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.
Nice pictures! I have a little girl, Florentina. She is the cutest and she has lovely feathers... I'm learning lots about her through posts like yours.
Thanks.
This is my first year with buff orpingtons and from what I have read in the past I was worried they would be susceptible to the hot, humid summers where I live, but your post has reassured me that they will be ok.
I have blues, and love them. My rooster Orlando is a gent. Yesterday he came across a crying chick. He was most upset and I thought he may peck it. Lol he gave it a lettuce leaf!!!
I have four pullets, only one of them a buff orpington. She isn't bossy at all, and she's laid lovely brown eggs every day but one since she started laying 4 1/2 weeks ago. She is my favorite (but don't tell the other girls). Her eggs are almost as dark as my two cuckoo marans!
Ya most of the Orpingtons I have heard of have been extremely friendly. Mine was never mean to other chickens or people. She was just top chicken and wanted to stay there.
i absolutely agree!!!!!!!!!!!!! mine are the same way,best gentle,hold's their own within the flock and are great forager's,awesome article!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a Buff orpington and she is a nice bird. I don't understand how a chicken so big can be a scaredy cat. I always wish that she would stand up for herself more but she doesn't. She just runs. She has gotten a little better but not much. I did see her rob food from another chicken and thought "you go girl" I hate to see the chickens get picked on. It was sad at first because she was so scared and hid from the others. At least I am smarter now and know more about what to do when I introduce new birds to the flock. Everything is going well now and for the most part everyone is happy. Yayyyyy!
We have one precious buff O as well, however, she is the smallest of the whole flock. They were all born the same day, but our Buff is just tiny, so I wonder how is it that people call these birds large. Maybe ours I the runt? She is definitely the smartest, learned her name and comes when I call her. It is the sweetest thing. She is 4.5 months and her crest and wattles are barely showing :-( . My golden stars started laying 2 weeks ago.
You are comparing her to a modern cross designed for quick growth and crazy production. Just give her time. She will get there I had a Wyandotte wait till she was nearly 9 months old to start laying. Don't fret. Also, if she is hatchery stock it is possible that she just isn't a "quality" bird. She will still be just fine for your flock. I LOVE my orps.
