THE BLUE ORPINGTON LARGE FOWL

FOR 2013 I WILL BE RUNNING A MIXED BREEDING GROUP OF BLUE AND SPLASH LARGE FOWL.

BLUE/ SPLASH HATCHING EGGS - £2.50 - MAX TWELVE PER ORDER

PULLET AND COCKEREL GROWERS AVAILABLE FROM JULY 2013

( 2010 cockerel homebred at KeithsOrps )

  The blue Orpington was introduced by Elizabeth Jane who was William Cooks daughter in 1908 after his death.

Blue Orpington Standard

The male is distinguished by a dark mantle/ cape colour covering the whole of the neck, back, saddle and tail with the remainder of the body under parts distinct, medium- slate blue colour, plus each feather laced with a darker shade.

 The female matches the under parts ( breast, thigh ) colour of the male with the whole of the body a distinct medium slate blue, each feather laced with a darker shade all through except head and neck, contrasting dark slate blue.

 Dark capes in males and dark slate blue neck hackles of females are essential requirements to maintain consistent lacing..

( my stunning foundation Blue hen )

THE BLUE GENE

The Blue gene is an incomplete dominant gene which means that if a bird has inherited one Blue gene from one of it's parents then it will be Blue but if it is pure for the Blue gene and has inherited two Blue genes ( one from each of it's parents ) then it will be Splash.

So Splash is actualy the pure breeding form of Blue and therefore will breed true so Splash mated to Splash will always breed Splash.

( This beautiful Splash hen is a full sister to the Blue hen above )

Orpington's have an established required Blue shade that the dedicated breeders have perfected but in other poultry Blue can be anything from a very pastel powder Blue through to a dark Blue Black.

(Two 2010 bred 5 months old cockerels )

 It is beleived that the more Black that is present in the genetic make up of an individual bird the darker the shade of Blue.

Breeding  Blue Orpingtons is  fascinating and producing the correct colour is an art. It can be achieved several ways:  

 Black x Blue = 50% Black / 50% Blue

Blue x Blue = 25% Black / 50% Blue / 25% Splash

Black x Splash = 100% Blue

Blue x Splash = 50% Blue / 50% Splash