Chicken Breed Focus - Orpington

[Scooby308]

The

Do you own Orpingtons? Are you an Orpington breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

Was recently give 1 White Orproo and 3 WO hens that were at 1 year of age and laying. One of the hens died (egg bound I believe). The other 2 hens aregoing strong. The girls are shy and skittish, but the roo, he is worse than a puppy. I open up the pen and he comes running to be petted.

These were free, and my practice birds to see if I really want to get fully into chickens. Really wanted BOs for years, and may get some if this works out. Personal and breeding purposes.

The roo is just too nice. Like a big puppy dog. 2 hens are giving @ 10 eggs every 14 days.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

I keep Buff Orpingtons because I like their colors.Mine are usually friendly.

 

[Scooby308]

I keep Buff Orpingtons because I like their colors.Mine are usually friendly.

I originally wanted a few BOs because of broodieness and BRs for eggs and meat. Life happened and 5 years later I now have chickens that were gifted to me. Absolutely love the white orp roo. He is a big puppy dog. Loves to run up and be petted on. The hens, not so much. The NHR roo is flat out a sh$t. He tries to flog me everytime I open the tractor. He is mean as a snake, the hens are skittish, but one will take shrimp tails from my hand.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Yeah orps are friendly but most of hens I have carried have been human aggressive.They never attack me they just make attempts to dominate and or make threat noises to me.My last bo hen who passed would actually dominate me by wing dancing and the two new pullets I got this year make threat noises as soon as I sit them down
From holding.

 

[BuffOrpington567]

The popular Orpington breed originated from the town of Orpington, Kent, in south-east England, where the original black Orpington was bred by William Cook in 1886. (Mr Cook also created the Orpington duck breed). Mr Cook crossed Minorcas, Langshans and Plymouth Rocks to create a new hybrid breed, from which he selected to breed a black bird, that would also exhibit well, by hiding the dirt and soot of London.
The breed was shown in Madison Square Gardens in 1895 and its popularity soared. Its large size and soft appearance together with its beautiful colours make it very attractive breed and as such its popularity has grown as a show bird rather than a utility breed. Hens are fairly often broody and are good mothers. Although rather heavy, they are able to fly small distances but rarely do so.
The original breed colours/varieties are black, white, buff, blue and splash. Although there are many additional varieties recognised throughout the world, for example the Jubilee Orpington, only the original colours are recognised by the American Standard, the Buff being the most common colour. In the beginning of the twentieth century, Herman Kuhn of Germany developed a Bantam variety of Orpingtons and the Bantam retains the appearance of the LF Orpingtons, but in a smaller size. There is a large variety of colours in the Bantam version, including black, blue laced, white, buff, red, buff black laced, barred, buff Columbian, and birchen.

Details:
Purpose: Dual; Exhibition
Egg laying: 175-200 eggs annually
Weight: Cocks: 7.9-10 lbs; Hens: 5.9-7.9 lbs
Colours/Varieties: Black, Buff, Blue, White, Red, Splash, Jubilee (and more)


Pic by @lauralou


Pic by @allaboutdemchicks


Pic by @cherylcohen


Pic by @Fowl Visions


Pic by @wilds of pa

BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/orpington

BYC Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/495402/buff-orpington-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/386051/the-imported-english-orpington-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/426353/the-bantam-orpington-thread/0_30


Do you own Orpingtons? Are you an Orpington breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

Best breed to be near children

 

[Trux]

I have a white 3 buffs and a SL Blue plus a black SL Roo. The white and two of my buffs will come by for attention when they are out of the run but the blue and one buff are generally don't want to be held. My Roo lets me pick him up and sit him in my lap, but doesn't look for the attention like the girls do.

20180819_104008

• Trux
• Aug 19, 2018
• 4

Black SL Orp. Yosemite Sam (Sam) for short)

20180819_103937

• Trux
• Aug 19, 2018

SL Blue Orp. Dolly

 

[Rlmp817]

I got 4 Buff chicks at the local farm supply store yesterday. They are So cute! My kids adore them.
How many eggs are you getting from your hens? I havee heard everything from 150-300/yr, and am really hoping for close to the 250 range.

 

[radar3321]

Just had my three year old talk me into buying 3 buffs orpings to raise this spring to add to our 3 Barred Rocks! Looking forward to this! It was between buff Brahma's and the Orpingtons. The wife got final call and "NO WAY on the ones with feathers on feet... Do not understand it but that is where she draws the line on chickens.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I chose Orpingtons for their cold hardiness and their friendliness. I have three of them along with another breed. They are very sweet and I love them!

 

[Jandsloch]

New to chickens this year. We have 18 now (it’s addicting). We chose 2 buff orpingtons because hens make great mothers and we are hoping to replenish the flock without having to keep purchasing. Also we chose them because they are dual purpose. The woman helped us choose a possible hen and cockerel...I think she did great. Summer is the girl and winter my boy lol he’s always the first to greet me before food every morning and always before food every morning and when I get home he’s quite loud until I go say hi! My kiddos love them too! They truly are affectionate duo. They come for lovings all the time and yes mine love to be petted!