*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[Lelanae]

Big handsome boy!

What a wonderful story and a handsome guy! Is he an English Orpington?

 

[collie1470]

He's just from tractor supply. I was pleasantly surprised when he grew up to be so pretty.

 

[CuzChickens]

Mine is from Meyer and not half as gorgeous.

 

[mcclucker]

Question about BO eggs - has anyone had a hen lay a speckled egg like this? I have two BOs and one lays perfectly smooth tan eggs and the other lays these...they have always been bumpy. The speckles turn quite dark in water too - like brown blood.

I worry because this girl was attacked by a dog as a pullet and had a wound above her vent. It healed fine but I am concerned she has some scarring or something that is causing the spots on her eggs. She doesn't seem to have any trouble laying. Maybe BO eggs can look like this?

 

[mcclucker]

As far as mixed breeds, I started my flock with two BO, two Easter eggers and two golden laced wyandottes. One of the Wyandottes was a surprise rooster and we rehomed him. Of the rest one of the BOs is my favorite but the other one isn't especially friendly and picks on the friendlier BO. The top hen is the Wyandotte - who is seriously huge. But lays the smallest eggs! Go figure. They all get along well though. It's funny because the BOs are my favorite and least favorite of the 5. I think there is a lot of variety. I'm adding delawares and welsummers this spring. Hoping they will integrate!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Question about BO eggs - has anyone had a hen lay a speckled egg like this? I have two BOs and one lays perfectly smooth tan eggs and the other lays these...they have always been bumpy. The speckles turn quite dark in water too - like brown blood.

I worry because this girl was attacked by a dog as a pullet and had a wound above her vent. It healed fine but I am concerned she has some scarring or something that is causing the spots on her eggs. She doesn't seem to have any trouble laying. Maybe BO eggs can look like this?

I get one of those every once in a while. Speckled eggs can be due to defective shell gland, disturbances during calcification, poor nutrition (excess calcium, vitamin deficiency). I usually don't do anything special. But like I say, I only see one occasionally. If it's consistent then try reducing stress in your flock or giving some poultry vitamins once a week.

http://www.alltech.com/sites/default/files/alltech-egg-shell-quality-poster.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

 

[mcclucker]

I wonder if she has a defective shell gland. Every egg has been like this - no matter what season. She has been on layer pellets without extra calcium. Other than being attacked by a dog (and then a hawk a couple weeks ago) they don't seem to be stressed and aren't overcrowded. I'll try a vitamin though to see if that helps.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I wonder if she has a defective shell gland. Every egg has been like this - no matter what season. She has been on layer pellets without extra calcium. Other than being attacked by a dog (and then a hawk a couple weeks ago) they don't seem to be stressed and aren't overcrowded. I'll try a vitamin though to see if that helps.

Try the vitamins. Also do you offer oyster shell free choice? I know the info says excess calcium could possibly be a cause, but if it's a defective shell gland she may benefit from extra calcium (I know I think a bit wonky - but, hey it usually works

).

 

[mcclucker]

I did when they were on grower feed when I had a rooster. I will try again - with vitamins. She kept laying during the whole hawk injury recovery too. Sometimes the speckling is worse than other times - so there must be some nutritional issue. I think it was better in the summer when she was free ranging more. Everything is dead now. I'll try to feed more greens and see if that helps too.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some of mine lay slightly speckled eggs, I never thought there was anything wrong with it and consider it an individual hen thing.