I have Buff Orpington questions.

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

There's the one in my avatar taken less than a week ago.

this one below is from 22 July.

This one is 16 July.

They are very sweet natured and were "labeled" as Buff Orpington's when I bought them, but they've just started laying at 16 weeks. I believe the first egg came from the one in my avatar because her comb and wattle are more developed and red. One of the others is starting to show more development in her comb and wattle as well. I thought BO's took longer to start laying.

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

Those look like Buff Orpingtons. It's plausible that they could start laying at that age, especially since hatcheries focus on egg laying ability.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Sorry @Jenentonic for hijacking your thread.

 

[Sahraschweiss]

I have buffs. Here are mine at 13 weeks. 3 pullets and one cockerel. The pullets are on the stumps with barred rocks of the same age. The cockerel is on the ground with a 20 week old golden laced wyandotte. My cockerel was crowing by week 4. He looked a lot like your little cockerel. The feathers will get better.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Except for the cockerel, they look exactly like mine. The “mature” girl had me worried because I was concerned she was a cockerel. However, she doesn’t act like a cockerel. And the only one with a fully red comb so I’m certain she laid the egg. I’m sure the other two are getting ready to lay because when I gave them oyster shell they were all over it. So they can lay earlier? Nice. Btw: your Barred Rocks are awesome. I have 3 BR hens.

 

[featherhead007]

Remember, "Roos need love too"

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

You definitely have a cockerel @Jenentonic. Like @Sahraschweiss said, he will fill out. I knew my RIR rooster was a boy at 4 weeks.

 

[Jenentonic]

Sorry @Jenentonic for hijacking your thread.

No worries!!

 

[featherhead007]

buff Orpington rooster "BEN"
10 lbs
4 years old
Went missing weeks ago. (Without a trace)

 

[Sahraschweiss]

Except for the cockerel, they look exactly like mine. The “mature” girl had me worried because I was concerned she was a cockerel. However, she doesn’t act like a cockerel. And the only one with a fully red comb so I’m certain she laid the egg. I’m sure the other two are getting ready to lay because when I gave them oyster shell they were all over it. So they can lay earlier? Nice. Btw: your Barred Rocks are awesome. I have 3 BR hens.

I've read that heritage breads take longer to lay (20-28 weeks), but hatchery birds develop faster. All of my birds are hatchery. So if you buffs are hatchery, I guess anything is possible. Thanks for liking my rocks. They have been lots of fun. Super sweet and curious.