The Stud's Cuckoo lines - there are several well established ones. 


In 1947 the family acquired a number of Cuckoo (and Black) Orpingtons from the UK. The members of the family that had these birds developed their own distinct lines. The Stud acquired a large number of these lines from various relatives over the years resulting from either ill health due to advanced age, or sadly, as a result of a deceased estate.

The Stud also has birds/lines that originate from an Australian breeder/developer and a couple of the Stud’s original line birds were blended with a few of these to give strength.
It was felt the acquired Australian birds were slightly lacking definition of pattern. 
The resulting lines are now classed as The Stud’s personal lines, these personal lines are kept exclusively by the Stud.

The Cuckoo lines, featuring the new colours developed, obviously have other Australian lines blended into them                      (the Stud owns all the outcrosses etc) and therefore they are forced to be classed merely as 'developmental/designer lines' until accepted by the Club. The new colours in Cuckoo may never be accepted by the APS regardless of the fact most of the 'new' colours have been in existence since last century, some before the APS was first formulated and put into print.
The Stud has several colours in Cuckoo – and is consistently working towards developing adequate numbers so that the new colours are kept as a closed community.

The Stud breeds its own 'outcross' lines = reducing 'genetic suprises' that, although being genetic can never be bred out, can be reduced with careful selection.
The main genetic suprise from the infusion, last century in UK / Europe, of Cochin into the Orpington = to make a fluffier bird = occasionally resulting in fluffy (lightly feathered) legs in some chicks. Being genetic it cannot be bred out, so modern day breeders have to carefully select birds for the following generation when it does present.
Another 'genetic suprise' is the random appearance of Cuckoo in one line of large White. The Stud used Blue Cuckoo to improve body Type in the large White = resulting in Cuckoo every now and then from 2 White parents. This too is genetic and cannot be bred out, modern day breeders of large White have to carefully select birds from each generation. Some breeders have stated the Cuckoo from their White White mating have been exceptional examples of the colour / breed.

Of course once birds go to new owners and they outcross to their own birds - they are told they will have to breed to reduce what ever crops up from that blending.

When breeding to up the depth of colour the Stud breeds Regular Cuckoo to Black, other colours just screw it all right up = 
that was found out the hard way!!

And the other Cuckoo colours to their base colour –
eg:- Splash or Blue that were hatched FROM Blue Cuckoo X Blue Cuckoo matings (note Splash from this mating is rare),
Lavender that came from Lavender Cuckoo X Lavender Cuckoo matings, 
Buff that came from Buff Cuckoo X Buff Cuckoo matings.
Chocolate that came from Chocolate Cuckoo X Chocolate Cuckoo matings.
Red that come from Red Barred (Cuckoo pattern) X Red Barred matings.
etc for all Cuckoo colours

The Stud advocates heavy culling to only grow out the very best possible.

All the newer Cuckoo colours = Blue, Lavender, Chocolate, Buff, Red Barred (Cuckoo pattern) have to be exhibited in Any Other Recognised Colour = AORC - with their colour listed - example - lrg Orpington cock-bird AORC Blue Cuckoo

or Any Other Colour or Variety - AOCOV - example - lrg Orpington hen AOCOV Buff Cuckoo

They can not be shown in Australia under the mantle of 'Cuckoo' as they are not listed as recognised colours for the Orpington Cuckoo in the Australian Poultry Standard
A protest for any of these being in the wrong section would be upheld by Show Officials on these grounds.


note there is no such thing as 'Lemon' Cuckoo in Orpington in Australia = no matter the depth (or lack thereof) of the colouring they are Buff Cuckoo

# subject to copyright laws of Australia