Question About My Buff Orpingtons

[HennyJenny]

I have three Buff Orpingtons. Two of them I purchased as chicks at the feed store. One is a "rescue" bird my Dad brought me from the farm. The two girls I bought have bright red very big and floppy combs and wattles. The one my Dad brought me has a very short comb (which does not appear to have been damaged) and her comb and wattles are a very light pinkish color. Many of the pictures of BOs I see look more in the comb and wattles like the one my Dad brought me from the farm. Aside from the comb and the wattles - my girls are all big fluffy butted BOs. Can anyone tell me what the difference is in size and color of the comb and wattles. I'm just curious - and I guess I'm wondering a little how birds that are purportedly the same breed look so different. The only other difference I'm aware of is that the new girl is about 3 years old and Missy and Blondie are only about 8 months old. I don't have any pictures or I would post them. Thank you for your insight!
Jenny

 

[Tala]

I know that the combs/wattles shrivvle up somewhat when the hen isn't laying, or during molt or illness.

Is she laying?

 

[HennyJenny]

Yes she is layng. Or rather I assume she is - she is the queen of the nest box and I get three beautiful brown eggs every day so unless someone else in there is one amazing chicken - she must be. In the last few days she has become a picking target again and I notice that one of my other girls is getting a little perturbed when I steal the eggs every night - but generally she is healthy (no mites or anything I have noticed) and I quarantined her for 30 days before I put her in with my girls and never noticed anything. What are the combs and wattles really supposed to look like on a BO? Is it possible they are mixed with another breed? They are all (in the end) feed store chickens so I suppose they could be something other than what was markered on the water tank.

 

[SoJoChickens]

They should be red according to Henderson's. They do fade after a long period of laying though. I think it is probably the age difference and/or genetics.

 

[HennyJenny]

Thank you, SoJo. What is Henderson's?

 

[lildinkem]

I guess some breeders idea of the APA Standard is open to interpretation. The Orpington breed it suppose to have a medium comb.
Back a 120 years ago, Orpingtons looked like these. This is the color and size of Wattles and Combs you would want. I know todays current picture of Standard of the Orpingtons are a bit different. But, not by much. And I rather aim my breeding to the ORIGIANL type of the breed. I think this 1890's print of a pair of Black Orps gives you a great idea. Hope this helps

 

[HennyJenny]

The comb on my girls looks more like the rooster than the hen in that picture! Maybe I have egg laying roosters!

The comb on New Girl looks like the Black Orp hen only lighter pink. Thank you so much for your information everyone!

 

[lildinkem]

If your hen has combs like this Roo, you might have little boys. It wouldn't be the first time someone sold a cockerel as a pullet.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
She said she was getting 3 eggs a day though

If her roos are laying they would sell mighty high at auction!!

 

[HennyJenny]

I just took hot water bottles out to the girls (the wind chill here is - 28 below) - the combs are really are that big and they do look like rooster combs - in fact Missy's kind of flops over her eye (doesn't cover it - just flops like a raised eyebrow when she tilts her head at me while she's trying to decide whether to peck my teeth or my cold red nose). When the weather turns human and chicken friendly again - I will take pictures and post them - Someone in that coop is special - it's either an egg laying rooster - or a very special two egg a day girl! ;p