Buff Orpingtons vs Others

[MadisonOde]

So I've been reading about what kind of chicks I want this year (As of right now I have a Buff Orpington, a Chantecler, and a Aracauna) and I was noticing that a lot of people said to get Buff Orpingtons if you wanted a good layer and a docile bird. Is this true for all Orpingtons or just the Buff? I am relatively new to chickens, as I just got mine last summer. Thanks!

 

[AlleysChicks]

I have a Buff and she’s a ok layer(4/7 weekly on a good week lol) but she’s a spazz. Super flighty half the time, nosy and sometimes just weird. But she’s pretty lol

 

[sourland]

In my experience this is true for all varieties. The only drawback is that many are extremely broody.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

So I've been reading about what kind of chicks I want this year (As of right now I have a Buff Orpington, a Chantecler, and a Aracauna) and I was noticing that a lot of people said to get Buff Orpingtons if you wanted a good layer and a docile bird. Is this true for all Orpingtons or just the Buff? I am relatively new to chickens, as I just got mine last summer. Thanks!

I have had a many a Buff Orpingtons. For the most part all have been great layers and of a sweet nature. But like any animal once in a while you get a jerk. I’m 1jerk for 30 great ones. Hope this helps.

 

[Duck Lover88]

How about drop the chicken idea and get buff Orpington ducks!! Just kidding...
Buff Orpingtons are awesome they have always been really nice to our children and amazing layers.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

How about drop the chicken idea and get buff Orpington ducks!! Just kidding...
Buff Orpingtons are awesome they have always been really nice to our children and amazing layers.

Love the duck comment!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Meh... buffs are average to me. Definitely NOT the friendliest of all my birds.

Beware of true Araucana. Most sellers I have seen don't have Aruacana at all or call them "American Araucana"! They must have ear tufts and be rumpless IMO to be the real deal.

To me Orps are average layers for a dual purpose bird, and they are heavier bodied so eat more the produce less eggs than some other breeds.

Some chicken comparison charts...
https://livestockconservancy.org/images/uploads/docs/pickachicken.pdf

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

Think I would choose a Rock over Orpington. And unless true Araucana, I would choose Easter Egger or true Ameraucana. Raised 100 + birds of many different breeds... May always have a Rock and and EE, here. Already let go of 1 buff Orp and 2 Lavs.. guess I'm not impressed. But they are perfectly good birds and nothing bad to say about them. And they are all the same to me regardless of color. All will be individuals and I've had a mix of friendly (hanging out close enough) and flighty. But never a lap sitting Orp.

Oh wait... now I see that's what you have not what you are thinking about getting per say. Is your Araucana correct?

I'm sure they'll be great whatever you choose. I'm thinking Speckled Sussex this year.

 

[Mrs.SWhite89]

I have 2 Orpington hens not buff type. But they are very docile and I can do whatever to them or around them. One survived a fox attack, with a gash to the head so I had to doctor her everyday so now she likes human company. They both lay 7 days a week no skipping a day.

 

[MadisonOde]

Meh... buffs are average to me. Definitely NOT the friendliest of all my birds.

Beware of true Araucana. Most sellers I have seen don't have Aruacana at all or call them "American Araucana"! They must have ear tufts and be rumpless IMO to be the real deal.

To me Orps are average layers for a dual purpose bird, and they are heavier bodied so eat more the produce less eggs than some other breeds.

Some chicken comparison charts...
https://livestockconservancy.org/images/uploads/docs/pickachicken.pdf

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

Think I would choose a Rock over Orpington. And unless true Araucana, I would choose Easter Egger or true Ameraucana. Raised 100 + birds of many different breeds... May always have a Rock and and EE, here. Already let go of 1 buff Orp and 2 Lavs.. guess I'm not impressed. But they are perfectly good birds and nothing bad to say about them. And they are all the same to me regardless of color. All will be individuals and I've had a mix of friendly (hanging out close enough) and flighty. But never a lap sitting Orp.

Oh wait... now I see that's what you have not what you are thinking about getting per say. Is your Araucana correct?

I'm sure they'll be great whatever you choose. I'm thinking Speckled Sussex this year.

Thanks for the info everyone! Also, I probably do not have a true Araucana, so thanks for the info! I probably will try a rock and I will definitely be getting some speckled sussex. Thanks!

 

[meetthebubus]

OK buffs are the best! Well they are my only experience until now I just got easter Eggers

Orps are friendly, I had 9 hens and 8 of them will cuddle, some are super daily cudllers. They are super soft with how they treat me, never peck me not even when they are in the nest box. They are also softer with each other, never had fights for pecking order that drew blood. They love to cuddle in a group and they take family dust baths together

I still have 7 of the girls, my roo is so gentle as well he's a buff

Buffs definitely are a top breed