My neighbors have BR and RIR and they are about HALF the size of the Orpingtons I just got for my mother. (The neighbor chickens are likely half breeds.) Don't seem to be too many Orpington breeders around here. What other hens are LARGE and calm that would be good to have around an Orp Roo?
A RIR rooster from many years past was tall but not such a big guy, otherwise. I've never had a RIR hen. My only Cochin and the ones from my childhood were banties. My Barred Rocks are both larger than the Black Australorps. The Buff Orpingtons from quite a few years back weren't all that much larger than the Aussies - so about the same size as these BR's. I have to say that the Barred Rocks from a few years ago didn't seem to be this large but memory is what you forget with. My Light Brahmas were big chickens, yep. LB, BR, BA - all good choices with the Orpingtons, I'm sure. Steve
Cochin hens, Road Island Red hens, cinamon Queens, Leghorns and finally White plymouth rocks. The Cinamon Queens are a cross between the RIR and the Leghorns and they WILL reproduce with either ROO to give you three quarter/quarter birds. I really do like the CQ's, they are docile, great layers and well behaved in roosting and free range. They stay close to the coop and roost early (I especially like this) and are not real vocal.
