Any experience with Buff Orpingtons?

[TexasWineGuy]

Howdy All,

My brother just got a handful of 6 month old Buffs and asked if I wanted one or two.

Do I?

I read that they tend to brood quite a bit. What about egg production?

Thoughts?

TWG

 

[Mrs. K]

Wait, can you say no to new chickens? Is that a possibility? haha

I always love a BO or two in my flock, one of them is always called Butter. However, I like having a broody hen. I have always gotten very nice good sized eggs from them, sometimes double yolks and pretty consistent layers when young. They have always gotten along well in my mixed flock.

I would take them.
Mrs K

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Why do you like broody hens???


TWG

 

[Ridgerunner]

Why do you like broody hens???

Personal preference. Some people like to purchase new chicks and raise them. Some like to hatch chicks in an incubator and raise them themselves. Some people like for a broody hen to hatch and raise chicks for them. Some people do not want new chicks.

A lot depends on your goals. I raise chickens for meat and I like to play with genetics so I hatch several chicks each year. If I have a broody hen when I want to hatch chicks I give her eggs and let her do the work of hatching and raising them. If I don't have a broody hen when I want to hatch eggs I use my incubator.

I don't know how a broody hen would fit into your goals.

I read that they tend to brood quite a bit.

Some breeds tend to go broody a lot more than other breeds but each hen is an individual. While Buff Orps have a reputation of going broody that does not mean that each and every one will. I had two that never did go broody. Others have Buff Orps that go broody a lot. Your chances of getting a broody with them is higher than with many other breeds but you don't get guarantees either way. If you do not want broody hens then you might want to pass on them.

What about egg production?

Each hen is an individual. On average Buff Orps should lay pretty well but for averages to mean anything you have to have enough for averages to mean something. Any one individual may lay above average or below average. You don't get guarantees with individual hens of any breed but your chances of getting a hen that lays pretty well (when she isn't broody) are pretty good with a Buff Orp.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I’ve got two 3.5 year old BOs. Both are friendly and come running to us, but only one tolerates being picked up. One lays well, medium sized tan eggs, the other stopped laying at 15 months old for no particular reason. Neither has been broody. I think they’re a great breed!

 

[Basghettiii]

Usually, my BO is pretty consistent with laying, even as it gets colder. Right now, she’s starting to molt, so her production has gone down a lot, but she would normally give me 4-6 eggs per week. She has gone broody a couple of times, but she’s not mean or anything. She was pretty easy to break after I took her eggs from her. She’s a super sweet chicken, and if you like big friendly hens and roosters, I would totally recommend buffies. I love my Biscuit.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Thanks all. Guess I'll pick one up.

For the record, I'm into egg production. I told my(then) 13 year-old daughter, "Baby, these aren't pets. They're Production!"

TWG

 

[Basghettiii]

If you treat them like pets, they produce better eggs ^^ cuddles and snacks make them feel more comfortable, and increases egg production! Of course you don’t have to do any of that if you don’t want to, but they do make great pets if your daughter wants to cuddle them every once in a while.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

If you treat them like pets, they produce better eggs ^^ cuddles and snacks make them feel more comfortable, and increases egg production! Of course you don’t have to do any of that if you don’t want to, but they do make great pets if your daughter wants to cuddle them every once in a while.

Believe me, they get treated like royalty. The very best feed, veggies and fruits, meal worms, and I do try to free range them every day.

Next for me, and them, - an Automatic Coop door! This is going to be great.

TWG

 

[Mrs. K]

Why do you like broody hens???

I am a pretty hands off, chicken keeper. My broody raises her chicks in the nest she likes, and she introduces them to the flock. She is out of production for that time period.

I do like eggs, I don't mind butchering chickens. I like a mixed flock. I started with dual purpose birds, but as they say, they are not real good for either eggs or meat. I like meat birds - because you get very good meat. And I like egg laying girls, cause I want eggs to cook with for my family.

So periodically, I get meat birds. Often times, I hatch out a ragtag bunch. I have bought a high bred rooster and liked him, I have raised leghorn roosters to butcher them all. They make good soup.

Sometimes, I will order fresh chicks and brood them in the coop with the layers. My flock is always changing. It more than meets my needs for my family.

But I love the magic of a broody hen with chicks. All of the fun, none of the work. However, I can cull birds in my flock. Some people cannot or do not want to.

Mrs K