Chocolate Birchen (large)
      New (and pre-existing but not approved) Orpington colours in Australia

It is good to see new colours being developed in this magnificent breed.

Those intending to develop new colours need to remember that it takes generations of careful selective breeding to develop a new colour into a breed. Once it is ‘set’ and looking like an Orpington, the Orpington Club of Australia now demands another      3 generations of breeding true, plus exhibition by at least 4 Exhibition Breeders at the National Orpington Club Show and/or  Club Sanctioned Shows in Australia is required to meet =

A - The Orpington Club (of Australia) requirements for acceptance by the Club for Club sponsored/sanctioned Shows
B - a submission to be prepared by The Club (on behalf of the Club) for the APS*
 - note that the Club has no power over the decisions of the APS* and anyone can forward an application for colour approval to
    the APS*
# for new colour acceptance by The Orpington Club (of Australia) demands that the Club's protocol be adhered to 

3X3X4 = once the development has been completed to the point the birds look like Orpingtons =

the new colour needs to be exhibited for three (3) consecutive years in the Developmental Section/Non Standard Classes at Shows approved by the Orpington Club of Australia

this must include three (3) generations both male and female

and exhibited by four (4) Club Member Exhibition Breeders to prove they are breeding true across more than one backyard

detailed written and photographic records must be maintained
# each generation/bird must be identifiable from all others during this qualification period 
​              (micro-chipping is used by the Cuckoo Poultry Stud to distinguish each bird/generation)

             3 consecutive years of exhibition/ 3 generations both sexes/ 4 Exhibition Breeders = 3X3X4

once a new colour is accepted by The Orpington Club =
a Club submission is forwarded to the APS* Board for consideration for inclusion in the APS*
- note that the Club has no power over the decisions of the APS* and anyone can forward an application for colour approval to 
   the APS*

      AOC (Any Other Colour) and AORC (Any Other Recognised Colour)

Some of these new to Australia colours were first started to be developed mid last century and some within the last few years.


Blue Cuckoo (both sizes)             Lavender Cuckoo (both sizes)            Buff Cuckoo (both sizes)
                                     Chocolate Cuckoo (both sizes)                  Red Barred (large only)

Lavender (both sizes)

Crele in Gold, Silver, Blue, Chocolate (both sizes)

Partridge in Gold, Silver, Blue, Buff, Chocolate (large only)

Columbian, Buff Columbian, Barred Columbian, Chocolate Buff Columbian (large only)

Red (large, bantam under development)

Spangle, Blue Spangle, Chocolate Spangle, Buff Spangle (both sizes)

Gold Laced (both sizes)

Jubilee (both sizes)

Black Birchen, Chocolate Birchen (large only)

^ all above are not recognised in the APS* for Orpingtons - some are not in the APS* at all (for any breed)

Splash (both sizes) is only mentioned here as it is not yet recognised in the APS* for Orpingtons.
Splash is not a developed colour, it is the most pure form of the Blue = requiring 2 Blue genes (Blue only requires 1 gene and can display as Black visually = not pure).

Chocolate mentioned here as it is in the process of being accepted by the APS* for poultry, recognised for waterfowl.
Chocolate is not a developed colour and has existed in Australia since the mid 1950s.
(note that Chocolate Cuckoo, as listed above, is a developed colour)


* Australian Poultry Standard