My two week old Orpie chicks are finally getting their wing feathers in, and I am noticing that two of the six have brown wings that look kind of patterned instead of the creamy buff color that the other four have. The patterns are kind of like a light to medium brown with black markings. Is this normal? These are my first Orpingtons. They are bantams too, if that makes a difference. My neighbor has Buffs and while her birds colors vary a little bit, they are still all buff in color. Their heads all look the same, all six of them, and all are sweet as Georgia peaches. I don't have pics, sorry, I broke my camera by dropping it on the lens but if anyone knows something about this, I'd greatly appreciate hearing about it. Thanks!
There was an interesting site in the UK that had varieties of Orpingtons I've never seen. Check out the "Breeds, genetics, and showing" forum section on the site for the post "the most beautiful birds I've ever seen".
Thanks, I will. I looked at them again when I came home from work and I was amazed at how much more striking the coloring is on the wings of the two different looking ones. They don't have anything that could even be remotely called buff in color on their wings, but they are beautiful. The one was standing there watching me very intently when I was looking in the brooder tonight, and he didn't run when I reached in and picked him up. I'm pretty sure it's a roo cause he was as brave as my RIR cockerels and didn't run. I can't wait to see the different color variations of Orpingtons....
Sounds like you could have something other than a Buff Orpington. They start out yellowy-gold and the wings come in solid colored. Now, New Hampshires start out that yellow color, but their wings are patterned as babies.
Do New Hampshires come in bantam too? Cause I ordered all bantams, and they put in the RIR as warmers, and there was a very visible difference in the size between the bantam BO's, Frizzles, and Dark Brahma and the 5 RIR cockerels they sent with them. These little guys are listed on the box as Orpingtons, and are as tiny as the Orpingtons. Is it possible they boo booed at the hatchery?
Before their wings started to feather they were dead ringers for my Buff Orpingtons. They still look identical, only the wing patterning and coloration is different. My question still hasn't been answered though, do New Hampshires come in bantam size? Cause these two are bantams. They are cute as the dickens. I hope if that's what they are, that they are pullets. Cause I know the girls are suppose to be good egg layers! I'll try and get some pics as soon as we get a new camera. I may BE a photographer, but I don't know how to repair cameras. The lens on mine is jammed at the moment.