*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[speckledhen]

Hi Y'all.. I have five Buff Orpingtons... and I just have a question about leg color. Four of the orpingtons have whiteish legs and one has yellow legs... about the same color as my Welsummers legs! Just curious if it's possible that it is a different breed that got mixed in? It looks like the other orpingtons, except for those legs... and it seems a little lighter built, but I may have been imagining that. I'm not an expert at all on chicken breed shapes and identification.

You probably have a Buff Plymouth Rock then. They have yellow legs and are often mislabeled or put in the wrong box going to the feed store.

 

[suyoder]

You probably have a Buff Plymouth Rock then. They have yellow legs and are often mislabeled or put in the wrong box going to the feed store.

That's what I wondered, but the hatchery that I ordered these birds from (Meyer) don't even sell Buff Plymouth rock, and I believe that they raise everything they sell. SO, I was a little confused about what this could be! I guess I'll have to wait and see.

 

[speckledhen]

They may not sell that breed specifically, but hatcheries have been known to slip another breed into the line for certain purposes. It's like when Sandhill Preservation years ago added in Blue Rocks to the Blue Orpington lines to offset inbreeding issues and the result was that some Orps would suddenly throw yellow legs. My Blue Orp rooster even threw a completely barred chick once and on occasion, a yellow legged pullet would show up.

 

[suyoder]

If it is a Buff Rock, what are some ways other than the yellow legs to tell them apart from a orpington?! They look VERY similar to me...

 

[suyoder]

They may not sell that breed specifically, but hatcheries have been known to slip another breed into the line for certain purposes. It's like when Sandhill Preservation years ago added in Blue Rocks to the Blue Orpington lines to offset inbreeding issues and the result was that some Orps would suddenly throw yellow legs. My Blue Orp rooster even threw a completely barred chick once and on occasion, a yellow legged pullet would show up.

Ah, that makes sense...

 

[Peanutsmomma]

You probably have a Buff Plymouth Rock then. They have yellow legs and are often mislabeled or put in the wrong box going to the feed store.

ITA! We had the same thing happen in our flock. When our girls were about 9 weeks old I noticed that 2 of them had yellow legs so I contacted the hatchery and they said that sometimes BRs get shipped instead of BOs. Ours have really yellow beaks too and their heads are a different shape than the BOs. Oh, and last but not least they are not as friendly as the BOs. I am just hoping that they will be good layers.

 

[RoosterLew]

ITA! We had the same thing happen in our flock. When our girls were about 9 weeks old I noticed that 2 of them had yellow legs so I contacted the hatchery and they said that sometimes BRs get shipped instead of BOs. Ours have really yellow beaks too and their heads are a different shape than the BOs. Oh, and last but not least they are not as friendly as the BOs. I am just hoping that they will be good layers.

BR's are eggcellent layers

 

[speckledhen]

If it is a Buff Rock, what are some ways other than the yellow legs to tell them apart from a orpington?! They look VERY similar to me...

They have different body types and the tail set will be different as well. Also, the Buff Orp will be much looser feathered, more underfluff. When you have a Buff Rock and a Buff Orpington side by side, you know the difference.

 

[Peanutsmomma]

BR's are eggcellent layers

Whew! I am so glad to hear that. I wish our BRs were as sweet as our BOs but if they are "eggscellent" layers that will totally make up for it.

 

[speckledhen]

Agreed. Rocks overall are fabulous layers. Rocks are my #1 pick for best backyard/barnyard flock breed and the barreds are my favorite. I have barreds as well as blue, black and splash, though haven't had whites or buffs.