I think Ive been had. These are supposed to be buff orpingtons!

[Liz Bailey]

Someone picked these babies up for us at a Livestock auction in Mt. Airy. They are supposed to be full blooded buff orpingtons. I however am begining to doubt that they are. I just noticed that they have feathers on their legs. And what Ive read is that buff orpingtons do not have feathers on thier legs. So can someone please help me! This is our first addition to our new backyard chicken flock...so we are wet behind the ears when it comes to chickens. I have added several pictures...and would love to know just what exactly they are.

 

[PrairieChickens]

I don't know what they are, but I can quite confidently say that they are not buff orpingtons. Cochins, maybe?

 

[Liz Bailey]

Oh mercy!!!! I dont know anything about that breed!!! Im so mad at the moment I could spit!

 

[PrairieChickens]

If they are cochins, I think you'll still be very pleased with them. Everything I've read about the breed has been positive. If they're not cochins, still take heart--you could end up with something far more interesting and fun than you had hoped for, and you can still get buff orps next time!

(Always lookin' on the bright side)

 

[ChickenPalz]

If they are cochins, I think you'll still be very pleased with them.  Everything I've read about the breed has been positive. If they're not cochins, still take heart--you could end up with something far more interesting and fun than you had hoped for, and you can still get buff orps next time!

(Always lookin' on the bright side)

I agree, I have had my co

 

[ChickenPalz]

- chins for 2 years and they are very good layers!

 

[Liz Bailey]

Well I originally wanted the buff orpingtons because they were heritage breed, and weren't mangled with mans fingers in their genetics. I also wanted them for a dual purpose bird. I am now currently back to looking for buff orpingtons. I dont know what to do with these. Are Cochin's good dual purpose birds or just layers?

 

[PrairieChickens]

Like most chicken breeds, including orpingtons, Cochins were selectively bred to get the form we know today. They're usually bred for show and not for eggs or meat, but they can still serve as a dual-purpose bird, and will breed true if you want to breed them.

I don't have a lot of first-hand experience with cochins, but the material I have read on them says they're friendly, tame birds, and depending on the stock, they may or may not be consistent layers. The adults range in size between about 7 pounds for a pullet and 11 pounds for a rooster, which I think is more than reasonable for a meat bird if that's what you have in mind.

The biggest upside here is if they are cochins, and when you raise them up to adulthood you decide you don't care for them, you can sell them pretty quick. They're lovely birds with lovely personalities, and would be snapped up in a heartbeat by folks looking for some "fun" chickens in their backyard flock, especially if you hand-rear them to make them extra friendly.

For future ref, here are some photos of our buff orpington Honeybear. This is pretty typical of the breed:










(She's the one laying down on the right)

You can also see some good examples of buff orp chicks here (As well as order some, if you were so inclined.): http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/Day-Old-Baby-Chicks/Buff-Orpington-p229.aspx