Orpington

We have two buffs in our flock of nine, and they are the favorites. They lay as reliably as the RIRs, but are just so fluffy and beautiful and sweet-tempered that they have stolen our hearts.

I've had my Buff Orpington for about six months and love her! She was the sole survivor of a raid lasting 2 nights; we lost 5 other chicks and pullets those two nights. She then came to sleep inside until I could provide her with secure outdoor housing. She had perfect house manners (minus the pooping part), was gentle and loved to sit with us. My three-year-old regularly picks her up, carries her around and gives her hugs and kisses.
She's since proven to be a reliable layer, prefering her kitchen nest to lay in; fussing at the back door until I let her in to lay. Then she walks around the house making her little crowing noise until she spots me. That's her way of asking to go back out.
She's taught the rest of the flock to spot and avoid hawks and avoid other predators and to be 'chickens'. She's definitely the flock boss. No one messes with her. But they all still jockey to snuggle with her at night.
Ok, so that's the "pet" part. I consider her a pet. The others are production birds and aren't named. Someone else may know more about how the BO's fare as meat birds or just plain ole production. OH- before I forget, she came in at 81% for January and for Feb- well, today's Feb-1 so she's at 100%

I love these birds! They are amazing! I love how they bring color to my flock! I love to show off my coop becasue they make it whole! The only thing that I regret is not buying more! Every time I go up to my coop now I regret getting a rooster! hahaha Thankyou to the orpingtons!

I have 3 of these little ladies. They are great layers and good with my kids.

2 Buff Orp Hens got out sometime at the tail end of a big storm - foot of snow w/ up to 2 foot drifts. Glanced out the window and saw one pushing a path through the snow -- wind still high, temps abt 10 degrees, flurries. Ran out and got her, returned her to the pen - counted, and yep, another one missing. Tried to search but - nothing but a clear field of snow. Followed her tracks and they 'ended' half way between where I found her and the pen---- a hollow and wing marks--- looked like she was tired, bedded down, and while she rested her tracks obliterated and she was covered with snow, flapped to get free. Kept a patrol and an eye out, but no sign of the other hen all day. Next morning at dawn saw a golden blob on top of the corrogated plastic roof - 5 degrees, that roof was COLD. Ran out and sure enough, it was the missing hen, her feathers crackly with frost. In my other hand I had their hot oatmeal, and she gobbled it down as I carried her back around to the door and put her inside under the 3-sided straw bale shelter they use. Two weeks later and both are fine, they never missed a beat. I was looking for hardy hens, and it looks like they are! Hope they stay put, though, and don't try that stunt again. Clipped their wings, and they're staying inside now...

Update: 2/3/12 Hens are 6 month old today, and to commemorate it one of the Buff Orpingtons laid a 2.95 oz egg! At six months! Ouch! If a Large is 2.25 oz, a Jumbo is 2.5 oz, what do we call a 2.95 oz egg? That's almost two sizes bigger!

update: 5/27/12 The 2 biggest orp hens went broody together on a nesting shelf. In the beginning I limited them to a couple of eggs - then I got busy, and - there were 30 eggs of all ages in the nest, 3 orps and a wyandotte setting them. Wondered what would happen when they started the prolonged hatch....3 hatched, I snatched them and put them with same-age Java babies in a brooder. Then another 5, and the 2 Big Orps decided to mama them - they left the nest to the remaining 3 hens (now an orp and 2 wyandottes), who continue to sit the eggs. Together they tend the babies. They're adorable, very careful and loving, a bit skittish w/ me but not the least aggressive. (I saw one of the nesting wyandottes struck out viciously at one of the babies - this may be what drove the Mama Orps to vacate.) Once again - the orps win over the wyandottes - I really love these girls! When the wyandottes go I won't replace them, but the orps are high on my list to have forever. Might be nice to have some Isa Brown layers plus 2-3 Orps for brooding eggs when I need help.

I got these birds after the overwhelming hype I kept hearing. For the most part I would say that it was true they are great very friendly birds. I've only been keeping these guy for a couple of years but have noticed that they go broody alot. While most are friendly and will jump in your lap a few have been really shy.

Here are 3 about a year old

Out of large breed chickens, this is my one of my favorite breeds. They are an excellent breed for new chicken keepers due to their gentle nature. They are dependable layers of 2 oz eggs. Mine laid about 4 eggs a week on average. Like many folks, I kept the buff variety. They are so pretty, like a Strawberry blond color.

Orpingtons are a great breed for beginners! They are sweet, loving, and very good with children or anyone! They lay well and I have had only 1-3 orpingtons go broody. Great breed!

These are on my list to get. I should be getting 15 little chicks next week!

My BO'S are great birds to cuddle and pet, the only down side is they like to chase the smaller birds and if they get a chance will grab them by the head as if trying to breed them , then chuck em in a circle into the air. Until my king austrolorp sees what's going on, then the buffs back off and fear the big black fella. My austrolorp is at 14 lbs. When he speaks or moves, every bird in the flock reacts quickly. My buffs are just food vaccuums, and sometimes wannabe bullies. This spring I want to cross my austrolorp with a jersey giant to see if I get an even larger rooster in the end, my hens should be larger as well. Can't wait.

McMurray hatchery even asked me to send the specs on the results of the cross every 3 weeks. Height weight, attitude, right up to full grown and then egg production and size. I think I got a project started here.

my favorite breed! very sweet-natured, can be pushy at times, they do not tend to be shy at all. can't go wrong with BO!!

Had a flock about 1 month ago laid every day, Great layers of brown eggs. Even shown a hen and rooster hen won best of breed rooster got 2nd in show. Lost my whole flock to racoons

I have about ten Buff Orpingtons with a bit of lemon cookoo strain in a few. They have made great layers, though they don't lay as many eggs per year as the newer breeds. The best part is that you can hatch eggs with them since they go broody often. I've got a biddy on a cluch of eggs right now, in fact! Only 19 days to go!

The Homestead Homeboy

i want it i dunno what they are can someone give me a very comprehensive list of everything these birds are about

Iam getting a couple chicks in april and 1 is a Buff orpington any advice?? They look like very nice Chickens!!!!!

I think they would do okay with other docile breeds like Black Australorps or Easter Eggers, but I would be very hesitant to put them with more feisty breeds. I've heard some people will just get Buff Orpingtons just to avoid that dynamic all together. I really like having a mixed flock, so they're not really a good fit for us. Ours was killed by a dog but prior to that she was constantly picked on to the point I was like..... if you're not going to fight back at least run or something..... walk away? No? The other hens would sometimes grab her by the comb and drag her around. Ours took docile to a whole new level.

I love our buff orphingtons. Each hen provide us with about 5 large brown eggs a week. They are super friendly and allow the kids to carry them around, even though they are rather heavy. They tend to associate with their own kind and ignore my silkies with a regal turn of the head. Our birds are confined most of the time and they get along very well. All three of my buffs control the top tier of the pecking order, but do so with only a peck or two. Keep the perches low to avoid bumblefoot in large bodied birds like BO. They are very winter hardy.

There are several different type of birds that are all listed under Orpingtons.

Large Fowl and Bantams (minatures).

Exhibition type bred to the American Standard of Perfection.

Hatchery type bred for production.

English type. These are new colors imported from England and Europe that are bred to the British Standard.

What you wish to use them for will determine which type you acquire. If you just want yard art any will do. If high egg production, go with the hatchery type. For exhibition, you want those bred to the American Standard of Perfection. Not much space? Try the Bantam version. They are about 1/3 the size of the large fowl; are very gentle; and excellent layers.

The American Standard of Perfection recognizes Orpingtons in large fowl and bantam in Buff, Black, Blue and White. The Blue will produce Splash. Some breeders are also working on new colors like the Self Blue (aka Lavender), Golden Laced and Lemon Cuckoo. A Brown Red Orpington was shown at the Crossroads of America Joint National Poultry Show in October 2011.

The English type have been imported in Chocolate, Jubilee, Lemon Cuckoo, Black, Blue, Splash, and more colors are planned in 2012.

Orpingtons are from England and are for both meat and eggs. I have two hens that are so sweet,tame and hardy. They lay good sized brown eggs. They are very docile and somewhat affectionate with there handler's. I love my buff orpingtons.

I have four of these gals. They're excellent layers and are so sweet and calm!

They love being handled, and when we're outside when they're free ranging, they follow us everywhere.

They're big, puffy, fluffy, and fun to watch! This is an excellent breed for kids.