The Black Orpington is the first and Original Orpington Breed introduced in the late 1880’s by William Cook who was focused on blending various breeds to produce a black fowl "of handsome appearance and a good winter layer". Following the single comb came the Rose Comb black variety in 1888. Its origin was similar to the one preceding it, so presumably Plymouth Rocks or Langshans threw some Rose Combed progeny. The Black Lavender Split breed back to the Lavender every third Generation is essential in order to improve the Lavender soft Feathering and overall appearance. It is one of the larger Orpington breeds and The Black and Black Lavender Split showcases a most impressive “Blue Threading or Beetling” which is an iridescent of blue green and sometimes violet Sheen throughout its entire feathers. The affect is spectacular!. Unlike the Lavender, it has developed some great skills noticing predators from the air and is more attentive to its surroundings. The Black and Black Lavender Split are a definite must in any flock

Heritage:
English
Egg Colour: Pink/ Brown
Egg Count : 180-230 per year
Hens Body weight : 8-14 lbs
Rooster Body weight : 9-15 lbs
Temperament: Very Friendly
Hardiness: Docile, Quiet, and Affectionate, Canadian winter hardy

Genetics:
Over time, the color lavender can become dilute and adding genetically black birds (of the same breed) helps to improve feather quality and color while widening the gene pool. Birds with two copies of the lavender gene will present with lavender feather coloring. Lavender split to black birds (referred to as split) will have black coloring, but will carry one copy of the lavender gene and are able to pass it to their offspring.

Genetics:
Split x Lav = 50% Lav 50% Split
Black x Split = 50% black 50% split
Split x Split = 50% Split 25% Black 25% Lav
Black x Lav = 100% Split

Back in the nineteenth century the father of William Cook was a hustler on the infamous London to Dover road, but young Bill, after serving his time, soon forsook horses and coaches to keep chickens. In due course he rose to great prominence as an enterprising poultry developer, in those days when poultry keeping was very much in its infancy. He was a prolific journalist in poultry matters - lecturer, adviser and consultant - took in pupils - sold appliances, medicines, poultry foods, fattening powders and published the "Poultry Keepers Account Book" - the most complete of its kind for one shilling (5 pence).

William Cook, though, is immortalised for his origination of the Orpington which put his Kentish town on the poultry map and gave countless pleasures to generations of devoted followers.

It was in 1880 that Cook started blending various breeds to produce a black fowl "of handsome appearance and a good winter layer".

By 1886 these black fowl made their appearance at the three big Dairy, Crystal Palace and Birmingham shows. It was two years later that separate classification was given for the Black Orpington at the 1888 Dairy Show at Islington where there were 14 cockerels and 19 pullets in the two classes.

The Orpington Club was formed in 1887 so promotion was rapid, but it was not until 1900 that the black was anything at all approaching a distinct kind. It was Joseph Partington and friends who transformed the Black Orpington, by decidedly increasing bulk and feather to the standard and hallmarks we have long since become accustomed to.

Today the Black Orpington is still one of the favourites with Orpington enthusiast. It is one of the largest of the Orpingtons and displays the best of the Blue Thread known as Beetling or iridescence in blues and greens. This is also one the most friendliest of Orpingtons and great observers of sky predators sending out high pitched alarms to all the flock to take cover. Just a great overall Orpington to have in your flock.

Heritage:
English
Egg Colour: Pink/ Light Brown
Egg Count: 180-230 per year
Hens Body weight: 8-14 lbs
Rooster Body weight: 9-15 lbs
Temperament: Very Friendly
Hardiness: Docile, Quiet, and Affectionate, Canadian winter hardy

The Blue Orpington was created much later in 1908 which was four years after William Cook the founder of Orpingtons had died. These were created crossing the original Black Orpington with white and were bred because they had greater egg laying potential due to the white birds used. Breeding the correct shade for the show standard is very difficult with blue because there is a tendency to drift back towards white[lighter] or black[darker] than the colour required. Orpingtons are bred as much for their looks and temperament as for their egg laying capabilities.

It was not wildly popular until the addition of Andalusian plumage genes which helped in the promotion of the breed. It is now a sought after variety The Males plumage has dark slate hackle, saddle, wingbow, back and tail. The rest of the lower body is light slate with dark lacing. The females plumage is all over medium slate with dark lacing and a dark slate neck. The beak, legs and eyes are all dark slate colour.

The Blue Orpington is one of the harder Orpingtons to breed to exhibition standard due to the complexity of the blue gene.

Heritage:
English
Egg Colour: Light Brown
Egg Count: 180-230 per year
Hens Body weight: 8-10 lbs
Rooster Body weight: 10-12.5 lbs
Temperament: Very Friendly
Hardiness: Docile, Quiet, and Affectionate, Canadian winter hardy after adulthood

Genetics:
Blue x Blue =25% male 25% Female Blue 25% black split 25% Blue Splash
Blue x Black Lavender split = 25% Blue Males 25% Blue Females 25% Black Lavender Split Male and 25% Black Lavender Split Females
Blue x Blue Splash = 25% Blue Male 25% Blue Female, 25% Blue Black Splash Male 25% Blue Black Splash Female
Black Lavender Split x Blue Black Splash = 50% Blue Male 50% Blue Female
Blue Black Splash x Blue Black Splash = 25% Blue Black Splash Male, 25% Blue Black Splash Female, 25% Blue Molted Male, 25% Blue Molted Female

Unlike the Blue Orpington, where you will have the Columbian pattern, the Blue Black Splash pattern is distributed evenly over the chicken’s body. First introduced the 1950

Heritage:
English
Egg Colour: Pink/ Light Brown
Egg Count: 180-230 per year
Hens Body weight: 7-9 lbs
Rooster Body weight: 9-12 lbs
Temperament: Very Friendly
Hardiness: Docile, Quiet, and Affectionate, Canadian winter hardy after adulthood

Genetics:
The genetics is considered incompletely dominant (called Columbian restriction). Andalusian blue-dilutes black: blue pigment is a modified black. Two nigrum genes, E, and one Bl gives a blue chicken; two Bl genes gives splash affect which confines black to hackle and tail in both sexes.

Genetics:
Blue X Blue = 50% Blue, 25% Black, 25% Splash
Blue X Black = 50% Blue, 50% Black
Blue X Splash = 50% Blue, 50% Splash
Black X Black = 100% Black
Splash X Splash = 100% Splash
Splash X Black = 100% Blue

The Chocolate Orpington is best recognized because of its deep, rich beautiful colour. These gorgeous, large fowl, birds stand out among all the birds making them an eye catcher to any poultry enthusiast. Chocolate Orpingtons are fair egg layers, laying between 120-150 eggs per year and hens are often known to go broody. They have one of the best temperaments out of all the breeds making them an excellent choice for your backyard flock.

Heritage:
English
Egg colour : Cream
Egg Count : 120-150 per year
Hens Body weight : 8-14lbs
*Rooster Body weight : 9-15lbs
Temperament: very friendly , social
Foragers : yes
Hardiness: cold weather hardy

Genetics:
• Chocolate Male x Chocolate female = 100% Chocolate • Black Male x Chocolate Female = 50 % black males carrying , 50 % Black females • Chocolate Male x Black female = 50 % Black Males carrying , 50 % black females • Black male carrying chocolate x chocolate female = 25 % chocolate males 25 % black males carrying chocolate , 25 % Chocolate female, 25 % black females. • Black males carrying chocolate x black females= 25 % black males carrying chocolate , 25 % black males, 25 % chocolate females, 25 % black females

Jubilee Orpingtons are top on my list and very rare in Canada and like all other Orpingtons, are gentle, and friendly birds and get along easily with other chickens. They are great with children, as pets, and other animals. They could even be considered a 'lap' chicken. The Jubilee Orpington is a favorite of Great Britain. The breed was introduced in 1897 by William Cook. He continued to expand the color varieties of the breed and the Jubilee and was the result of crossing Spangled Old English Games with Dorkings and then crossing the outcome with Buff Orpingtons. They were originally called Diamond Jubilee Orpingtons and was named to celebrate the Queen Victoria’s Birthday. Jubilee Orpingtons are prolific egg layers, and truly epitomize the heritage style farm chicken. Egg coloring is significantly lighter than most Orpingtons - a creamy colored tinted egg. Many Jubilee Orpington hens will go broody and hatch their own chicks. These are cold hardy, healthy and very sound chickens and one of my favourite Orpington Breeds.

The feather patterning of these birds is striking - the background is mostly a rich mahogany color that is punctuated with speckles of white and black, that shimmer to crimson and brilliant green. The patterning is very similar in effect to the Speckled Sussex, but the overall impression of the bird is completely different as the Orpington carriage and feather texture makes the jubilee pattern much more showy; this is probably why this variety is called 'jubilee' rather than simply 'speckled'!

It has only been imported in the U.S. within the past 10 years and is extremely rare and hard to find and even rarer in Canada. I am so proud to offer these exception showy birds to the poultry connoisseur.

Heritage:
English
Egg Colour: Pink/ Brown
Egg Count: 180-230 per year
Hens Body weight: 7 lbs
Rooster Body weight: 10.5 lbs
Temperament: Very Friendly
Hardiness: Docile, Quiet, and Affectionate, Canadian winter hardy

Genetics:
The feather pattern which makes the Jubilee, is a very complex colour, and maturing birds can take up to 18 months to be ‘finished’ so patients and time are a must. The shaft should be a dark mahogany with a clear black band, finished with a white tip, or ‘pearl’ at the end. It should have no smuttiness, leakage of the black into either the brown, or white.

Jubilee x Jubilee (two recessive genes double barring ) = 100% Jubilee

Lavender Orpington chickens are a more recent addition to the Orpington family. The color, introduced in the late 1990s, is technically a very diluted black. It resulted after decades of breeding in the U.K. Lavenders are extremely friendly, in most cases, and will choose to spend time near you while you are out doing the chores. They are very docile and calm. My birds are bread to Black/Lavender Split Rooster every 3^rd generation in order to maintain the “soft feathering” which is essential to maintaining the high quality of the Feathers coveted in APA. If you’re looking for a friendly pet to add to your flock, the Lavender is a great choice.

As with all Orpingtons the Lavender should appear as a heavy, broad bodied bird standing low to the ground. The back should be short and curvy. The tail should be short (not boat tail). The beak is dark/ horn colored, eyes a reddish bay color. Comb, wattles and earlobes are red and lags are slate grey.

Heritage:
English
Egg Colour: Pink/ Light Brown
Egg Count : 180-230 per year
Hens Body weight : 8-14 lbs
Rooster Body weight : 9-15 lbs
Temperament: Very Friendly
Hardiness: Docile, Quiet, and Affectionate, Canadian winter hardy

Genetics:
The "lavender" gene (lav) in the chicken causes the dilution of both black (eumelanin) and red/brown (phaeomelanin) pigments, so according to color background, dilution due to "lavender" gives a sort of plumage color patterns: On an extended black background, this condition causes the entire surface of the body an even shade of light slate blue, which is the typical phenotype known as '"self-blue"' Diluting simply means that it modifies the base color. As an example – black is diluted to lavender and red is diluted to straw color. This is very simplistic but gives you an idea of what the lavender gene does. In order to breed lavender offspring, each of the parent stock requires a copy of the lavender gene.

​Note: Kammerer Heritage Farm breeds third generation Lavender with Black Lavender Split in order to maintain the “soft feathering” and improve the appearance which is essential to maintaining the high quality of the Feathers coveted in APA English Orpingtons . When ordering eggs it’s essential to remember that you may hatch some Black Lavender Splits which will carry the Lavender gene which should be bred back to your lavenders from time to time in order to maintain the same quality birds for future generations.

Genetics:
Lav x Lav = 100% Lavender
Black x Lav = 100% Split
Split x Lav = 50% Lav 50% Split
Black Lavender Split x Black Lavender Split = 50% Black Lavender Split, 25% Black, 25% Lavender

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The Cuckoo Orpington made its debut at the Dairy Show of 1908 in Britain. And then later at Crystal Palace in 1912. This is one of the most striking breed type of Orpingtons, with the impressive “barring” which is more prominent in the Males than the Females. The barring in the Females will naturally fade as the Female ages. They are also one of the most sensitive Orpington Breeds to raise so more careful attention to the raising of these birds is essential. Avoid over-crowding, practice great Husbandry, low stress levels, and give plenty of natural herbs to boost their immune system.

Heritage:
English
Egg Colour: Pink/ Light Brown
Egg Count: 180-230 per year
Hens Body weight: 6-9 lbs
Rooster Body weight: 8-10.5 lbs
Temperament: Very Friendly
Hardiness: Docile, Quiet, and Affectionate, Canadian winter hardy after adulthood

Genetics:
Cuckoos’ are true to their name and are not split. They carry two expressions of the barring gene
Double Barring x Double Barring = 100% Cuckoo
Double Barring x Single Barring = 50% double barring 50% Single Barring
Double Barred Male x Solid Hen = 50% Single Barred Males, 50% Barred Females
Single Barred Male x Solid Female = 25% Single Barred Males, 25% Barred Females, 25% Solid Males and 25% Solid Females
Solid Male x Barred Female= 50% Solid Males, 50% Solid Females

The Red Orpington variety was claimed by W Holmes Hunt and appeared in 1910/1912. Early specimens were seen at the Crystal Palace in 1911 . A specialist breed club was formed in in 1912 , and had two well established rivals to compete with , in the Red Sussex and the Rhode Island Red . Red Orpingtons were first seen at the 12th German National Show held at Nuremburg in 1908. I is considered a rare colour and very few have been breed in the US and even fewer in Canada. Much like the Red Cuckoo, they are more delicate when growing out so much care with husbandry, lighting, heating and not overcrowding are essential to the success of these birds.

It boasts one of the most striking colours with deep shades of ruby, burgundy and deep burnt orange and cascading tail plumage that would make most other breeds pale in comparison. I’m proud to be offering these stunning birds in limited qualities to the poultry coinsure!

Heritage:
English
Egg Colour: Pink/ Brown
Egg Count: 180-200 per year
Hens Body weight: 7-9 lbs
Rooster Body weight: 10-12 lbs
Temperament: Very Friendly
Hardiness: Docile, Quiet, and Affectionate, Canadian winter hardy after adulthood

Genetics:
Dominant. Mahogany restricts eumelanin and enhances the color of red as it Restricts black in the back and wing of both males and females.