Looking for 7 mo buff orpington or similar hen

[MROO]

View attachment 2148028
Soo.. what do you think of her? How old do you think she and the other orpingtons in the back might be? Look healthy so far?

Pretty - and the fuzzy feathers are normal. That's just the downy "undercoat" coming through at the bend.
They are definitely mature hens. Be sure to ask how old they are. If they don't know, ask how long they've had them and how big they were when they got them. "Currently laying" could mean any number of eggs - one a week is still "currently laying." Also ask why the Craigs List people are getting rid of them? Are they getting a new flock or are they just "done?"
If you can't get a straight answer, or if the sellers are "starting over," these are probably older (3+ years) "spent" hens. If your goal is just to have pretty chickens, that won't matter, becasue they live a lot longer than that. But, if your goal is to have eggs, you need to "pass" on older hens. .
I know that's hard to do ... especially when they're as pretty as these potential additions look! Good Luck!

 

[doublecrossranch]

View attachment 2148028
Soo.. what do you think of her? How old do you think she and the other orpingtons in the back might be? Look healthy so far?

Yes that’s aggressive mating.

The story is "they're currently laying".

She's all fuzzy where her back and tail meet. And i see the red hen behind her is the same way. Is that aggressive rooing? I don't have any roo experience.

it does look like a over zealous rooster. I have one like that.

 

[MROO]

Even my roosters have that puff of fluff. Check closer to make sure there aren't broken feathers or raw skin. Those are sure signs of an over-enthusiastic harem-master!

 

[Birdielee]

Even my roosters have that puff of fluff. Check closer to make sure there aren't broken feathers or raw skin. Those are sure signs of an over-enthusiastic harem-master!

Thank you for that tip

 

[Birdielee]

As far as the age, yeah I'm suspicious of " currently laying"

 

[Birdielee]

The ad says he's switching to colored egg-layers. It's a few hens with a roo. The Breed is what i want.

 

[Birdielee]

Mroo, thank you. I think as far as your pullets, I'd rather pass. I'm not into the black wattles and comb ... are all yours like that? I know there seems to be quite a bit of variation among asian blacks

 

[MROO]

The ad says he's switching to colored egg-layers. It's a few hens with a roo. The Breed is what i want.

Press for an age - even if it's just a ballpark. It sounds like he's trying to rehome these girls before they stop laying completely. It's a smart move for him, but could be expensive for you. That would be me ... I'd take them in for a few eggs that first year and then end up feeding them for the next six because I couldn't send them to freezer camp! It's hard to be a softee when it comes to raising chickens ... but there I am!

 

[MROO]

Mroo, thank you. I think as far as your pullets, I'd rather pass. I'm not into the black wattles and comb ... are all yours like that? I know there seems to be quite a bit of variation among asian blacks

That's fine. But my advice on the other hens stands. Be careful of Craig's List, especially right now. Laying hens are REALLY hard to come by, these days, and at least one opportunist near me took advantage of that to pass off five-year-old hens as layers. Sure, they were laying ... an egg a week apiece!
If you can still get chicks, it's not too late in the season to start them. Once they're out of the brooder, you can put them in a coop that shares a wall with your existing hen. That way, they grow up withing sight and sound of her. Not only will it give her company close by, but it should make for a much smoother integration.
No matter what you get, make sure you post pictures. We LOVE pictures!

 

[Birdielee]

Bummer. I think my last post disappeared. Here's the roo.