*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[collie1470]

Stripes of alternating color across the feathers.

 

[microchick]

Barring is a 'striped' horizontal pattern in the feather coloring so light and dark areas appear. Think Barred Rocks where they look almost striped with their black and white patterned feathers.

I'm seeing this in my 4+ week old BO chicks, also, especially in their wings as the feathers come in. Since I know I have 4 pure BO chicks and I am seeing this in all four of them it is, I would guess, a normal r\variant in their color pattern. My BO rooster has a few white, dark tipped sickle feathers and brown/gold feathers in his tail.

 

[MesMama]

Interesting! Thank you for the info

 

[MesMama]

I had to go back and look at the pics again and I see what you're talking about. Man I would've never noticed that, to my very untrained eye LOL! So is that an undesirable trait?

Eta-I guess you said it was a normal variant? Sorry

 

[BuffaloridaGirl]

 What is barring?

Barring is a white striping pattern. Mine BO Vera has some light spots like this but I don't think it's actual barring like in a Plymouth or Barred Rock. I would imagine this is normal as they mature? That's my best guess. BO are very slow developers as was my Buff Brahma. Vera just started laying 2 weeks ago, her eggs are small and dark but as she continues to grow and get bigger her eggs will get bigger. What a learning experience for us all!!! My family sometimes is blown away by how much I know about chickens now, but compared to some of my idols on here I am just getting familiar!

 

[BuffaloridaGirl]

Sorry just saw someone else replied before I did!! Haha

 

[MesMama]

Just had to share an observation I've made with having new chicks of different breeds (probably nothing new, but it speaks to the buffs personality). My new chickies-I have 2 SLW, 5 SS, 4 Buff O's, and 8 Welsummers. The buffs are far more curious and friendly than any of the others. The SLW Rush right up when I put my hand in the brooder, but want nothing to do with being touched, although they will eat from my hand finally. The buffs were the first to eat from my hand and jump up into my hand. None of the others want anything to do with even eating from my hand. Interesting. But those buffs are about the sweetest things ever! This pic cracks me up, she's all up there eating from my hand while the others stand back checking it out LOL! They don't know what they're missing!

 

[microchick]

Agreed Mesmomma. BOs are amazing little birds. One of my 4 pure BO chicks is the friendliest little bird I have ever encountered. Whenever I enter their little pen, it hurries up to me and stands looking up at me until I crouch down and pick it up. Then it cuddles up to me (yesterday i slipped it in my hoodie and it snuggled under my arm) or it perches on my arm or knee and sits there cocking its little head and it listens to me talk to it. I was hoping that I would see some of that friendliness cross over into my BO/Welsummer chicks but so far the Welsummer aloofness seems to be prevalent in those 4 chicks.

My BOs eggs are showing very little variation in color and size. I'm hoping that after their first molt the size will increase some because as of now they are only about 'medium' size compared to the Welsummer's 'X'tra' large egg size. I'm also hoping that at least one of the BO/Wellie cross chicks is a hen as I am anxious to see what color the eggs are from one of them. Right now the Wellies are laying some spectacularly colored eggs.

 

[MesMama]

Agreed Mesmomma. BOs are amazing little birds. One of my 4 pure BO chicks is the friendliest little bird I have ever encountered. Whenever I enter their little pen, it hurries up to me and stands looking up at me until I crouch down and pick it up. Then it cuddles up to me (yesterday i slipped it in my hoodie and it snuggled under my arm) or it perches on my arm or knee and sits there cocking its little head and it listens to me talk to it. I was hoping that I would see some of that friendliness cross over into my BO/Welsummer chicks but so far the Welsummer aloofness seems to be prevalent in those 4 chicks.

My BOs eggs are showing very little variation in color and size. I'm hoping that after their first molt the size will increase some because as of now they are only about 'medium' size compared to the Welsummer's 'X'tra' large egg size. I'm also hoping that at least one of the BO/Wellie cross chicks is a hen as I am anxious to see what color the eggs are from one of them. Right now the Wellies are laying some spectacularly colored eggs.

Awww! She sounds like a sweetheart

So with your BO/Wellie crosses, do you have a pic? I'm very curious!

Oh and with the egg variation, my 7 girls' eggs are so different! It's interesting! I bet yours will start changing soon, like you said. And I cannot WAIT to start getting dark eggs added to my basket from my Wellies!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just had to share an observation I've made with having new chicks of different breeds (probably nothing new, but it speaks to the buffs personality). My new chickies-I have 2 SLW, 5 SS, 4 Buff O's, and 8 Welsummers. The buffs are far more curious and friendly than any of the others. The SLW Rush right up when I put my hand in the brooder, but want nothing to do with being touched, although they will eat from my hand finally. The buffs were the first to eat from my hand and jump up into my hand. None of the others want anything to do with even eating from my hand. Interesting. But those buffs are about the sweetest things ever! This pic cracks me up, she's all up there eating from my hand while the others stand back checking it out LOL! They don't know what they're missing!

So cute!
I agree the BO's are the friendliest. I have SLW and BR as well. They want to come up and be hand fed, but not necessarily handled. The BO's don't mind a bit

Not that I don't like my other girls, they are chatty and like to be next to you when your doing chores, etc., each one has a completely different personality which I really like.