Plymouth Rocks or Buff Orpingtons

[SandRun]

I finally got my coop done, and am waiting for spring to get my first chickens. I was thinking about Barred Plymouth Rocks, but am also partial to Buff Orpingtons. I want to start with 1 type at first, so it's one or the other. Egg laying is my highest priority right now. I live in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Anyone have any thoughts as to which variety I should choose?

 

[TaLani]

In my opinion & in my experience (limited) with these 2 breeds I'd pick the Buff Orps because they're more friendly and easily handled. The Barred PR's aren't mean or standoffish, just not quite as friendly or easily handled to the degree that the Orps are. I have a BIG BO roo who will let me pick him up and carry him around w/o a fuss at all. He dotes on his ladies and keeps the other roos in line too. Just my opinion though re the Buff Orps.

 

[SandRun]

How about egg size between the two. I'm also looking for the larger egg, and it seems the BO may lay a smaller egg; however being my first experience with chickens, I really don't know.

Buff Orpington - 1
Barred PLymouth Rock - 0

 

[Splash_Guard]

Buff Orphs is my vote. They are docile, heavy-set (the Rooster is gorgeous!) and good egg layers. Not to confuse you, but the Black Austrolorps (spelling is incorrect) is another good one!

As far as the minute difference in egg size between the Buff and the Rocks, I don't remember.

Anyway, I vote for the Buff Orphs based on my experiences.

 

[BeardedChick]

Oh, why wouldn't you just get both???????

 

[jvls1942]

I have had BO's for a long time.. I concure, they are about the easiest to handle.. mine are great layers year round.. we get cold here in wisc.. last winter when it was minus 20F I had three days where I had 100% of my 35 hens lay eggs.. I keep my coop just warm enough to keep the water from freezing.. and when I give them water it is warmed water ,hot out of the tap..

I figure that they don't have to use up their feed calories to warm the water they drank.. similar to us eating snow.. (if you recall your cold weather survival lessons)..

BO roosters get to a nice size for meat, also..

.........jiminwisc.......

 

[jossanne]

I've had McMurray hatchery buff orps, and McMurray barred rocks. From that hatchery, I'd go with the barred rocks every time. They are calmer and sweeter than my orps were. My orps were my worst pickers, and kept everyone else bald all the time. My rocks are friendly, like attention, and will jump up on my lap to be petted.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

In my experience, BO are more likely to go broody. The Plymouth Rocks lay more a larger eggs. Agian, this is my esperience. I should also note, that mine have been Hatchery stock.

I recently got my new BO from HINKJC, not yet laying. I also plan to get some Barred Rock form SpeckledHen this spring.

I like them both. You need to decide based on what you are looking for.

 

[SandRun]

OK as I figure it I have.....

Buff Orpington - 4
Barred Plymouth Rocks - 2
Decide for myself - 1

I've added 1 to each column based on Bearded Chick's vote to get both. Thanks for the input to all. I'll update the tally as best I can, and each vote WILL be counted and the Supreme Court will not be involved.

 

[Superior Chicks]

I vote for Buff Orpingtons! (NO hanging chads please!

)

My girls laid every day in minus 0 temps last year starting on Christmas Eve day. No heat in the coop, no extra lighting, etc.

We also love them because of their extremely docile nature. We love the way they run to us and try to be the first one to be picked up! I have personally never had the experience of them picking on each other or any bad habits for that matter. And their feathers, ahhhhhhhhhh, just about as gorgeous and soft and silky as you can get.

Our primary requisite is the nature of the bird, and eggs are secondary , but these girls will lay a medium to large beautiful brown egg that is just a bonus for us, mostly we sell them to the neighbors as we can't eat as many a s they lay!

Did I mention that I adore Buff Orpies?

Ma