Buff Orpingtons...

[Laskaland]

What should I be breeding for? I guess as I look at my flock, I see some with long necks, some with short necks. Some "poofy" hens, some more slender and longish... The roos are really beautiful, but looking at the hens, I wonder what is the most desirable? The Roos are large, big breasted guys. No white feathering.
I don't plan to "show" per se, but I would like to have a healthy, quality stock.
THANKS for any input...
Christina

 

[moduckman]

Buffs should be buff. Make sure there is no tiny black lacing in some of the neck feathers, (this can be just a few, but not a desirable trait). Color is the most important thing with Orps. Many buffs tend to be a pale yellow, but they really should be golden yellow. A rich, deep yellow color. They need to be large quite large as a matter of fact, although the large size does not always mean the greatest fertility. The comb is another thing. You need nice red single combs with five nice points. No side sprigs (small points sticking out the side). Sprigs are definitely a no-no whether you show or not.

 

[Laskaland]

Quote:
Thanks MO!
Christina

 

[MissPrissy]

You want to keep some of the girls with black in their feathers in your breeding pens. This makes the buff color more gold and is an asset in breeding them.

BUFF ORPINGTONS

COLOR – MALE AND FEMALE
COMB, FACE, WATTLES AND EAR-LOBES: Bright red.
BEAK: Pinkish white.
EYES: Reddish bay.
SHANKS AND TOES: Pinkish white.
PLUMAGE: Surface throughout—and even shade of rich golden buff.
Male -- head, neck, hackle, back, wing bows and saddle showing greater luster.
Female – hackle, some luster.
Undercolor – matching surface as near as possible.
Definition of Buff: A medium shade of orange-yellow color with a rich golden cast; not so intense as to show a reddish cast, nor so pale as to appear lemon or light yellow. The term is generally used in referring to the plumage color of all Standard “Buff” varieties of poultry.

STANDARD WEIGHTS

Cock ……………. 10 lbs. Hen ………… 8 lbs.
Cockerel ………. 8½ lbs. Pullet ……… 7 lbs.

SHAPE--MALE

COMB: Single; of medium size, set firmly on head, perfectly straight and upright; with five
well-defined points; those at front and rear smaller than those in the middle;
fine and texture; blade closely following shape of head.
BEAK: Short, stout regularly curved.
FACE: Clean-cut and free from coarseness.
EYES: Large, round, prominent.
WATTLES: Medium in size, well-rounded at lower edges.
EAR-LOBES: Medium size, oblong, smooth.
HEAD: Medium in length, broad, deep.
NECK: Rather short, slightly arched, with abundant hackle.
BACK: Broad, Flat at shoulders, rather long, width carried well back to base of
tail; rising with a slight concave sweep to tail.
Saddle feathers – of medium length, abundant.
TAIL: Moderately long, well-spread, carried at an angle of twenty-five degrees (25°) above horizontal, (figs. 10-11): forming no apparent angle with
back where those sections join.
Main Tail Feathers – broad and overlapping.
Main Sickles – of medium length, spreading laterally beyond main tail
feathers.
Lesser Sickles and Coverts – of medium length, nicely curved, sufficiently
abundant to cover main tail feathers.
WINGS: Of medium size, well-folded carried horizontally.
Front – well-covered by breast feathers. Points well covered by saddle
feathers.
Primaries and Secondaries – broad and overlapping in natural order when
wing is folded.
BREAST: Broad, deep, well-rounded and well filled in all parts.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body – Broad, deep, moderately long, straight, extending
well forward.
Lower body feathers, not to profuse.
Fluff – moderately full, showing profile of hocks.
LEGS AND TOES: Legs set well apart, straight when viewed from front.
Lower Thighs – large, moderately short, well feathered.
Shanks – moderately short, stout, smooth.
Toes – four on each foot, of medium length, straight, well-spread.

SHAPE -- FEMALE

COMB: Single; of medium size, set firmly on head, perfectly straight and
upright; with five well-defined points; those at front and rear smaller than those in the middle; fine and texture
BEAK: Short, stout regularly curved.
FACE: Clean-cut and free from coarseness.
EYES: Large, round, prominent.
WATTLES: Medium in length, fine in texture, well-rounded.
EAR-LOBES: Medium in size, oblong, smooth.
HEAD: Medium in length, broad, deep.
NECK: Rather short, slightly arched, nicely tape ring to head, having
moderately full plumage.
BACK: Broad, rather long, width carried well back to base of tail; rising with a
gradual incline to tail.
TAIL: Moderatly long, well-spread, carried at an angle of fifteen degrees (15*)
above horizontal, (figs. 10-11).
Main Tail Feathers – broad and overlapping.
Covers – abundant.
WINGS: Of medium size, well-folded carried horizontally, fronts well covered
by breast feathers.
Primaries and Secondaries – broad and overlapping in natural order when
wing is folded.
BREAST: Broad, deep well-rounded; well-filled in all parts.
BODY AND FLUFF: Body – moderately long, broad, deep, straight, extending
well forward; lower body feathers, not too profuse.
Fluff – moderately full, showing profile of hocks.
LEGS AND TOES: Legs set well apart, straight when viewed from front.
Lower Thighs – large, moderately short, well feathered.
Shanks – moderately short, stout.
Toes – four on each foot, of medium length, straight, well-spread.​

 

[mizauntcathy'shenhouse]

Miss Prissy...thanks for the info on the BO. We are expecting 20 in sometime in February...I a can't wait to get them. I've heard nothing but good things about them from all who have them.

 

[yoker]

Thanks for the help.

 

[Laskaland]

Great information. I see so many different examples, I want to make sure mine are in line. I did buy show quality eggs last fall and the beuties that hatched are so nice... And like I said, my roos (I have two virtual twins) are really pretty/handsome... So, I need to pick out the good hens!!
Hugs
Christina