*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[jubilation]

I don't think you are weird, but I take the opposite approach. I get my chicks outside and exposed as quickly as possible. I currently have 4 week-old BOs who have been outside since they were 1 week old. On cool nights, I would wait until they went to bed and scoop them up, put in a box bring them in the house and put them back out in the AM. I once bought 5 week old chicks who had remained in the brooder full-time and they died. So, it made me feel like in nature they would be out and about. I notice my chicks raised by broody moms, only get warmed up once in a while after the 1st week. I noticed they seemed hardier then chicks kept in a brooder. They don't get much starter feed, because they are feed what mom gives them. Trays of food just sit, while the moms dig huge holes and feed their chicks bugs, grass, etc. Yet, those raised naturally chicks are bigger and hardier.

I don't think I am right and you are wrong. I think there are different approaches. Raise your chicks how it works for you and to meet the goals of your flock.

Been raising chickens for over 50 years (I'm old). Was taught when I was on the farm to raise chicks this way to avoid cold drafts, etc. We raised White Leghorns for egg selling and meat. Always had a huge flock and really healthy, and large, birds. It is too arid where I live for cocci unless you create a swampy area where your birds live. All my chicks are fully vaccinated against any viruses or bacteria.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote: Unfortunately, that is absolutely not even possible. You could use every vaccination known for avians, be out quite a lot of money, and still not be able to do what you just stated. Just for an example, did you know there are 9 named/known types of coccidiosis, and yet, I know of mutated, unnamed types that pass down from the parent stock through the egg to the chick and do not have the usual signs we normally look for?

Did you know that there is a disease called Spotty Liver Disease, rare, but seeing a resurgence, caused by a bacteria they have not even reliably determined yet as to exactly what it is, mainly pops up in free range flocks in their prime and there is no vaccination for that? So, there are many bacteria that you simply cannot defend against.

You can raise your birds any way you see fit, of course, but the above statement you made is just not possible. I've never vaccinated my birds for anything, ever, and never had any contagious disease in my free range flocks. If you want to spend hundreds of dollars on vaccinations, that is of course, your choice, but it's simply not what 99% of most chicken keepers do.

Since this is the Buff Orpington thread, though, I think we should get back on the main subject.

 

[KendyF]

Been raising chickens for over 50 years (I'm old). Was taught when I was on the farm to raise chicks this way to avoid cold drafts, etc. We raised White Leghorns for egg selling and meat. Always had a huge flock and really healthy, and large, birds. It is too arid where I live for cocci unless you create a swampy area where your birds live. All my chicks are fully vaccinated against any viruses or bacteria.

Well, I certainly am not going to tell you how to raise your flock, I am happy they are healthy. I wasn't being critical. It is like egg washers, vs. non-egg washers.

 

[COChix]

Hello fellow Buff lovers, just wanted to stop in this thread and check out all the beautiful Buff Orph's. We have buff orph roosters, they are 16 weeks old and very docile and easy going. They are starting to get that really wheat/gold coloring coming in now and their combs are slowly becoming more pronounced. Here are a couple shots of them.

Rocco and Bruno - have a hard time telling them apart, right now Rocco has more of his tail feathers than Bruno. They came together at 1 day old and have grown up together. They get along like brothers, groom each other and to this date they have never fought. We have a RIR roo that was part of our pullet pack and he picks fights with the Buff's. He will more than likely be put in the stew pot.

 

[birdlady79]

Hello fellow Buff lovers, just wanted to stop in this thread and check out all the beautiful Buff Orph's. We have buff orph roosters, they are 16 weeks old and very docile and easy going. They are starting to get that really wheat/gold coloring coming in now and their combs are slowly becoming more pronounced. Here are a couple shots of them.

Rocco and Bruno - have a hard time telling them apart, right now Rocco has more of his tail feathers than Bruno. They came together at 1 day old and have grown up together. They get along like brothers, groom each other and to this date they have never fought. We have a RIR roo that was part of our pullet pack and he picks fights with the Buff's. He will more than likely be put in the stew pot.

Aww.. They are so handsome!!

 

[emmyeagle]

Love our Goldie. She's 16 weeks. One of the sweetest gals we have. Except for our ameraucauna whom she dislikes very much. Can't wait for eggs!

 

[RoosterLew]

Aww.. That's so sweet of you!!

Your a long way from me....lol. I think in going to order 2 so I won't have as many problems integrating... I just dread the whole chick process

I've never had a Roo ... I wasn't planning on getting 1 but I need one....How is the temperment of BO roo's? My Hen was the sweetest, funniest girl ever!

You mention you are going to "order 2"...
I would ask where from?
there are major differences in Hatchery Buff Orps and Heritage Buff Orps....sometimes that difference is in temperment! If your only getting 2, may I suggest you get Heritage raised birds from a reputable breeder. Not all Orps are good natured, and ordering from a catalog gives you the least chance of getting what you want. If you order from a breeder, you have the chance to talk with the person who actually cares for and knows the individual birds and how they behave!

We just got rid of a BO Cockerel that was a great looking bird, but he was an ***! Was not horrible until 1st spring hormones hit, then we couldn't go near him, he practically attacked the ladies and his "best buddy" that he was raised with and roosted with he most likely would have killed had I not been there!

There are breeders on this thread that breed specifically for temperment first....and their Buff Orp Roosters would fill your request nicely!

I don't think I am right and you are wrong. I think there are different approaches. Raise your chicks how it works for you and to meet the goals of your flock.

Eggzactly!! Two Feathers Up!

 

[birdlady79]

You mention you are going to "order 2"...
I would ask where from?
there are major differences in Hatchery Buff Orps and Heritage Buff Orps....sometimes that difference is in temperment! If your only getting 2, may I suggest you get Heritage raised birds from a reputable breeder. Not all Orps are good natured, and ordering from a catalog gives you the least chance of getting what you want. If you order from a breeder, you have the chance to talk with the person who actually cares for and knows the individual birds and how they behave!

We just got rid of a BO Cockerel that was a great looking bird, but he was an ***! Was not horrible until 1st spring hormones hit, then we couldn't go near him, he practically attacked the ladies and his "best buddy" that he was raised with and roosted with he most likely would have killed had I not been there!

There are breeders on this thread that breed specifically for temperment first....and their Buff Orp Roosters would fill your request

I was planning on ordering 3 from a hatchery. 2 pullets and 1 Roo. I just didn't really want to raise chicks again at this time.... I've found a lady locally that has Buff pullets, they are hatchery stock but nice looking and look like my Daisy girl that got killed..she came from a hatchery and had the best temperment... I have some who are not buffs and they are very flighty. I'm going to look tomorrow.

I looked at some yesterday from a guy who lives close to me.... I was like UMMM NO!!

I'm scared bringing new birds in... I will quarantine... It amazes me the conditions some people keep their birds in.... I guess I'm overly OCD!!

As for the ROO, I'm not set on a Buff, I just want one with a decent temperment... I'm not breeding... The flock I have now is my practice flock..... I do want to get heritage birds in the future.. I would like to focus on just a few breeds.... I LOVE buffs though and will have heritage buffs in a few years!!

 

[Johnn]

Haven't been on here for a bit!

It's nice that Bella's mother has took her two old chicks back, but her baby one is scared of the two big ones so is getting pushed out from food and I bet when she calls it for treats the big ones get them! Just wish she would look after her little one more.

Bella and her chick don't approve of this weather...

Bella challenging the bully girl

 

[jubilation]

Unfortunately, that is absolutely not even possible. You could use every vaccination known for avians, be out quite a lot of money, and still not be able to do what you just stated. Just for an example, did you know there are 9 named/known types of coccidiosis, and yet, I know of mutated, unnamed types that pass down from the parent stock through the egg to the chick and do not have the usual signs we normally look for?

Did you know that there is a disease called Spotty Liver Disease, rare, but seeing a resurgence, caused by a bacteria they have not even reliably determined yet as to exactly what it is, mainly pops up in free range flocks in their prime and there is no vaccination for that? So, there are many bacteria that you simply cannot defend against.

You can raise your birds any way you see fit, of course, but the above statement you made is just not possible. I've never vaccinated my birds for anything, ever, and never had any contagious disease in my free range flocks. If you want to spend hundreds of dollars on vaccinations, that is of course, your choice, but it's simply not what 99% of most chicken keepers do.

Since this is the Buff Orpington thread, though, I think we should get back on the main subject.

Pleaassee! I would think it was evident that you can't possibly vaccinate for every disease chickens, or humans for that matter, might get. Being a retired RN/NP I know the possibilities of mutated viruses and bacteria and I also know of the diseases you brought up and some more that have developed over recent years that have not been fully identified. I'm just a lowly backyard chicken person - not looking to make a business out of chickens, just pets and eggs and my original question was purely for fun and not for deep in depth study of how people raise their chickens. You don't vaccinate, I do, or the hatchery where I buy them does. Out here in this very dry climate of Arizona there are viruses and bacteria; that you've never heard of such as Valley Fever. I'm not looking for big SOP birds for show or breeding - just a small flock of average birds that lay average eggs and are friendly. Enough of soap boxing.