Waninga Whites
Atlas- Ch Large White National 2011 and Ch Large White Orpington Club Northern Feature 2012 ( Photo by Priscilla)
Thought it easier to start rearranging the pics into years and colours so that viewers can see the evolution over the years. Starting with the 2011/12 pics and going by year back down to pre 2007.
Hopefully one can see the improvement between the 2008 Canberra Champion pullet and the 2011 bred pullet in the 2012 photo's for size , shape, feather quality and general 'Orpingtonness' qualities? Atlas
Hopefully one can see the improvement between the 2008 Canberra Champion pullet and the 2011 bred pullet in the 2012 photo's for size , shape, feather quality and general 'Orpingtonness' qualities? Atlas
Waninga Whites 2013
Oct /Nov 2012 Bred Pullets enjoying a scratch. Love the Chest on that facing Pullet! (Pic taken 28 April 2013)
Hatched only 28 Whites during this July-Nov 2012 period for 2013 Show season.
Luckily 15 of these were from Atlas and they show all the hallmarks of this line in terms of size shape, purity of white colour.
I also hatched a setting of eggs kindly given me from Eve Marso to see if if it was a fertilty problem with my birds. Same Atlas Line but using his grandson. 6 birds hatched of which 3 are still here as at 28th April 2013 - all pullets. Hatch rate was marginally better (but not great and not as good as Eves)
I also hatched a late ( Feb 2013) setting of chicks from Atlas2011 Bred son - went Best White at Southern Feature 2012 as well as Res Ch Large White at Canberra 2012 and Northen Feature 2012- and have kept 6 to run on 3 Ckl and 3 pullets.
With both Atlas and his son mentioned above now passing away due to heat associated issues that leaves me with only the hens from 2008-10 and the pullets bred in 2011 as breeders to go with the Sons of Atlas bred from this season.
However am very pleased to say that there are Large Whites now being bred in reasonable numbers In NSW, Qld and Tasmania from foundation stock provided from Waninga and from my good friend Eve at Gentian Orpingtons just down the road. There are also 5 members from Victoria with Large Whites too so hopefully they will now have some sustainability even with the limited gene pool that exists around the Atlas legacy!
Luckily 15 of these were from Atlas and they show all the hallmarks of this line in terms of size shape, purity of white colour.
I also hatched a setting of eggs kindly given me from Eve Marso to see if if it was a fertilty problem with my birds. Same Atlas Line but using his grandson. 6 birds hatched of which 3 are still here as at 28th April 2013 - all pullets. Hatch rate was marginally better (but not great and not as good as Eves)
I also hatched a late ( Feb 2013) setting of chicks from Atlas2011 Bred son - went Best White at Southern Feature 2012 as well as Res Ch Large White at Canberra 2012 and Northen Feature 2012- and have kept 6 to run on 3 Ckl and 3 pullets.
With both Atlas and his son mentioned above now passing away due to heat associated issues that leaves me with only the hens from 2008-10 and the pullets bred in 2011 as breeders to go with the Sons of Atlas bred from this season.
However am very pleased to say that there are Large Whites now being bred in reasonable numbers In NSW, Qld and Tasmania from foundation stock provided from Waninga and from my good friend Eve at Gentian Orpingtons just down the road. There are also 5 members from Victoria with Large Whites too so hopefully they will now have some sustainability even with the limited gene pool that exists around the Atlas legacy!
Waninga Whites 2012
Broody hen and 5 whites Chicks from 2010 White Ckl. 291211
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This set of 2012 pics shows the chronology from chicks to growers to Ckls/Pullets in the Whites.
The birds that have come out of Atlas from the 2011 matings ( see the Breeding Group page for more details and pics) are just so different in shape and size to anything I have bred before both in Ckls and Pullets.
All the birds bred in 2011 and kept longer than 5 months have Atlas as the sire. Birds from the 2010 Ckl featured in the 2011 Section below and in the Hen and chicken picture were not as robust or as big as those from Atlas so were moved on as soon as that decision was proven.
This set of 2012 pics shows the chronology from chicks to growers to Ckls/Pullets in the Whites.
The birds that have come out of Atlas from the 2011 matings ( see the Breeding Group page for more details and pics) are just so different in shape and size to anything I have bred before both in Ckls and Pullets.
All the birds bred in 2011 and kept longer than 5 months have Atlas as the sire. Birds from the 2010 Ckl featured in the 2011 Section below and in the Hen and chicken picture were not as robust or as big as those from Atlas so were moved on as soon as that decision was proven.
Waninga Whites 2011
The Whites continued to develop and the breeding males used in 2010 were the winning Large White Ck ( from Sue Barker - a WA: Callinan blood bird) and the full brother to the Best Large White ( Ckl) who was much too valuable to show! Both produced some really nice birds with this Ckl an over summer keeper. Similar in characteristics to Atlas- a blood relative- the key element was the improvment in body size and width of back in the Whites bred in 2010 and which matured out well in 2011. Putting the 2010 bred pullets to Atlas ( or any of his sons) should hopefully cement this strain as at least looking like Orpingtons - without losing the fertility, hardiness and robustness that we have become used to ( nor the egg laying or eating quality that we also enjoy them for!) and also breeding true to type?
Sadly this boy didnt make to his 2nd summer as he was replaced by one of Atlas growing sons!
Sadly this boy didnt make to his 2nd summer as he was replaced by one of Atlas growing sons!
Waninga Whites 2010
Had an influx of WA and Callinan blood this year courtesy of Sue Barker. This Ckl went Best Large White at the National 2010 show in Moruya ( now residing with Colin Tiyce). Good feather quality, colour but lost a little size and shape somewhere especially in comparison with the pullets owned by Eve Marso ( which were from another egg given to her by mistake - from me this time its was supposed to be a Large Blue??)but from which Snowflake one of the best White hens I have seen in along time ( 1st Large White Hen at 2011 National show)
However the colour and shape of the pullets bred during 2010 was a vast improvement on 2008 so inch by inch and step by step the birds were starting to look like Orpingtons. Now just need some size on them!!!!
However the colour and shape of the pullets bred during 2010 was a vast improvement on 2008 so inch by inch and step by step the birds were starting to look like Orpingtons. Now just need some size on them!!!!
Waninga Whites 2009
This bird went Reserve Large White in Show to the 2008 Canberra winner ( the Hen) at the 2009 Orpington Club of Australia feature show. She is depicted here as a Hen but the 2008 breeding season plan to improve the shape and size appeared to be working. Much better feather quality and better front too.
Waninga Whites 2008
As luck would have it my first ever poultry show was the Canberra Royal in 2008 and this pullet went Best Large White in Show. Have been hooked ever since!!!!
Not a great bird at the time in comparison with the 2012 crop but she got better with age and produced some really nice birds later on. Her features are great colour both in body, beak and legs.
Not a great bird at the time in comparison with the 2012 crop but she got better with age and produced some really nice birds later on. Her features are great colour both in body, beak and legs.
Waninga Whites 2007 and before
It all started with this Ck bird from Leanne Curphey. This was the bird that threw the good shape and colour. Also inherited a few birds with some White Sussex in them ( yellow legs and beaks) plus some WA Blood birds that came from Lindy in Geelong via Leanne.
Bred an absolute heap of birds in 2007 and culled heavily of anything with Yellow and Blue bits plus any coloured feathers. Had some very interesting things turn up in terms of Blue/ Reds, Cuckoos and other colours
Bred an absolute heap of birds in 2007 and culled heavily of anything with Yellow and Blue bits plus any coloured feathers. Had some very interesting things turn up in terms of Blue/ Reds, Cuckoos and other colours