*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[PlaidBattleAxe]

Johnn, I'm sorry to hear about your Bella. She is beautiful and I am loving all the pictures you post of her and her baby. What a terrific mama she is. I hope that all goes well and from the sound of what you post, she sounds like a fighter and that should service her well in her healing process.

I'm new to buff orpingtons, and am due to get my flock of girls and a juvenile roo from a friend who is trying to thin down her flock. The hens are all full grown (I'll be getting 5 hens and the 1 roo). My question is sort of two fold: would 13" wide x 13"high milk crates that are 10.5" deep work for nesting boxes? If they are on their sides I'm afraid they might be too narrow, so I thought about placing them so the opening is on top like a basket. Would that work, or should I opt for a larger size? I've got 4 crates to the 5 girls if that's what is okay to use. And roosting. I'll have two cross beams with 10 feet of roost total. Do I need more, in your opinions? I can add a ladder if need be.

I saw this thread and you all being buff orp experts, I thought I'd come and beg some advice!

 

[All4JnG]

Johnn, I'm sorry to hear about your Bella. She is beautiful and I am loving all the pictures you post of her and her baby. What a terrific mama she is. I hope that all goes well and from the sound of what you post, she sounds like a fighter and that should service her well in her healing process.

I'm new to buff orpingtons, and am due to get my flock of girls and a juvenile roo from a friend who is trying to thin down her flock. The hens are all full grown (I'll be getting 5 hens and the 1 roo). My question is sort of two fold: would 13" wide x 13"high milk crates that are 10.5" deep work for nesting boxes? If they are on their sides I'm afraid they might be too narrow, so I thought about placing them so the opening is on top like a basket. Would that work, or should I opt for a larger size? I've got 4 crates to the 5 girls if that's what is okay to use. And roosting. I'll have two cross beams with 10 feet of roost total. Do I need more, in your opinions? I can add a ladder if need be.

I saw this thread and you all being buff orp experts, I thought I'd come and beg some advice!

Yay!!! Buff orpington's are awesome! I've seen people use milk cartons, size wise they should be fine. On there side though. Like a basket they would have to jump in and out and could break an egg. If they would even us it. They need to be able to just walk in.
Roosting bar sounds perfect, not sure if you will need a ladder but they might like it.

And 4 nesting boxes is plenty for 5 hens. I think k they say 3 hens per box but I think that is to crowded.

Sounds like you are off to a good start. Chickens are so much fun, you will love having them!

 

[PlaidBattleAxe]

Thank you for the info!! I'm so excited to get everything finished and bring them home! I've read so many good things about the buffs that it's almost like anticipating Christmas or my birthday when I was a kid, the waiting for my birds

. Also very glad the crates should work--it'll shave a lot of time off my countdown to bird acquisition time lol.

 

[All4JnG]

Thank you for the info!! I'm so excited to get everything finished and bring them home! I've read so many good things about the buffs that it's almost like anticipating Christmas or my birthday when I was a kid, the waiting for my birds  . Also very glad the crates should work--it'll shave a lot of time off my countdown to bird acquisition time lol.

Your welcome I'm no expert but have done a lot of research and asked a lot of questions. I have 2 buff orpington hens and 4 silkies (1 of which is a rooster) they are about 6 months. I wish I had a few more buffs but I'm planning to let them hatch some eggs when they go Broody. Excited for buff/silkie mixes
But they are super excited, my kids love them. We have had a lot of fun with them. I felt like a kid at Christmas when I brought mine home too and now I feel like the same kid waiting for Christmas eggs

 

[Johnn]

Thanks everyone and yes, me and the rest of them were so lucky!

 

[Johnn]

I decided to let Bella have the day out today. Here and her chick were really active and wanting to move about, so because she will be stuck in all week I decided to let her. I left her alone for 5 mins, came back and she had a dust bath!! It was straight back to bed for her! Had to rinse the wound out to get the muck out then put some more spray on. Her and her baby enjoyed the day out though

 

[kaseythomas86]

. This is my favorite chicken it is about 11-12 wks old do you think it's a too or hen??

 

[Euarto Gullible]

 

[MrsBennitt32]

e I love BO!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

. This is my favorite chicken it is about 11-12 wks old do you think it's a too or hen??

I think she looks like a pretty pullet. I don't see signs of the long male saddle feathers.