Orpingtons As A Dual Purpose Breed

I've mentioned that one of the reasons I chose to raise English Orpingtons was not only for their beauty, but because thus far, they have proven to be very good layers, and meat for the table as well. They've also been docile and easily contained in our yard fence, which matters in our area.

I had a couple of boys that had wry tail. It's a disqualification at shows, and a defect that you don't want to pass along, so they were culled.
Hopefully I won't see any in the next generation. It's an actual deformity of the spine, and the pictures are to help anyone learning. It wasn't noticable until probably 4 months, and got worse as they got older.

So, of these two boys that were processed, one was going to be my backup rooster so that was disappointing. You can see in the pictures that he was shorter, and heavier fleshed than the other boy.
I have kept his brother as my main boy, who is in one of the last pictures. He and the heavier boy were from a brother of the rooster I used for breeding the following hatches. Their dad was mean as a rattlesnake, so I'm hoping that particular trait wasn't passed along lol.
Mom cooked one in the crockpot, and I slow-simmered the other and made noodles...they were very good. This one was 4.5 lb.s at 5-ish mo.s old (after processing)so I imagine that the other was 5 lb.s or more.
I hope this will encourage anyone who's interested to raise your own food if possible, to share info on why culling for wry tail is necessary, and to show those interested that this line is table-worthy.

English Jubilee Orpington Growouts

Looks VS Sustainability

Only one of my Jubilee girls has went broody and stayed committed. Another was "clucky" for a few days then quit. The new momma is my smallest hen. We call her Itty Bitty. Most would kick her out of their breeding program since she's a little smaller than the others, but I'm interested in keeping good traits in my birds just as much as I am in correct type. Temperament, being good mother's/Father's, protectors, layers..all as important as having the right "looks."

Hatchery Quality vs Breeder Quality

Hatchery quality vs Breeder quality

First let me say, as I have in the past, I'm not downing hatcheries. Especially not the family-ran, long established hatcheries. Hatcheries are a good source for layers and meat birds, and if that's what you're after you'll probably do fine with them. But, if you want very good-excellent-show quality chickens, it's likely to never come from a hatchery.
They generally focus more on quantity, not quality.
Those chicks are always cheaper, absolutely, but realize what the trade off is.
The first picture is of a hatchery Orpington cockerel at six months old. The next pictures are two of my 4-5 month old English Orpingtons, and their dad who's a year old.
We've had hundreds of hatchery chickens over the years, this is the norm, not an exception.
You may have to go out of your way a little more, and spend more to get birds from breeders, but it will almost always be worth it.
Even good breeders have less than great birds hatch, it's just genetics and if they're honest they'll say so.
Just wanted to share an example of why you should consider buying from private breeders.

Jubilee English Orpingtons

Larger, shorter, and more profusely feathered than American orpingtons, the English orpingtons are either loved or hated in the poultry world lol.
Some call them "cochingtons," claiming that they look like Cochins with clean legs. I love and raise both breeds so that's just fine with me!
Many American Orpingtons appear too long-legged and thin for my taste. The Jubilee variety has been around for 100 years, originally developed in England.
I may have Chicks or juveniles available, email if interested!