Buff Orpington Question

[Braclin]

I have 15 hens that were bought as day old chicks from a hatchery. One has yellow legs and feet. several have black specks some larger than others in their tail feathers. Whats the deal???

 

[hudsonhousechicks]

My Buffs came from a feedstore that I suspect ordered them from a hatchery. One of them also has a few grey tail feathers mingled in. I suspect that they are not quite the cream of the crop but as long as they lay me some pretty brown eggs I'm a happy camper

Let's get to the bottom of this, shall we?!

 

[Braclin]

Ordered mine through a feed store but they came from Mt.Healthy Hatchery.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Can you post a few pictures?

Yellow legs on a buff chick normally means that it is a Buff Rock, not a Buff Orpington.

As a side note, some Buff colored birds do have some black or gray smudges in their tail feathers that is referred to as "smut." It is not a disqualification, but a judge may place your bird lower if it has too much smut. Even the best Buff colored birds can have some smut in their tail feathers. That's why you see some breeders (especially silkie breeders) that refer to their Buff colored birds as "clear." This means that they have very, very little to no smut.

 

[hudsonhousechicks]

Acceptable smut? Hmmmm....I learn something new everyday here!!!!

I definitely have one smutty little pullet running around my yard then.
Thank you for explaining the coloring so simply. All kidding aside, it's much appreciated.

 

[Braclin]

Here some pics. Not very good quality the girls were roaming around.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62331_tf_003.jpg
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62331_tf_001.jpg

 

[noodleroo]

Mine have that, too. Some more than others. I ordered mine from Ideal Poultry and when I noticed it, I just thought they got dirty......Smutty little sweethearts....

 

[Braclin]

Just didnt want to eventually sale babies and them not be what they are supposed to be.
heres another pic.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/62331_tf_1.jpg

 

[hudsonhousechicks]

I refuse to show her face because I believe there is more than a slim chance that she is a he and I'd like to stay in denial as long as possible. My BOs have the smut too. They look like the original posters [op] birds.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Yeah, all of those look like smutty Buffs. It's not too terrible, though. After their first molt, sometimes it gets better... but sometimes worse. Those with the worst smut (as in large streaks or large spots) should be not kept for breeding.