*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[Johnn]

BO cockerel at college

 

[thedragonlady]

Hi, just remembered that I do know Bella's weight! When I took her to the vets a couple of month ago they told me. She is about 3.5 kg

Just about what she's supposed to weigh.

 

[sonderah]

Just about what she's supposed to weigh.

3.5 kg, that's about 7.5 lbs??

 

[hensfortherapy]

Okay so here are some pics.

My Jersey giant Joan and my buff orpington Mona.

Pic of one of joan' s eggs (don't have a pic of mona' s eggs will have to take one)

Joan (and my chicken herding cat)

And Mona again.

Healthy looking ladies. I have a couple of Buff Orpingtons, 2 Brown Leghorns, a Rhode Island White and a Barred Rock.

 

[informative]

I have some questions. I've kind got the impression that the larger SOP buffs can get really broody. Mine are not that broody so don't want to get into that scenario. Secondly, what other breed of chicken has a good disposition and not flighty and mixes well with the buffs. Also must be really good egg layers.

Well I have Langshans, Buff O's, Australorps and Red Stars and am adding more Buffs and Jerseys to round out the flock. If I wanted to get any more diverse I'd likely add Delawares or California Whites or maybe more Langshans

Langshans are the worst layers of the bunch. At the same time they have a lot of very desirable qualities! One I am reading about is the fact that I could expect them to lay eggs well into their sixth and seventh year. Unless you like the idea of replacing your flock every two or at most three years, you may want to steer clear of the "really good egg layers" and shoot for the "good enough egg layers" that can lay for 5-8 years like a Langshan.

Flighty in what way? Flighty meaning can fly over a four foot fence? One of my Buff Orps did that yesterday. Flighty meaning they run away when you want but cant pick them up? I've found that sort of flighty is more a factor of how much time you spend with them when young picking them up and holding them.

http://chickenbreedslist.com/Largest-Chickens.html

My Langshans get along fine with my buffs. Langshans lay medium to large eggs (never extra large) and only lay maybe 4-5 per week nice dark orange yolks, very hardy proud birds with good posture and they get along with all the other birds because they, similar to Jersey Giants, are "strong" so they default to high on the pecking order without the need for pecking at the others (if that makes any sense) - For me, I prefer knowing that I give up a little egg production but these birds will be with me for six or seven years when I am on my third set of Red Stars.

If I wanted crazy good extra large egg production and didn't care about replacing the flock in 2 years I'd red stars again they have huge eggs either extra large or jumbo out of an ordinary 6-7 pound hen it's just amazing but I have read that I should expect them to have short lives and potential health issues because of the crazy good laying. If I (me personally) wanted anything else in an egg layer I might look at California Whites (a hardy egg efficient leghorn cross not exactly sure what they were crossed with guessing barred rock or maybe speckled sussex) but better to take advantage of someone else's successful cross-breeding than trying to cross them yourself. http://www.welphatchery.com/welp-layers/california-white-female/

 

[Izzygreenbird]

I've been checking sites of different Orphington breeders and I have a question regarding a term I saw. At a couple of places I saw 'LP' Red Orphingtons. What does LP mean? Is it the initials of a breeder?

Thanks,

Jo

PS: RIP Princess (*** fox got her this week

; have a trapper coming next week)

 

[hensfortherapy]

I've been checking sites of different Orphington breeders and I have a question regarding a term I saw. At a couple of places I saw 'LP' Red Orphingtons. What does LP mean? Is it the initials of a breeder? Thanks, Jo PS: RIP Princess (*** fox got her this week ; have a trapper coming next week)

Sorry you lost Princess. I have a Princess too.

But she is a Rhode Island White. At least that's what they told me she was when I bought her as a chick.

 

[sonderah]

So I have a question, as usual. Lol I have 6 "BO" hens. I've gotten them from various places. 2 are still pullets and lay smallish eggs, which I expect. 2 are decent sized and lay very large eggs. 1, idk if she is even laying, or she is not laying inside the coop/run. The other is laying long, skinny, shiny looking eggs. They look nothing like a BO egg, to me. I realize chickens all lay a bit different, but I'm thinking.. I should get rid of her & the one who's eggs seem to have magically disappeared. Opinions?? I'm no SOP breeder by any means, but hope to head that way in te furture and I am selling chicks. I would like to at least sell what I feel will be the best chicks I can hatch, until I raise the $$ to buy the "good" BO's!

 

[Johnn]

Just about what she's supposed to weigh.

Well was 3.56 but doubt that makes a difference

 

[jubilation]

I have come to the sad conclusion that I cannot afford the really good BO's. Between the cost of the birds and the shipping, it would take a small fortune which I do not have. Soc. Sec. disability does not cover things like that. I wasn't really looking to show anything, my showing days are over. Spent many years in the horse showing ring along with judging, etc. Also showed pure bred collies so I'm through with that. Just was looking for the larger BO's to help carry on my flock when I wanted more chickens. That being said, I purchased 3 tiny little BO's and 3 really tiny Black Sex Link chickens yesterday. Was happy to find a farm store that had them early so I can get a head start for this summer. Anyone here have any experience with the Black Sex Links? Wanted Golden Sex Links but by the time I got back to the store they were all gone. All these hundreds of different breeds did not exist when I was back on the farm in Indiana, so that tells you how old I am, or should I say that I didn't know about the different breeds. Poultry showing wasn't invented yet, LOL. Began to see that at the fairs when I was about 13 years old. Oh, by the way, watch out when looking up Black Sex Link Chickens - I got the surprise of my life to find porno pictures in with the chicken pictures. Disgusting. May God have mercy.