Orpingtons: the good, bad and ugly

[Lulu-vt]

The buffs that have had in the past were very friendly, fluffy and my most docile. The buffs I have now are definitely docile but they seem a little slower than my other chickens. And I’m not talking about their pace!! They can’t figure out how to get out of the coop (through the door), often they get left behind and seem confused! They both seem the lowest ranked.

 

[Evadig]

I have a Jubilee from a small hatchery (not one of the big names) and an Buff from a small local hatchery.
Jenny (Jubilee) went broody at about five months and hatched two successfully. She’s very motherly. She hates being picked up and held but she’s not skittish. I would say she is toward the top of the pecking order though she’s kind of an outsider.
Vivienne (Buff) is middle of the pecking order. She is an all around good bird, hasn’t gone broody yet.
Both hens are nearly a year, give or take a month, and they’re fairly good layers. I like having them.

 

[Bawkbok]

As our 5 month old (estimate) Buff matures, she is suddenly turning devil pullet. She is picking fights with our BA of the same age give or take a week. Yesterday I saw her initiate a tussle with the BA, she actually pecked her face, rolled her over and stomped on her. I quickly ran to her, poked her in the side / wing area and she reacted more out of startling than anything else. I didn't see any injuries on the BA but again this morning, the BO is picking fights with the BA, who is very sweet and tries to stand her ground and pretty much avoids the BO.
Does anyone have suggestions on how I can break the BO of this behavior or is this growing pains or is she maturing into a nasty bully pullet? We are new to chickens this year and it's our first experience with a BO so I'm not sure what to expect in a couple of months. No one is laying yet of course, too young. Not sure what to expect but I certainly can't keep a bully with a flock of only three. This behavior seems to be more prevalent while they are free ranging. I've not observed it in the run at all - that doesn't mean it hasn't happened and I just didn't see it.
It is not a resource issue as they have free access to food and water (different locations), free access to grit and oyster shells at all times and ample room to roam in the run and free range for hours 2-3 times daily. I'm not sure what to make of this situation. Thanks for any insight.

 

[Debco]

I have 16 buffs, 10 are 1 year old 6 are 2 years. I’ve had 1go broody awhile ago and kept taking her eggs and picking her off the nest and once she came after me trying to fight like a rooster. We did not have a rooster at the time but she was sitting there anyway for way longer than 21 days. She survived but was weak for awhile. Right now, 8 of the Buffs are broody, two nests have two hens! Not sure how those will co-parent. The other hens keep laying eggs in the nests beside the broody hens. I’ve given up on trying to save the eggs. I loved the breed until this!

 

[D13]

Considering ordering a couple Orpington chicks for spring. What should I know about the breed? Pros and cons? Do the different varieties (looking at chocolate and lavender) have the same breed problems (tendency to broodiness, etc.)?

Pros: Fluffy, funny, do well in cold weather, friendly as all get out, chill all together.

Cons: ...I can't think of any.

 

[Bawkbok]

They do seem to be hardy birds. We have been blessed with one that lays 12-14 consecutive days - takes one day off and then begins the cycle again. She is amazing and so dang smart. A little louder and more vocal than I would like but it should make the city dwellers all too close around us think they live in the country.