The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Maddie on December 31, 2012, 10:11:04 am
-
Could you please advise me.
I have 4 female buff Orpingtons from a very good breeder .
A couple of people have mentioned that one of them looks like a rooster.
One (see photo) is much larger than the other three, but very friendly. 10 months old, does not crow, has small stumped like spurs. I haven't seen her lay, but two of the other birds aren't laying either.
I really cannot have a male , but so far the jury seems to be out whether she is male or a large female.
I have also just bought another 4 Orpingtons that are separated just now!!
-
That picture is definately a rooster!
-
Yep, that's a cockerel :chook:
It happens, I'm quite experienced at breeding chooks, but once sold 4x14 week old Wyandotte pullets to a lady, who informed me later that one of those turned out to be a cockerel. Oops.
You could try contacting the breeder to swap him?
-
I haven't seen her lay
only being mischievous but i suggest if it does lay it may be of scientific interest :innocent:
It does look like a lovely bird though.
-
Maddie, it looks a lovely bird, why is it that you cannot have a male?
Usually most people have the problem because of the crowing but as yours isn't crowing then that won't matter.
Sally
-
But I expect he will in due course - he's just a youngster at the moment. Wait til spring!
-
He'll roast up lovely :yum: :yum:
-
he is a beauty!
-
Gorgeous! shame you can't keep him then, he's lovely!!
-
He's lovely! I've just lost my buff cockerel who looked very similar and also had never crowed. Keith at Keith's Orpingtons in Berks (with lots of beautiful birds - does lots of hatching eggs if you do want more with risk of cockerels) reckoned Orpingtons are often late to crow and he's definitely come across some that never did.
None of my hens have laid yet so I'm glad to hear they're not the only slow ones (re. your other hens, not him!),
H
-
We had a Buff Orpington cockerel that was nearly silent in his crowing, despite straining with all his might. A quiet cockerel is a rare thing best kept. He will keep order and not eat that much Maddie. Sure if you don't want him plenty of others will. All ours have crowed (or attempted to) by 27 weeks.
Noticed his feet are either dirty, or showing Scaly Leg mite attack. Very painful condition for them so please check. Benzole Benzoate is the correct treatment. Heard soaking in vegetable oil works (suffocates them) but any other treatment is 'quack' medicine. Avoid the ludicrous suggestion often heard of using WD40. One hen I read was treated with it and screamed in agony (and kept screaming) until it was washed off!
-
Thanks everyone and I will treat his feet...
At least I have established he is a rooster! Very pretty and friendly!
The reason that I cannot keep him if he crows is that although I have a large garden I am in a residential area with one set of particularly difficult neighbours.
I have contacted the breeder and she will pay back, but I really like the Orpingtons and it is frustrating when I have paid for delivery etc..
I think I will keep him just now but he will have to go if he starts crowing..
Would anyone like a beautiful cockerel!!
-
he is lovely, you may well be able to rehome him, but i should keep your fingers crossed that he is a quiet fella, at least wait until you actually get a complaint before rehousing (or roasting) him.
-
Hi
My Rooster (buff Orpington) has now started crowing, because I live in a residential area I can't keep him.
is there anyone that could give him a good home please.
Kind regards
Alison
-
Do you ever get across to Skye? I have three young Buff girls who would love him :innocent:
-
He is a good looking young man :love: .
Sorry if its been said already, but you do know your water drinker is upside down in the pic :innocent: . Did you do it deliberately to see if any one was paying attention :roflanim: .
-
hes not a rooster, but he is a cockeral ;) ;) there are no roosters in the uk
-
He is a good looking young man :love: .
Sorry if its been said already, but you do know your water drinker is upside down in the pic :innocent: . Did you do it deliberately to see if any one was paying attention :roflanim: .
Maybe about to fill it? It's a lot blooming cleaner than mine and I wish mine had a handle :rant:
-
Harry - technically correct but its always good manners to communicate in the other persons terminology.
Otherwise you may find yourself in thr trunk of your car or kicked to the sidewalk :innocent:
-
Good technical point Composto. Is the forum allowing American English or any other languages in discussions, or do we just use common sense Harry, to avoid upsetting anyone.
-
He'll roast up lovely :yum: :yum:
Oooh Sylvia! Wash your mouth out with soap and water!!!!! ;D
-
Maddie did you manage to re home your cockerel? I have just joined after finding this forum whilst desperately looking for ways to re-home my own buff Orpington cockerel.
He's 6 months old and has started crowing at 5.30am every morning. Now this doesn't bother me, but neighbours aren't so happy unfortunately. Im heartbroken at having to let him go. He came from our first attempt at hatching our own and is very much part of our family, my kids adore him.
I just wondered how you got on with yours? and if anyone else has any useful advice I would me most grateful
-
Hi Jackstarfish - where are you located? As you can see from my picture i have a buff cockerel who is a fine chap and we hatched him ourselves so we wanted to keep him (and breed from him - not very successfully!).
After trying several methods of keeping the 5.00 crowing to a minimum i trained him to sleep in a cat basket which we then pop into the garage overnight so nobody hears him ( not even me). He gets let out at 8.30 in the morning & seems quite happy with the arrangement.
Problem solved..... Unless the neighbours complain about him crowing during the day. :innocent:
-
hi TGC
Im in Lancashire. Loving your idea with the cat basket!! No garage here unfortunately. I have 2 sheds but they wouldn't provide any more sound proofing than the coop. I do have a spare coop and a handy husband so Ive been looking at ways to sound proof it for now
I wasnt looking to breed from mine. I just love this breed and wanted to try and hatch our own. We got Buster, the cockerel and a hen and they are an absolute joy to have around.
-
I dont see why a shed couldnt be sufficiently soundproofed with a bit of effort so good luck with that - they are amazing animals to keep, as you say beautifully tempered and beautiful to look at.
Mine has 4 lucky ladies to look after but aftet several hatchings has only really produced 3 offspring ( sold very easily though)
I was interested in your location because his performance makes me consider the possibility of replacing him but the distance is a bit much ( i am northampton).
-
Oh thanks so much for your replies TGC. You've already given me some ideas I would never have thought about! I'll get my hubby on the case this afternoon. If I can keep the noise at an acceptable level It will solve the immediate problem. That being my neighbour who has complained to us not so much about the noise, but it being so early which is fair enough, I suppose
Buster has 5 ladies to look after but Im not sure they feel so lucky at the moment. Our oldest ones have been around for alot longer than him and don't seem very amused by his advances so far!! He's our first cockerel so Im guessing if we do manage to address the noise issue and keep him things will settle down in due course. He is a big softy though and we love him to bits.
I will Definately be sticking around on the forum. There's loads of useful info on here, Im glad I found it.
-
Thanks everyone.... I am pleased to let you know he is now happily rehomed :excited: