Production birds, West Coast?

[pats]

Hello. I moved to the country a few years ago to start living a more self-sustaining lifestyle. I have enjoyed raising my buff orps more than I can say.

My birds are from hatchery stock and are nowhere near the size of birds I have seen in photos.

I am wondering if anyone in the west coast area has bred big birds who are also productive egg layers. Is anyone breeding for production out here?

Thank you,
Pat S.

[Jim A. Hall]

I think several are working to increase egg production, without losing size. A breeder of old, J Ralph Brazelton would trapnest. He never hatched from any Orpingtons that layed less than 200+ eggs per year. His line is still around, but not at that production.

It has been suggested that you could use an exhibition male onto production hens and work on the size/type. Culling heavy one could develop a line of more productive Standard quality Orpingtons.

[pats]

Thank you, Mr. Hall; I appreciate your quick response. If you hear of anyone on this side of the country who is working on this, I'd love to hear about it. It seems like so many of the serious breeders are on the East Coast. With all the postal cutbacks we're experiencing longer delivery times, and I hesitate to order from distant states. Thanks again.

[Jim A. Hall]

Just call me Jim.

We shipped a Buff Orpington Bantam cockerel this week to Georgia from Arkansas. It left here at noon on Monday. Arrived in Georgia on Wed morning about 6am. All went well and the bird is happy in his new home.