Peacocks

[nutterly_uts]

How many orps in an eglu? How many orps along with a light sussex? Does having a boy change this?

[chelsea]

Orpingtons in an eglu with an eglu run are quite a squeeze as they are big hens. I have had cochins in an eglu (they are also large) but in a walk in run.

 

The height size of the eglu run is quite restrictive for the large fluffy breeds because of the head height and they are quite statuesque birds.

[nutterly_uts]

This is what I feared. Looks like I need to save for a cube by the time these babies can go outside full time!!

[atsw]

Orps do like to stretch up and flap their wings. It is tight in an Eglu. The picture below was taken last November. Both girls were hatched last April.

 

 

They are almost a year old now and both have grown into really big girls (one especially is very big and surprising heavy too ). So, I recently upgraded to a WIR, and hens and humans alike are much happier with the new arrangements.

 

Andrew

[Patricia W]

I have a friend with 2 orps - very big girls indeed! They have a small wooden coop and run - but are able to free range all day every day so it's not an issue. So I think you need to add how much free ranging time will be available into the equation.

 

Andrew, btw, did you get your orps from Marcham? They look just like my friend's pair...

 

Tricia

[nutterly_uts]

If any of these chicks are female, they are staying. I was hoping to be able to put them into the Eglu while I save for a cube, so that might work well They are out most of the day

[atsw]

Andrew, btw, did you get your orps from Marcham? They look just like my friend's pair...

No, my girls came from family friends up in the Midlands. They run a dairy farm by trade, but raise Chickens, Ducks and Geese as a hobby. It's been such a success that the hobby has turned into a small sideline to help support their farming income in recent months.

 

Andrew

[Cooks]

Andrew!!! dont show me pictures of Orps I have terrible Orp envy at the moment! LOLOL After visiting Palmer07 to see her lovely girls I cant get them out my head and really want some. I have the room.. I think.. lol it's just me being me and trying to convince myself I should go ahead with this for later in the year.

although if someone was needing to rehome two for whatever reason I might be persuaded before then LOLOL

[atsw]

Andrew!!! dont show me pictures of Orps I have terrible Orp envy at the moment! LOLOL After visiting Palmer07 to see her lovely girls I cant get them out my head and really want some.

Well, if that feeling starts to wear off, and you find yourself in Oxfordshire, you're welcome to call in for a viewing. My girls will set your heart racing again for sure - they are a wonderful breed.

 

Andrew

[Cooks]

awwww that's a lovely invitation. If I am ever in the area I will let you know. LOL

[Daphne]

I would say 2 L/F fully grown girls max (unless they are jubilees?) - but mine have always free ranged. I don't think 2 in standard run all day would be a good idea; extenders would be OK but not ideal.

 

Re boy: YES IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE They are so big compared to the girls.

[Falkor]

(unless they are jubilees?) quote]

 

 

?? Are jubilees bigger or smaller?

[Daphne]

smaller - in general. Only because they've not been subject to the same length of 'improvement' breeding.

[Falkor]

smaller - in general. Only because they've not been subject to the same length of 'improvement' breeding.

 

Thanks.

 

Gin my Splash Orp is def taller than OSH, my jubilee but OSH is WIDER lol!

[Daphne]

just out of interest would you say OSH is wider because she has loose feathering or is she wider but with quite tight feathering - ie quite a big girl!

[Falkor]

OSH is loose feathered and Gin is more body with tight feathering.......i that the way is should be?

 

trying to find a decent pic of both of them.....

 

 

not a great pic but you can see that Gin's feathers are close to her body on her top half and OSH is just a puff ball

[Daphne]

interesting. The breed standard says orps shouldn't have loose profuse feathering (like a cochin) but most show winners do. My jubilees have quite tight feathering and are not terribly big (not helped by tight feathers!) but they are quite weighty girls underneath. The other large fowl (currently black and splash, we lost the blue) are featherballs but comparatively light underneath. I'd be interested to know where you got OSH from?

 

They both look gorgeous btw - nothing beats a big orp girl for me, despite my affection for polands

[Falkor]

Both OSH and Gin came from Charley at Fritten Poultry. She specialises in Orps and Pekins and is lovely!

When I had a scary couple of days thinking that Gin was a bloke she was so helpful!

 

The are both about 7 months so still growing and it was quite comical watching OSH and Gin both try to get in the nest box the other day! The newbies looked very put out with having their house taken over by a load of feathers!

 

I love the Orps! They are so laid back and have taken to the newbie hybrids with very little fuss!

 

I lost my buff Orps earlier this year and I keep popping into Thornes to get my buff fix and Frank keeps reminding me that they will have POL birds in August. La la la la la la !