Buff orpington coloration.

[thatotherfarmer]

I have 15 buffs which I have raised since they were 4 weeks old. Now that they are close to laying and looking more mature I've noticed different colorations amongst the flock. While several look as I believe a buff should, a majority of them look as if they have more of a redish color. Is this a normal trait for buffs around this age, or is it a type of "genetic fault" in the terms of show quality breeds? I've heard of the black speckling in the tail and how it's normal, but I was just curious about the breed and it's genetic standings and if these characteristic can be bred out or if they effect the breed/flock in any way, such as egg production. I've heard that adding a "show quality" rooster increases the quality of the flock, but would this effect the overall weight and/or egg production of the hens produced from my hens and the quality buff rooster?

I have a backyard flock for egg production and meat purposes, and just wanted to know if these traits played any role in either. I'm new to breeding buff orpingtons do any information would be great!

 

[junebuggena]

Where did you source them from? Hatchery birds won't be as large as a show quality bird from a good breeder, but hatchery birds tend to lay a bit better and they don't go broody as often.

 

[thatotherfarmer]

They are local feed store birds. More than likely hatchery birds.

 

[junebuggena]

I believe that some variation in the buff color is allowed, but the black in the tail would be a disqualification. Other things that would be a disqualifying feature would be a comb other than a single comb and yellow legs/feet/skin. Hatchery quality birds don't get anywhere near the size of a show quality bird. Hatcheries favor high producing birds, which tend to be lighter built birds. Hatcheries do their best to breed out broodiness. Show quality birds are bigger and heavier, but don't lay quite as well. Show birds also make good broody hens. Show breeders also put effort into breeding good temperaments. So their birds tend to be more docile and friendly.

 

[Michael OShay]

They are local feed store birds. More than likely hatchery birds.

If they came from a feed store, they are hatchery birds.

I believe that some variation in the buff color is allowed, but the black in the tail would be a disqualification. Other things that would be a disqualifying feature would be a comb other than a single comb and yellow legs/feet/skin. Hatchery quality birds don't get anywhere near the size of a show quality bird. Hatcheries favor high producing birds, which tend to be lighter built birds. Hatcheries do their best to breed out broodiness. Show quality birds are bigger and heavier, but don't lay quite as well. Show birds also make good broody hens. Show breeders also put effort into breeding good temperaments. So their birds tend to be more docile and friendly.

X2 on this.

 

[Toddrick]

Some of them sound like a Red rooster was the sire, especially if the redder ones have black tips on their tails. That how my crosses look anyways. But since you raised them from four weeks old you should have noticed "chipmunk" spots on the hybrids, and if not, then they must be closer to pure bred. The hatchery may have added some Red genetics at some point to improve laying and egg size, who knows.

Do you have any pics?

 

[thatotherfarmer]

Some of them sound like a Red rooster was the sire, especially if the redder ones have black tips on their tails. That how my crosses look anyways. But since you raised them from four weeks old you should have noticed "chipmunk" spots on the hybrids, and if not, then they must be closer to pure bred. The hatchery may have added some Red genetics at some point to improve laying and egg size, who knows.

Do you have any pics?

I will post some pictures tomorrow, but what do you mean by chipmunk spots?

 

[Toddrick]

I will post some pictures tomorrow, but what do you mean by chipmunk spots?

Here is my Red-X-Buff at about 6 weeks:

Here she is at around 12 weeks (lower right, not a great pic, this was her first time outside):

I can get a pic of her tomorrow at 6 months old if you would like. Her final color is halfway between buff and red, and her tail has black feathers, but her body shape is Orp.

 

[thatotherfarmer]

The first is the slightly more darker/red color. She is one of the larger hens of the flock and matured earlier than the others. Though she is larger, several of the other darker hens a much smaller. What do y'all think of her?

This is the more buff hen. She is SUPER friendly. She literally wants to be held. She is slightly smaller than the hen in the other picture, but is larger than most of the other hens. I believe they are around the 18-19 week old range or so.

Is either considered "superior" to the other as far as quality or egg production?

 

[junebuggena]

Those are definitely hatchery quality Buff Orpingtons. They will lay more eggs than a bird from show lines. As far as knowing which of your hens will lay more eggs, there is no way of knowing until they start laying. You can keep track of how many eggs you get from each hen to help figure out which of your individual hens is producing the best. If you want to be able to honestly sell chicks as Buff Orpingtons, be careful not to breed any hens or roosters with disqualifying features. A rooster from show lines would help increase the overall size, but the egg production might suffer a bit.