Postby Harriet » Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:44 pm
We traveled there today, and the lady taught me the difference between the Lavender coloring and the Blue coloring in chicken standards. She is so happy to have very good examples of both. She can show her Blue Orpingtons now at fairs, but the Lavender is so new that standards have not been set, so there is no contest she can win. In a few years, when the standards are ready for judges, she will have some great birds to show. She also has the Splash coloring, another one I have never seen before, but so few of them that I couldn't quite get the concept - kind of polka dot on the white wings. I have seen a Blue at a fair before, but not understanding what I saw, really. I think it made her happy to have someone to teach.
Anyway, my simply-colored Black Orpingtons are shiny and healthy. They are large but I know they are 6 months like she said, because their combs are small. We got 2 of them and they settled right in. HRH had the henhouse all cleared of old straw with new straw put down before they arrived. I checked on them while sleeping, and they do have Fay in between them, which is ideal, but they are all a couple feet apart. I guess it takes time to decide to sleep beside someone to keep them warm!