Buff Orpingtons vs. Buff Rock

[CHICKEN CRAZY1]

Yeah White Rocks are better, but I have heard that buff is calmer.

 

[Spifflove]

When I can't decide I try both and cull.

My BO's are calm. I'm currently raising a batch of WR.

 

[zooweemama]

I would do as Spifflove suggested personally. I have several breeds of ducks- I didn't know what I wanted so I got 2 each of 5 different breeds lol. I will sell off what I don't want. With chickens I did a lot of research and started with 2 breeds- Buff Orps and Black Copper Marans. I culled my Marans- they weren't for me and my area. Although I do currently have a pet Marans rooster haha. I love him to bits. I kept the Orps (not hatchery strain). I have 2 EEs and 2 Leghorns (hatchery strains) trying them out for my egg layer flock. Since I am new to this- I try a couple here and there so I can see what I like, what works for me...not someone else in someone elses climate.

My Buff Orps are from a great line. They were incredibly late to begin laying- over 30 weeks old. Lay tiny little eggs. Weeks later the eggs are now getting bigger but not big just yet. They went from a couple eggs a week, to 2 eggs every other day to now getting about 2-4 eggs per pay...and only 4 at laying age. Not shabby I would say for heading deep into Fall.

If you want a LOT of eggs upfront- go with Buff Rock. If you want an ultra gentle bird, with extra fluffy plumage that lays decent, makes a good mama but tends to go broody- Buff Orps might be your gal. It really depends on what you want.

Compare their laying frequency, broodiness, laying seasons (BO are good winter layers), seasonal hardiness (some fowl are excellent in cold climates, while they might suffer in extreme summers for example), temperament etc.

Good luck!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

THe idea of trying them out and comparing is good. It will allow you to see the different personalities. If it were me, I would definitely choose rocks over orps. I don't like the orpington personality and I do like plymouth rock personality.

 

[whiteybird]

Hi All -

So what is the personality of a BR versus a BO? I thought I had 3 BOs that we got with three Prod. Reds from a feed store...we called the one with the white feet Whitey...and now that I am looking more closely into the breed, I am thinking that my other two BOs are actaully BRs because they have yellowish feet. The color is no where near as saturated yellow as I have seen in google images, but they are definitely not white like Whitey's were.

Whitey was the friendliest of all our birds; she wasn't quite as tolerant of being picked up and held as our reds are (who just sit in your arm), but she dealt with it. She would come running right up to you when you approached the run and would follow you around everywhere. She loved to have her back/tail scratched. Of my two suspected BRs, one has been renamed 'grumpy' and 'angry bird' because she does nothing but run away from you and gives you the look of death when you do catch her and hold her. Her voice is also deeper than the others, and makes her sound like she is dying a slow and painful death when she is cooped up or just feels like being loud. The other suspected BR used to come running before egg-laying age, but since then has taken to running away like the other BR, though she is much calmer once caught.

So...is the temperament of my suspected BRs typical? Are BOs more docile? I don't really care about lesser egg production per year. I just want another bird with Whitey's same personality, if I do replace her.

 

[Hybridchucks]

Hi All -

So what is the personality of a BR versus a BO? I thought I had 3 BOs that we got with three Prod. Reds from a feed store...we called the one with the white feet Whitey...and now that I am looking more closely into the breed, I am thinking that my other two BOs are actaully BRs because they have yellowish feet. The color is no where near as saturated yellow as I have seen in google images, but they are definitely not white like Whitey's were.

Whitey was the friendliest of all our birds; she wasn't quite as tolerant of being picked up and held as our reds are (who just sit in your arm), but she dealt with it. She would come running right up to you when you approached the run and would follow you around everywhere. She loved to have her back/tail scratched. Of my two suspected BRs, one has been renamed 'grumpy' and 'angry bird' because she does nothing but run away from you and gives you the look of death when you do catch her and hold her. Her voice is also deeper than the others, and makes her sound like she is dying a slow and painful death when she is cooped up or just feels like being loud. The other suspected BR used to come running before egg-laying age, but since then has taken to running away like the other BR, though she is much calmer once caught.

So...is the temperament of my suspected BRs typical? Are BOs more docile? I don't really care about lesser egg production per year. I just want another bird with Whitey's same personality, if I do replace her.

5 years late But BO's are a LOT more docile than BR's

 

[Hawaii Chicks]

Buff Orpington Roos can be really mean
In the pics, Akío, who had a date with the pot!