*Buff Orpington Thread!*

[Foristers]

Question for all of you BO owners: I have two 19 week old pullets (one of whom laid her first egg yesterday) and my girls seem small compared to my barred rocks when they were the same age...I was under the impression BOs are a large, heavy breed; do they put on the bulk of their size after they start laying? Also, I've had my girls since they were just a few days old and handled them/spent time around them regularly as they grew, but my two could not be more skittish around my husband and I...again, I was under the impression BOs are personable and docile, but that has definitely not been the case with ours...I know each bird's personality/temperament will vary, but they panic and scramble over just about everything...could this be a behavior that mellows out as they age? I thought maybe they might take a cue from our older barred rocks who are very friendly and calm around us and in general, but so far that's not the case. Thanks for any insight!

It is my understanding that Buff Orpingtons, and most chickens, are not fully grown until they are about a year old - even though they start laying eggs at about 20 weeks. Usually those first eggs are smaller and sporadic but soon they hit a good rhythm and start cranking out regular sized ones with regularity.

Now about the BO's not being the same size at the same age as the BR's - This may sound like a dumb question but I still come across chicken owners that do not know this but - did you feed them 21% protein feed during at least the first 10 weeks of their life?
I fed mine 22% protein mixed feed and they still ate up bugs like they were starving, just to get even more protein. They still love the games we play with bugs. - EX. Have you ever tied a string to a june-bug's leg and watched him fly around in circles? Now imagine doing that and having 7-8 buff orpington chicks of about 3 weeks of age following it around everywhere in that circle. Some got smart enough to stop and let the bug fly by again before taking a leap for it. LOL cheap entertainment. But I digress.
Anyway, you mentioned the birds being skittish? Mine all have different personalities. Some are skittish and some are not. Almost all of them offer some verbal protest when I go to pick them up. ALSO VERY Important - the birds might develop a skittish attitude based on their ranking in the "pecking order". This might be key for you since, if I am figuring this correct from your post, you seem to have introduced the young BO's into an established s flock of adult birds of other breeds. In my case the BO's came first and the rule the roost - there are more of them and... well.. they were first.
Just my two cents.

 

[bit o poultry19]

[COLOR=1D2129]Bella has some pretty new feathers coming through![/COLOR]

She's gorgeous and loving her new feathers!

 

[ChickenGal6]

that's awesome! How many do you get a day?

About a range of 3 - 5 a day some of them are just starting

 

[TheLaboratoryBF]

It is my understanding that Buff Orpingtons, and most chickens, are not fully grown until they are about a year old - even though they start laying eggs at about 20 weeks. Usually those first eggs are smaller and sporadic but soon they hit a good rhythm and start cranking out regular sized ones with regularity.

Now about the BO's not being the same size at the same age as the BR's - This may sound like a dumb question but I still come across chicken owners that do not know this but - did you feed them 21% protein feed during at least the first 10 weeks of their life?
I fed mine 22% protein mixed feed and they still ate up bugs like they were starving, just to get even more protein. They still love the games we play with bugs. - EX. Have you ever tied a string to a june-bug's leg and watched him fly around in circles? Now imagine doing that and having 7-8 buff orpington chicks of about 3 weeks of age following it around everywhere in that circle. Some got smart enough to stop and let the bug fly by again before taking a leap for it. LOL cheap entertainment. But I digress.
Anyway, you mentioned the birds being skittish? Mine all have different personalities. Some are skittish and some are not. Almost all of them offer some verbal protest when I go to pick them up. ALSO VERY Important - the birds might develop a skittish attitude based on their ranking in the "pecking order". This might be key for you since, if I am figuring this correct from your post, you seem to have introduced the young BO's into an established s flock of adult birds of other breeds. In my case the BO's came first and the rule the roost - there are more of them and... well.. they were first.
Just my two cents.

Thanks, Foristers! My original question re: size was as it relates to the actual birds, not egg size; I know all about first eggs being small and getting bigger as the bird gets older...as to your other comments/suggestions, both my older barred rocks and these two BO pullets were started on the same chick starter which is labeled as not less than 20% protein and they all got that until 16 weeks old when they were switched to 16% layer feed...I also supplement with mealworms, BOSS, and they free range (supervised) most evenings. I had not considered pecking order as reason for their skittishness, that's a real possibility. Either way, they're healthy birds and the two breeds together are getting along well and that's what's most important. Thanks all for your replies!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I recommend never switching to layer, especially when your birds are under a year of age, or if you feed anything extra, unless your layer is at least 18% protein.

The 16% in layer is the minimum requirement for a mature hen to lay eggs and not become fat. It's meant to be fed as the sole ration. It is lower in protein and higher in calcium. The extra calcium needs can be met with free choice oyster shells.

Orpingtons are a breed that continues to grow and fill out for about 2 years of age, so switching to a lower protein feed when they are still growing and now producing eggs can make them deficit and cause lower production.

 

[TheLaboratoryBF]

I recommend never switching to layer, especially when your birds are under a year of age, or if you feed anything extra, unless your layer is at least 18% protein.

The 16% in layer is the minimum requirement for a mature hen to lay eggs and not become fat. It's meant to be fed as the sole ration. It is lower in protein and higher in calcium. The extra calcium needs can be met with free choice oyster shells.

Orpingtons are a breed that continues to grow and fill out for about 2 years of age, so switching to a lower protein feed when they are still growing and now producing eggs can make them deficit and cause lower production.

I will consider it, thanks.

 

[PineCone67]

Posting here first, let me know if I should also post in Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures forum.

One of my 10 month old Buff Orpingtons appears a bit 'under the weather'. Symptoms first appeared on Sunday:

- pale comb
- generally slow to move about, lethargic almost

Yesterday I notice she is not able to produce the usual cluck, cluck, cluck, CLUCKAAAAAWWWWK! sound. Did not lay an egg since Sunday but does not appear to be egg bound (walks normally but generally slow if she decided to move).

Here are the few pics from today:

(compared to her healthy pal in the background)


(on her own)


Remedies taken yesterday:
- dust bath in diatomaceous earth
- garlic cloves added to the waterer

Not sure what else to do at this point but to observe. Thanks for any pointers.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She definitely looks unwell. It can be hard to pinpoint the problem without more symptoms. The disease forum has some good folks that know their stuff.

 

[pointsalamander]

Well still no things that i can identify as crowing attempts. This one's been hanging out in a box lately but then yesterday was feeling stopper ornery and first tried to velciraptor my 4 year old (who is the best buddy) then pecked my hand for attempting to pick up to return to pen.

Which is a no no here. So still at a loss. I did print out the city's paperwork to keep Lulu though....

Here is Lulu with her "flock". The train ride was not appreciated

 

[ALY1313]

My hen just started laying at 21 weeks !! So happy !!!