I need Info on Orpingtons please!

I like mine. They're calm and friendly and very pretty birds. What specifically do you want to know about them?

 

They're very personable and mellow. Mine are big on eating and will come running if they think there's food around. I think they lay pretty well (I say I think because I don't keep track--my chickens are pets, and while I collect the eggs I don't really note much about them), and they lay large brown eggs. They're easy to handle and fairly calm, though they can be rather funny (mine think they're guinea fowl for some reason). They're certainly not the most intelligent breed, but they're enjoyable to have around and quite hardy! They're the only laying breed I still keep because I primarily like bantams.

 

Very interested in thread....

Ed

 

There Great

Friendly, cute fluffy butts. cold hardy and lay all winter, very good layers. One of the best of the heavy breeds. Do not count on them going broody, although they may. Love free range, but OK in confined coop & run.

 

Quote:But, living in the south makes me curious....how HEAT TOLERANT are they?????

Ed

 

I raise and breed Orps off and on so I will do my best! I've raised both bantams and large fowls. Blue and black and splash are my colors I have.

There are different colors of Orps, all are beautiful in their own way! Be sure you know what you are getting and pink legs are the first clue of an Orp. If you get yellow legs on another color, you got some kind of a Rock or cross bred or hatchery stock. If you are going for breeders or exhibition birds, expect to pay a little more for them. I never had a hatchery Orp, always had breeders and I have not been disappointed with them at all.

Temperment is gentle, not aggressive and so laid back.

Each one of them have their own personality so do not expect to be the same all around.

Good foragers but they are PIGS when it comes to feed but their breed makes it worthwhile and the eggs are BIG!

Very hardy in cold weathers, more so in below degrees with some shelter out of the drafts. As for heat, they tolerate it as long you have water and shade available to them. I never lost any due to heat.

Good layers during the winter months. Can be broody but it all depends on her genetic make up if she has her mother going broody. They do make excellent mommas even their first attempt to brood chicks and raise them.

They do well with confined runs and coops if they can not forage outside in pastures. They are definately NOT happy in cages as adults, but tolerated if sick or baby chicks being brood in cages.

The roosters are HUGE and gentle. They should NOT attack or flog a human, regardless of what size and age. You woudl not want a HUGE Orp roo with Leghorn girls or bantam girls because they can injure them. I've had both light breeds and heavy breeds together so it was not a problem but it is something to look at if you end up having an injured girl that got mated by a heavy roo. It does happen.

They are quiet in most cases but they can TALK if they want to be heard or see you outside with treats in hand.

Here is the pic of my bantam girls with Spitzhauben chicks I got this year. I would not trade those two sisters for anything! They brooded to gether, shared chick duties and protect them together.

 

I am in Oklahoma and the sun is intense and the temps can be high for days/ weeks on end. Summer is not a problem. I do use a mister above 90 degrees F and they love it. That keeps them cool just fine. Otherwise, I am in full agreement with 'the deacon.'

 

Seeing you are in South Africa, I would guess you will be raising the UK style Orp. Much more colors to choose from. Both the American standard and the UK standard birds are nice and fun birds. Some are down right sweet and run up to ya wanting attention, or food or both. Orpingtons are definitely one of my favs.