Orpington size - a dumb question!

[Orchid]

Does anyone have a picture of their Orpingtons with some other breeds of chickens, for size comparison purposes? I know this sounds really stupid, but we went to the county fair this weekend and I really paid attention to the chicken breeds, being a new chicken owner. There were some chickens there that were simply listed as "buffs" (not BO) and they were, to my mind, gigantic! They really looked like Orpingtons, but I had no idea they get that big...do they?

I turned to my husband and said "You don't think Sunflower (my 10-11 week old BO) could get THAT big....do you?"

I must have looked pretty funny because he sure laughed.

They did have some listed as BO's that were more of the size I thought they usually were...but the giants next door looked just like them, some roosters, some hens, all huge. I am confused!

 

[chicmom]

I have two Buff Orps, and they do get REALLY BIG. Maybe the smaller ones you saw were younger chickens....pullets or cockerels? It is really amazing to me how big they look!

I do think they're a larger sized chicken. Now, Jersey Giants are probably a bit bigger......but they are gentle giants!

Enjoy them!

Sharon

 

[Orchid]

That could be - they weren't designated by age. Their signage was really poor for a 4-H event, I thought.

I just love my BO Sunflower. She is my favorite out of our four chickens - so enjoy her I will! Thanks chicmom!

Heather...who may be making the pop door a little bigger.

 

[chicmom]

Orchid, my two are just at laying age....any day now....and they look so identical, I just call them the Goldie Sisters! LOL Sunflower is a really cute name. I'm sure their feathers do help make them look bigger.....I have to say I have several breeds, and they have the softest feathers of them all.

 

[Catstar68]

Here are my BOs next to my barred rocks, australorps, a SLW, EEs. The look bigger than they actually are since they are so fluffy - but they are bigger sized chickens.
These are hatchery birds but I know what you mean, the BOs showing at the fair last year were huge. My girls are not that big.

 

[Orchid]

My girl is from a hatchery too, so maybe she will be closer to the size of yours Catstar. Very pretty flock you have there!

 

[Goose and Fig]

My Orps didn't reach "full fluffy size" until they were about a year. Then one day it was like- holy cow how did you get so big? They are right up there with my LF cochins, even bigger than some of the girls. Except for my giant cochin roos- they are the biggest breed in our (way to huge) flock. Some of the exhibition and English ones make our everyday ones look small. Ha!

 

[Tuffoldhen]

My hens and the roosters are big. Takes a year or more for them to reach their potential in size.

 

[RAREROO]

And remember that there is going to be a big difference in the sizes of Breeder/Show quality Buff Orps and Hatchery Production Orps.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

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