Russian Orloffs

A Spangled Orloff cock standing in the typical upright position.

This large, gamey-looking fowl took its name from a Count Orloff, who--from what I can dig out of the literature--imported some of them from or to somewhere and thereby got his name attached. In earlier times in Russia they were known as "Chlianskiai." Malay blood was clearly involved in the origin of this bird. In the US and Britain this is definitely a rare breed.

The major characteristics of the breed are its round head with full muffs and beard, topped off by a small raspberry comb. The beak should be short and hooked and the eyelids heavy. The legs should be yellow. They lay a light brown egg, but are known to be poor layers. They were developed for the table. Although a slow-growing breed, Orloffs are very hardy and resistant to harsh winter weather.

I have seen Spangled and Cuckoo Orloffs, and there are also known to have existed Black, White and Mahogany varieties. Nineteenth-century authors have stated that the Mahogany Orloff had the richest color of any fowl.

Here is an article on the Orloff by Craig Russell, President of the Society for Preservation of Poultry Antiquities.

Orloff Links:

FowlAfoot Poultry Conservation Farm

Breed clubs:

The Russian Orloff Club of America
Curtis Flannery
84505 500 W.
Silver Lake, IN 46982
574-566-2426
e-mail: flanfam@kconline.com

A pair of Spangled Orloffs at the Bloomsburg, PA, show, 1997
Photo courtesy of Beth Adams

A pen of Spangled Orloffs. The color of the hens is fairly clear in this image. They are very attractive birds. The spangling increases with age. The cockerel on the left will develop a more marked plumage as he grows.