30 



THE ORPINGTONS 



"There has been, however, quite another change, a 

 Black Orpington of practically new blood coming upon 

 the scene about 1891. In that year Mr. Joseph Partington 

 exhibited at the Dairy Show in October two cockerels and 

 two pullets, which secured first and second prizes in each 

 class, three of the four birds being immediately sold at 

 £30 each; notwithstanding which at the Palace Show a 

 few weeks later he brought out fresh birds of each sex 

 that beat these previous winners. These birds were of a 

 size that had never before been seen, creating quite a sen- 

 sation and considerable curiosity. Mr. Partington assures 

 us that these Orpingtons also were cross-made birds, but 

 had none whatever, of Mr. Cook's original strain in them 

 at all, and that he had deliberately started with the idea 

 of breeding himself something in the same line, but more 

 striking and handsome. They were very large, and of 

 splendid color, with massive shape, and all had dark eyes. 

 These points made them invincible in the show pen, and 

 the new strain soon spread all over the country, and also 

 abroad, and has supplied most of the winners of the pres- 

 ent day. Many of the birds display so much more fluff 

 than former Black Orpingtons, that we cannot help think- 

 ing large females of either Black, White or perhaps even 



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Buff Cochin, may have been employed with Langshan 

 males. Mr. Partington describes this type of the breed as 

 follows: 



'Black Orpingtons are really a very useful breed of 

 birds. They are very handsome, good layers, and one of 

 the best for table use. They always look well all the year 

 'round, as they never lose their color. They will do well 

 in either small or open runs, being a very hardy bird; 

 but they will not stand heavy feeding. 



'The color of the cock should be a rich green black; beak 

 either black or dark horn with a dark eye. He should have 

 a firm straight comb, not over large. The back should not 

 be too long, and tail not too large; legs not long, the thigh 

 just showing; weight 9 lbs. to 11 lbs. The color of the hen 



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is the same, and similar remarks apply as to her back, 

 tail and legs; her weight should be 7 lbs. to 10 lbs.' 



Breeding Black Orpingtons 



"Color should be bred for as in the Langshan, but the 

 crimson between the toes is not required. Particular at- 

 tention should be given to preserving the correct shape, 

 with a broad and deep breast, the whole body looking 

 massive and solid, and set rather low. Excessive fluff 

 should be avoided, as tending to decrease laying, and being 

 often accompanied by thicker skin; too small combs, also, 

 are apt to be signs of diminished egg production. We 

 have seen one or two specimens distinctly keeled, almost 

 like some exhibition ducks, and this ought certainly to be 

 deprecated. It is probably due to carelessness of these 

 points, that statements have lately appeared to the eflfect 

 that some strains of the Black Orpington have not kept up 

 its reputation as a good layer. Both abundance and size 

 of eggs would, however, quickly respond to selection for 

 these qualities, in the manner insisted upon in former 

 chapters of this work. 



"It is not at all necessary in Black Orpingtons to mate 

 different pens for breeding cockerels and pullets; typical 

 birds of good color on both sides will produce in their 

 turn exhibition specimens." 



Breeding for Color 



To produce the proper greenish black color of Orping- 

 tons is one of the problems that breeders in England and 

 .•\merica are called upon to solve each succeeding breeding 

 season. Although sound color in Blacks may be consid- 

 ered by many fanciers less difficult to produce than in 

 Buffs, it is safe to a'lscrt, that the Black Orpingtons pro- 



