*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[collie1470]

Mine is from Meyer and not half as gorgeous.

I think ours uses Townline.

 

[henmania]

We put together an old shed for the girls. What do you all think? It's A LOT more spacious than the coop we had lol.

I put in the roosts yesterday but parents say it's too high and I should put steps. Last night they slept in the corner on the floor. I just think once they get the feel of the new home they'll jump up.

The box in the corner is meant to be a nesting box which I'm hoping they'll start using. Currently they were laying where they slept in their old coop but probably because it was so small.

 

[henmania]

One of my Buff Orpington hens with an early brood. The cock is a mixed and very game black rooster. Camilla has 15 chicks in early March.

Those chicks look adorable!

 

[henmania]

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?

First of all, that egg is massive compared to the ones my BOs lay. Or you have tiny hands

Wyorp Rock probably knows a lot more than I but I've also heard the most common reason for spotted eggs is excess calcium.

 

[mcclucker]

My hands are average sized. This hen does lay pretty big eggs. My other BO lays smaller eggs. You should see one of my Easter eggers' ... they don't fit in the extra large carton! Here they are for comparison! My same hand. That same hen laid a double yolk once that was like a turkey egg. She's not that big a chicken either.

I don't think that roost is too high henmania. I have one that is 5' up, but there is a lower one about 2' off the ground too. They might need a second as a booster. Or put them on it during the day to check it out. It might take a few days.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We put together an old shed for the girls. What do you all think? It's A LOT more spacious than the coop we had lol.

I put in the roosts yesterday but parents say it's too high and I should put steps. Last night they slept in the corner on the floor. I just think once they get the feel of the new home they'll jump up.


The box in the corner is meant to be a nesting box which I'm hoping they'll start using. Currently they were laying where they slept in their old coop but probably because it was so small.

Looks good @henmania ! If they don't roost soon, then you may want to make "steps" or ladder style roosting - try placing the first roosting bar about 12" from the floor so they can jump/flutter to the next and so on. Large fowl like BOs are not known for their flying capabilities

Hopefully they will explore the new nesting box, it's nice

If you have any, place a couple of golf balls or ceramic egg in the box, this will sometimes give them a "clue". I found ceramic eggs at Tractor Supply a couple of years ago, I don't know if they still carry them. I just leave them in the boxes all the time. Now, it doesn't work on every hen - one of my Wyandottes lays her egg in the back corner of the coop - I think she would die of a heart attack if she had to get into a nesting box

 

[henmania]

Looks good @henmania
!   If they don't roost soon, then you may want to make "steps"  or ladder style roosting - try placing the first roosting bar about 12" from the floor so they can jump/flutter to the next and so on.   Large fowl like BOs are not known for their flying capabilities   

Hopefully they will explore the new nesting box, it's nice    If you have any, place a couple of golf balls or ceramic egg in the box, this will sometimes give them a "clue".  I found ceramic eggs  at Tractor Supply a couple of years ago, I don't know if they still carry them.  I just leave them in the boxes all the time.   Now, it doesn't work on every hen - one of my Wyandottes lays her egg in the back corner of the coop - I think she  would die of a heart attack if she had to get into a nesting box

Ah ok. I'll give it a few days and see if they jump on. They didn't lay today

Might not be happy to be located lol.

This is the nesting box but today they were circling the old box small coop and as soon as in opened the old fence she ran into it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ah ok. I'll give it a few days and see if they jump on. They didn't lay today

Might not be happy to be located lol.


This is the nesting box but today they were circling the old box small coop and as soon as in opened the old fence she ran into it.

It can take a little while for them to get used to their new coop. Just give them time to explore and hang out. BO's are fairly agreeable to "change" if you let them figure it out

 

[henmania]

It can take a little while for them to get used to their new coop.  Just give them time to explore and hang out.  BO's are fairly agreeable to "change" if you let them figure it out

That was the plan. All day I tried to get them used to their new home to come home late to see my family have put them up in the old coop again

.

 

[henmania]

My hands are average sized. This hen does lay pretty big eggs. My other BO lays smaller eggs. You should see one of my Easter eggers' ... they don't fit in the extra large carton! Here they are for comparison! My same hand. That same hen laid a double yolk once that was like a turkey egg. She's not that big a chicken either.

I don't think that roost is too high henmania. I have one that is 5' up, but there is a lower one about 2' off the ground too. They might need a second as a booster. Or put them on it during the day to check it out. It might take a few days.

Wow that's huge! I love the blue shade. If that from the waster egger?

I think the lower roost is about 50-60cm from the ground but I'll try placing them on it throughout the day.

I'll keep everyone posted