USA APA: Buff, Black, White, BlueSplash in not recognized at this time.Also there are a few other colors of Orpington Projects under way in the USA as of today.
Breed Size
Large Fowl
APA/ABA Class
English
Color
The original breed colours/varieties are black, white, buff, blue and splash
The popular Orpington breed originated from the town of Orpington, Kent, in south-east England, where the original black Orpington was bred by William Cook in 1886. (Mr Cook also created the Orpington duck breed). Mr Cook crossed Minorcas, Langshans and Plymouth Rocks to create a new hybrid breed, from which he selected to breed a black bird, that would also exhibit well, by hiding the dirt and soot of London.
The breed was shown in Madison Square Gardens in 1895 and its popularity soared. Its large size and soft appearance together with its beautiful colours make it very attractive breed and as such its popularity has grown as a show bird rather than a utility breed. Hens are fairly often broody and are good mothers. Although rather heavy, they are able to fly small distances but rarely do so.
The original breed colours/varieties are black, white, buff, blue and splash. Although there are many additional varieties recognised throughout the world, for example the Jubilee Orpington, only the original colours are recognised by the American Standard, the Buff being the most common colour. In the beginning of the twentieth century, Herman Kuhn of Germany developed a Bantam variety of Orpingtons and the Bantam retains the appearance of the LF Orpingtons, but in a smaller size. There is a large variety of colours in the Bantam version, including black, blue laced, white, buff, red, buff black laced, barred, buff Columbian, and birchen.
Orpington hen with chick
Orpington chick
Orpington hen
Orpington juvenile
Orpington rooster
For more about Orpingtons and their breeders's and owners' experiences with them, see our breed discussion here:
My orpington has the softest feathers ever and I love the color of the feathers too, she is big and cuddly. She is VERY hard to catch and hates me and the new chicks I introduced to the flock, though.
I just bought a bunch of Buff chicks back April and here in about a month they should be laying eggs.
I did some research and found there an old American breed good for meat as well as egg laying.
I have also read that they are verry good broody mothers I hope to increase my flock this way.
I agree they are a very friendly breed of chicken more so than other breeds that I have had.
Over all so far a very good breed of chicken time will tell.
I have one Buff in my flock (Buffy) of course. She is such a love! she lets me pet and hold her all the time! I highly recommend for a great pet for kids!
My Buff Opington sounds identical to that. Such a good breed, I like all of my birds but if I could do it again I would certainly consider a pure Buff flock.
I got a Buff Orpington rooster and 5 pullets in February this year. They are a friendly bunch alright. One jumps up on my lawn chair when I sit down. A few times she has jumped up on my shoulder. I sat outside one day to pick out some pecans and they all were right there to get their share. The rooster could reach into my lap for small pieces. He's friendly most of the time, but seems protective when neighbors or grandchildren come around. I'm either going to have to pen him up or get rid of him.
I received three Buff Orpingtons in an assorted straight-run mix and adore them. All three are hens and they are just great. They add color to my flock and are some of the friendliest and most curious of all of my birds! We will definitely keep these as a flock staple.
I was given a buff Orpington just a week or less old, and with her came a Araucana, about two weeks old. They eat, sleep, play and walk around together. They are three months old now, never out of each others sight, even though they are part of a flock of pullets.
CowGrrrl, I just had 3 blue orps arrive last week. Lavender? Another color to add to my overstocked brood! I am shooting for every color orpington in the breed. How many different colors are there? Geesh! Hope I have room for them all.
I got 5 Buff Orpingtons this spring, one was a rooster. He is full grown now and is a beautiful bird. When he is in the sun his feathers look iridescent orange. He is gentle to me and my husband, but doesn't like anyone outside of us to be around! I won't be able to keep him, because I have grandchildren who come over (they live close by) and he has already attacked the biggest child, and a couple of other people. The hens are really good, still laying small eggs, but I know they will get larger. One of the hens likes to sit on the arm of my chair when I am outside and has also jumped up on my shoulder. I really like this breed.
Dawna! so right on the beauty of the buff orp roo. I too had to rehome ours for the same reasons. He just was too protective of the hens and would attack if you had your back turned for a split second. We couldn't let the grand children in the run area because of him. So much more peaceful and quiet now that he is gone. Some people brag about their roosters and then some of us dont. Thanks for responding to my post.
Mine are at the top of the pecking order. It depends on whether they are raised with the flock or added as an addition. Yours sounds like an addition so she will be at the bottom. One way to remedy that is to get another buff Orp same age. That way they can hang in pairs
I have two Buffs and they're oddly at opposite ends of the pecking order -- one is a total monster; she lives to steal food from everyone else and push everyone out of the way -- the other is the sweetest angel EVER; she's a cuddler and always has been. They were all raised together from day one. I guess they're all different
I agree, my BO's are near the top of the pecking order as their plumage is perfect and I see them peck other chickens. My one rooster is a BO (avatar) and he is very active and a good rooster. My BO hens are laying an egg a day now and I am very happy to have them!
