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.
They will be. Buff Orpingtons have a great reputation for being loveable and sociable. You are going to LOVE them! We have 3 more babies slated to arrive on Tuesday. We are super excited too.
Hi there! Thanks so much for the thorough, wonderful review. It was a delight to read! I'm really new to all of this, but Buff Orpingtons look like a fantastic breed and I can't wait to get a few of these lovely birds of my own. I hope you don't mind this question, but I was wondering where you got your hens. A hatchery? If so, which one? I really want to get hens of my own but I don't really know where to start...haha!
My favorite chicken of our flock happens to be a buff orphington, she is very kind to us, ut also holds her place near the top of the flocks rank. and is very productive when it comes to egg laying (once everyone other day) and they are huge!
Maybe you should hold her more often or swap her for a different hen, all chickens have different personalities. Also check for parasites. Maybe the coop and run are too small?
interesting....I have what I hope is an orpington and so far she has a cute personality. A bit dominant with our other chick, but she is also larger. I swear she has Emu feet and legs! She is also watchful and learns quickly. Lily is very responsive to her name and simple commands even. She is loud when Essen is out of sight or she thinks she is alone, but usually they just quietly gossip together plotting to take over the world I am sure. I hope this doesn't change as she ages....my neighbors won't be happy (maybe I will bribe them with free eggs!). The girls are about a month or so old now.
I have a big Buff Orpington rooster who has a very eclectic mix of hens for his harem. He is very friendly, laid back, breaks up fights amongst the hens, has protected them when a hawk attacked one of my older sickly hens, shares everything I put in the yard with them, and I just love him and his personality! Was the best money I could of spent to spring him from a farm where the former owners daughter would throw him in the air to watch him fly!! While he now has twisted toes, he still walks around and runs/hops towards me each time he see's me coming then takes food out of my hand...
I have the full size lavenders and I just love them. I am in the process of hatching out a few of their eggs. They were given to me buy my neighbor who found out she cannot be around chickens anymore. She is allergic to their dander. They are from a great bloodline.
i have heard that they are great layers, but come winter they go dormant.... is this true? i have several Amish friends who say theirs stop during copld weather and their Black Stars lay thru winter months......
