when I go on holiday they have a week in an eglu/extended run & can get out fine, they are more fluff than anything!

 

I am very very jubilee orpingtons are gorgeous......I insist we simply must have pictures asap!

[Groovychook]

 

I am very very jubilee orpingtons are gorgeous......I insist we simply must have pictures asap!

 

I knew you'd be along soon chelsea! You suffer from the same orp envy as me!! Why can't there be a nice man wanting to rehome his fancy orps near us?!!!

[Nicola O]

I am very very jubilee orpingtons are gorgeous......I insist we simply must have pictures asap!

 

Of course pictures as soon as I have them.........won't be poss. to pick them up for two or three weekends coz of work comitments though

 

I think he had a few jubilee orps. (if thats what they are - it all depends on his description and our interpetation of it ) if anybody wants some - I could take some extras and you could collect them from me - I'm sure he said he had nine Orps. and he seemed happy for me to have as many as I wanted.

 

Nicola.

[chelsea]

 

I knew you'd be along soon chelsea! You suffer from the same orp envy as me!!

 

 

I sure do!

 

Do you think you will ever get one? I live in hope......I really really want a black one.

 

I love anything big & fluffy

[Groovychook]

 

I knew you'd be along soon chelsea! You suffer from the same orp envy as me!!

 

 

I sure do!

 

Do you think you will ever get one? I live in hope......I really really want a black one.

 

I love anything big & fluffy

Oh, I do hope so... they look so cuddly!

Top of the list is black, followed by blue & buff!!

I haven't got any space at the moment but when I finally get a walk in run... ... think I'll have no option than to add another 2 or 3! It would be a shame to waste all that lovely space...

[Daphne]

you should be able to tell boys from girls at 20-24 weeks, tho they are late developers. I think around 6 months is the absolute earliest you could expect eggs. I have 3 jubilees aged 37 weeks and the first one laid her first egg the day before yesterday!!

[The Dogmother]

As the others have said, they will probably be alright with the run door, but it's worth checking to see if they can manage it.

 

Don't forget to worm and de-lice them when they arrive.

[Nicola O]

Don't forget to worm and de-lice them when they arrive.

 

Yep, have flubenvet so ready to worm. I only have red-mite powder, not louse powder, but I have cat frontline - could I use a couple of drops of that on them (I know frontline has been mentioned before) they are not laying yet so I wouldn't have to worry about the egg withdrawal.

 

I'm sure by the age that they are you should be able to tell boys from girls - but I'll be having a close look for combs, wattles, spurs, neck and tail feathers before I take them (as well as general health of course).

 

Nicola.

[The Dogmother]

Frontline will be OK (it's not licenced for use on poultry in the UK), if they have lice, then it is best to do two treatments a week apart to catch all the lice. Regular treatment with a spot-on product that is recommended by your vet will keep them free of lice.

[atsw]

Our two Buff Orps were hatched in April 2008 and were laying small eggs in Late November. They both stopped again in mid December and have had a mini-moult since then. I'm hoping egg production will kick off again within the next few weeks.

 

 

With regard to spotting a boy, I'm not sure at what point you can be sure, but they look magnificent. Picture below is one we came across in Derbyshire a couple of years back, which lead to us getting our girls last year.

 

 

Andrew

[Happy chickens!]

You lucky thing!

[The Dogmother]

What a handsome fellow!

 

Is he a Cochin though? He has feathery trousers - the breeds look quite similar.

 

I have had the privilege of meeting Francine Raymond and her flock of orps; they really are stunning.

[Janty]

Boy is definitely a cochin. Gorgeous feathery legs.