Orpington with bad attitude

[HenX]

Hi, I've had chickens since 2007 but haven't been a member here until today.

In May we ordered another brood of chicks from Meyer, and got a bigger assortment than usual. I decided to get one buff orpington as a safe bet for temperament, since we've had them before and they are the go-to for calm behavior. Well, guess what? I actually sold her because she was a bit of a bully. I don't think she was a male, either. She got sassy with her brood-mates and feeding her by hand was actually painful. My teenage daughter just said she was mean, and it would be fine to sell her.

So. Is this a fluke do you think? I was thinking of going through a different hatchery next time since a variety of these pullets have been over-reactive since we got them (compared to past broods). Any thoughts?

 

[Top Rooster]

Hi, I've had chickens since 2007 but haven't been a member here until today.

In May we ordered another brood of chicks from Meyer, and got a bigger assortment than usual. I decided to get one buff orpington as a safe bet for temperament, since we've had them before and they are the go-to for calm behavior. Well, guess what? I actually sold her because she was a bit of a bully. I don't think she was a male, either. She got sassy with her brood-mates and feeding her by hand was actually painful. My teenage daughter just said she was mean, and it would be fine to sell her.

So. Is this a fluke do you think? I was thinking of going through a different hatchery next time since a variety of these pullets have been over-reactive since we got them (compared to past broods). Any thoughts?

My Orphingtons have been very nice and calm but I think it really depends on the individual chicken. My only orphington right now is the top chicken in the pecking order so she must have been aggressive to get such a high ranking with the other chickens, although she is the top chicken she isn’t near as mean or aggressive as some hens below her, I rarely see her peck another chicken but none of the other chickens mess with her. I think they’re breed may be calm in a broad spectrum but I think they’re can definitely be some aggressive ones in that broad range.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Personalities do differ, and then genetics matters too. Your new birds need more time to grow up, to see what they are really going to be like.
It's reasonable to think that different hatcheries use different breeding lines, and differences may show up between birds of the same breed from one place or another.
I've been ordering from Cackle for a few years, and been happy with the birds from there.
Mary

 

[KikiLeigh02]

One of my hatchery Buff's is a bit of a bully, the other is lovely and super sweet. Sometimes the one has to have an attitude adjustment by way of chicken jail, that usually straightens her up for a while. She's a bully, but a really good layer. She has never been human aggressive though.

 

[HenX]

Thank you. I was thinking of trying Cackle, as well. It's funny, because we had a buff orpington in our very first brood who acted just like an orpington but had yellow legs. (I don't know which hatchery she came from.) I always wondered if a buff rock had a secret rondez vous somewhere down the family tree.

 

[HenX]

I recently read about a form of "chicken jail". I may try that with some others. How long do you give them their time outs?

 

[KikiLeigh02]

You know I say that, but I just realized that since she started laying she has calmed way down. I haven't had to give her any time outs since we got the first egg.

I recently read about a form of "chicken jail". I may try that with some others. How long do you give them their time outs?

 

[Folly's place]

'Cranky adolescent' to 'adult'? Who knows, but glad to hear it.
Mary

 

[LittleMissCountry]

One of my buff orpingtons isn't very friendly either. She will tolerate being picked up but is aggressive when taking treats or eating from our hands. She pecks really hard and leaves marks. She also won't come up to visit like our two black sex links. She is third in the pecking order

 

[New2Chicks97]

Our Buff Orpington Girls want nothing to do with us. The only time they want to be anywhere near us is when we are feeding treats but even then they don’t come close enough to get a pet or eat out of anyone’s hand. The third BO we had turned out to be a he instead of a she and is aggressive.

Our friendliest girls are our Easter Eggers.