*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[hennible]

I recognize that these are not good photos, but is this a boy?

I'm thinking boy considering it's only 15 weeks old.

No expert either but the comb is so red I'd guess boy. Any saddle feathers?

 

[sssharon]

This is probably a dumb answer but I never pay any attention to the feathers. I look at the comb and wattles. Your's is pretty red and up until the last week my Buff's are just starting to get red and not a birght red yet either. I would bet you are right and it's a roo.

 

[3goodeggs]

My reddest comb was my first layer, by about two weeks.
It surprised me. I thought for sure she was a rooster.

 

[speckledhen]

I can't see the saddle feathers, however, the long legs and stance look male to me, not to mention the extra large comb. Would have to see the saddle area to confirm as some hatchery Orp pullets have overly large combs, unlike the breeder lines, whose combs tend to stay much more contained.

 

[3goodeggs]

Yes, my hatchery orps were very... non conformist. Some had huge combs and some had sturdy long legs, some look like roosters without saddle feathers, but they are all pullets.
Neck feathers are the only thing my girls have in common.

or lack of neck feathers, or lack of saddle feathers.. they have neck feathers...

it's going to be one of those days. ...words diff-i-cult. more coff-ee.

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, my hatchery orps were very... non conformist. Some had huge combs and some had sturdy long legs, some look like roosters without saddle feathers, but they are all pullets.
Neck feathers are the only thing my girls have in common.

Good way to put it, LOL. Mine were similar except for one was sunny yellow and one deeper gold. I haven't had one with a giant comb, but I sure have seen some with overly large ones.

For those who are still wondering, saddle feathers is what you have to look at--they never lie (except in rare hen-feathered breeds)

 

[3goodeggs]

I said saddle feathers, I meant hackle feathers, None of mine had either. I mean.. they were not naked necks.. Hackle feathers are the ones around the neck, right?
My roster had long lovely pointed neck feathers.

Drat, rOOster, not roster.


Has this been a long day already, or it just me?

 

[speckledhen]

I said saddle feathers, I meant hackle feathers, Non of mine had either. I mean.. they were not naked necks.. Hackle feathers are the ones around the neck, right?
My roster had long lovely pointed neck feathers.

Drat, rOOster, not roster.


Has this been a long day already, or it just me?

haha, not just you!

I do have photos of an Orpington rooster to show saddle feathers, but he's been gone for a couple of years. Here is a photo of Suede when he was just over a year old with saddle feathers circled. People focus so much on combs and wattles and neck feathers, but it's the saddle feathers that you must look for to really confirm once and for all what you have with some of these birds where the hens are big and robust as well as the males. They start coming in around 12 weeks of age, give or take a week or so.

 

[3goodeggs]

He is so pretty.

 

[speckledhen]

He is so pretty.

Thank you. He sure was. I miss him every day. Had the best crow.