Orpington Questions

[galanie]

Posters above are correct about the rain. When given free access, they'll be out in the rain pretty often, but the colder it is, the less likely they are to do it. I let them do what they want in that department.

I would suggest for the bigger ones that the roost be less than 4 feet off the ground. Mine is a bit above 4 feet and while that's ok for my hatchery buff orpingtons, my much larger Splash actually did bruise his keel (chest bone) jumping down from there. He was around 10 lbs. So far I don't think any of the bigger hens have but I'm going to lower it first chance I get.

 

[Ole rooster]

I'm just a mean task master. I let the chickens decide. If they want to get wet they do. If it's too much for um they find shelter, as there's plenty around here to use. I have a 16 foot flatbed trailer I keep a 10X10 sheet of rubber stretched out on it. They do like to get under there. It kinda stays dark under it and they seem to really like that.

 

[mulewagon]

My Buff Orps are living in a tent this winter (due to the coop being crushed by a tree). They're just fine in the typical Alabama rainy, muddy, occasionally-freezing winter. As long as they have a bit of shelter out of the rain, they dry off well.

The hens have a lot of places at different heights they could perch and sleep on. Most of them choose to go up as high as they can, and jump down four feet.

Their feather are easily pulled out - I have to keep the roosters in separate cages, and just let one out each day for an hour or so. If they're with the hens all day, the poor girls are nekkid and gouged, too. The roosters' perches are about 18" high, as I think they're too heavy for higher ones.