Buff Orpingtons - How well do they lay?

[krista74]

Hi everyone! I read once that Buff Orpingtons, whilst making great mothers, are not well known for their egg production. In comparison to say, RIR's, they apparently do not lay so many eggs.

That being said, I own 2 BO pullets. One has been laying a month, one has been laying about 3 weeks.

Both Orpies give me 6 eggs a week on average, taking one day off a week to reset.

With the exception of one soft-shelled egg, all of the eggs (whilst being on the smaller side) have been perfect otherwise.

Considering it's Winter here, I can't imagine how much better they could lay!

Do I have super-Orpies who are the exception, rather than the rule? Or is it a myth that Orpies don't lay well?

Just curious what other's experiences have been.

Thanks in advance! Krista

 

[Mah1Mah1]

Hi everyone! I read once that Buff Orpingtons, whilst making great mothers, are not well known for their egg production. In comparison to say, RIR's, they apparently do not lay so many eggs.

That being said, I own 2 BO pullets. One has been laying a month, one has been laying about 3 weeks.

Both Orpies give me 6 eggs a week on average, taking one day off a week to reset.

With the exception of one soft-shelled egg, all of the eggs (whilst being on the smaller side) have been perfect otherwise.

Considering it's Winter here, I can't imagine how much better they could lay!

Do I have super-Orpies who are the exception, rather than the rule? Or is it a myth that Orpies don't lay well?

Just curious what other's experiences have been.

Thanks in advance! Krista

I'm planning on getting some orpies, & from what I have heard, they are very good layers. They lay large brown eggs but slow down in winter, like most chickens

 

[krista74]

That's interesting.

My Orpies lay creamy-whitish eggs, not brown ones. They are also quite small in comparison to the ones I get from my RIR's. I weigh them and the Orpy eggs are about 53g whereas the RIR eggs are 69g.

They certainly lay often enough though - like I said, it's Winter here and I get 6 eggs a week from each of them. They're not brown though.

I wonder why mine are different? Maybe it's because they have only just started laying. Perhaps their size will increase and their colour darken as time goes on?

And yes, they are definitely Orpingtons, lol Krista

 

[Original Recipe]

My Buff Orp is the largest bird in my flock and lays the smallest egg. She lays a pale pink egg that's always perfect and I get 6/week on average from her. Her eggs are always size small with an occasional size medium.

 

[Peeps61]

Hi - I have 3 BO, and they lay consistently 6 to 6 eggs per week. Two lay light brown eggs and 1 lays the creamy whitish egg. It looks almost like coffee with cream in it! I love my BO and would recommend them to anybody. They have a tendency to get broody, though, and egg production drops off when that happens.

 

[krista74]

Yes, we are actually hoping one of our 2 BO's will go broody in the summer. I would like to get some chicks out of them. They are the most delightful, beautiful chickens, and come running with such excitement when they see me coming to their run.

I'm sure it's just the scrap bucket they want, but they make me feel loved, lol Krista

 

[AlanMc]

I have 4 BOs, 2 RIR, and 2 Barred Rock. I am pretty sure the BOs lay a creamy light brown to white(ish) egg. I usually get 3 or 4 a day along with a couple of darker brown which I am almost positive is from my barred rocks. Anyway out of the 8 hens I get 6 to 7 eggs most days then I will get a day or 2 of only 4 or 5.

I had one BO that went broody this year (at a year old). She sat the nest for 14 days then quit. After 2 days I got rid of the 8 eggs she had been setting. a day or two later she went back to setting a nest. I gave her a couple of extra eggs. Again, she went 12 to 14 days then left it again. After 2 days, I cleaned out the nest and she tried to go broody again. That time I just kept pushing her out and finally broke her broodiness. I just want to know why she wouldn't stay on the nest.

 

[Mah1Mah1]

That's interesting.

My Orpies lay creamy-whitish eggs, not brown ones. They are also quite small in comparison to the ones I get from my RIR's. I weigh them and the Orpy eggs are about 53g whereas the RIR eggs are 69g.

They certainly lay often enough though - like I said, it's Winter here and I get 6 eggs a week from each of them. They're not brown though.

I wonder why mine are different? Maybe it's because they have only just started laying. Perhaps their size will increase and their colour darken as time goes on?

And yes, they are definitely Orpingtons, lol Krista

My friend has orpies & her's lay brown, maybe her's are a crossbreed? I'll have to ask...