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Chocolate Orpingtons Large Fowl - Project for 2012
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
One of our main breeding projects for 2012 will be Chocolate Orpington Large Fowl. Chocolate is a mutant gene found in Black Orpington bantams by the late Dr Clive Carefoot in 1993. Dr Carefoot kept the gene to himself, and only on his death in 2007, was the gene salvaged from potential extinction by a few breeders, including Rob Boyd, who acquired some of the stock. The gene colour has been creating a stir with the breeders over the last few years, with eggs and birds selling for extremely high prices.
Recently, Claire managed to secure a trio of Chocolate Orpington Large Fowl, 2 chocolate hens and 1 Split cockerel from Ramsleys Orpingtons, to embark on a dedicated project for 2012, to breed an improved stock of rare Chocolate Orpington Large Fowl. Further research on the life of Dr Carefoot reveals that he was born and bred in Longridge. Claire lives in the village of Alston, just a few miles outside Longridge. So the chocolate gene has just gone full circle and back to its roots. Amazing story!
We are hoping to improve the strain for Large Fowl throughout 2012, with, hopefully stock and eggs being available either late 2012 or 2013. This will be Claire's main project, and, given the history and origin of the gene, will be a rewarding experience to be able to breed consistent standard large fowl Chocolate Orpingtons from Pear Tree Poultry.