Orpington

I got my Buff Orpingtons (BO) from Ideal Poultry. I think that they bred them terribly. They left bad traits that are very unenjoyable. Now, I'm not saying BO's are a bad breed, I'm blaming Ideal Poultry. I would really like to get them from another hatchery. It would be awesome for you to get some yourself, but be careful where you get them from. My BOs chase me trying to bite my heels. NOT FUN. Again, I don't blame them.

I was very excited to get my hands on a pair of Buff Orpingtons. Everyone says they're so friendly, and I'm afraid I've been disappointed. We just have a small flock of 3 large fowl. 2 Buff Orpingtons, and a Black Laced Golden Wyandotte. Don't get me wrong, the Buff Orpingtons are our best layers. Their eggs are big and absolutely delicious. However, they really don't have any personality at all. They are cautious and unfriendly, and they just didn't live up to my expectations. Maybe that's just because of how much I love my bantams, specifically my Serama, who is loaded with personality, even if she is stand-offish.

Overall, they're an ok breed. I still don't understand the acclaim for them, though.

I love my buff Orpingtons. They are friendly, docile, great egg layers, great mothers, great for meat. A hardy, cold tolerant breed as well.

I have 2 Buff Orpingtons. They started laying at 5 months and continued to do so through the winter with no artificial lighting. My two are extremely friendly and follow me everywhere. They will come in the house if the back door is open. They do great in cold climates. Large Chickens.


My Orps waiting for me by the back door

We have a mixed flock and our Buff Orpington never gets picked on nor does she pick on anyone else. Fits smoothly into our flock. She is a quiet bird. Always the first to eat out of our hands. Likes to be picked up and held. She is very trusting with our entire family, even the four year old. We haven't had eggs from her yet, but expect them soon. I would always have Orps in my flock.

These chickens are the cutest! They are walking fluff-balls! Tame even as chicks. Good egg producers.
Their feather size belies their true size. If you pick one up, your hands sink in and are enveloped by feathers!

My Orps are the first to come and perch on me when I sit down to "hang out with the ladies". They don't mind being handled if you need to check them over for injuries, bugs, or just cuddles. (Not all of them but 7 out of 9 of mine)

I'm thinking maybe I managed to get the only two orpingtons that aren't super friendly. I will give them another shot before totally writing off the breed... But my gal is very sassy. She is bossy to my other girls but is friendly with me. She is very small and I have to put her eggs with the bantam ones they are so tiny. She is a reliable layer. Westley the rooster had to be rehomed (he was suppose to be a hen). I was hoping to keep him since he was friendly and I heard good things about orpington roosters, but as soon as he hit puberty he became extremely aggressive and ended up giving me two massive scars on my arm. I know every chicken is different, but my two orpingtons don't fit the reviews I have read about here even remotely. Mind you, almost all of my other girls (aside from the easter Eggers) are friendly with me. If her eggs were a little bit bigger I feel like I would like her a lot more- they are just so tiny! I do love her personality with me though.

We have two Buff girls and from the time they were small they have been the most friendly chickens we have ever owned. Excellent for grandchildren to hold. When my husband goes inside the pen and sits on a seat the girls come up and will often jump up to say hi and get their feathers stroked. When free ranging they are the characters to watch out for. They like to explore and are much more docile than other chicken breeds and don't get spooked as easily. They are quick to act if they feel threatened and will seek ground cover if needed. They are regular layers and produce nice large brown eggs which will often have double yokes.

We have Buffs and love them!! They are gentle and easy to work with. Even when one is injured they are calm and easy to doctor. They are laying and our other breeds have stopped after the molt. We will be getting more!

Orpingtons are my second favorite breed besides Shamo. They are, in my mind, the #1 dual purpose fowl in the world. My hens lay very well, and my flock leader is a Jubilee Orpington cock, who produces massive and strong chicks. Even his crossbred offspring turn into great layers and heavy meat fowls. They all have lovely temperaments. Both breeder quality and hatchery quality birds of this breed make excellent birds for both the backyard and large flocks. Though avoid hatchery quality specimens for meat uses; breeder quality are more suited for producing meat fowl, since the hatchery form has been bred down severely. I also love the massive array of varieties available from breeders - everything from Jubille to Crele, Mottled to Blue, Lavender to Isabelle Cuckoo. The English forms are certainly nothing short of stunning. I would recommend this breed to anyone looking for a laying hen, a flock rooster, a meat and egg producer, a show fowl, or a good pet.

We got a Buff Orpington in a bunch of ten chicks. She is by far the sweetest chicken we've ever had besides Silkies. I don't know if she's started laying yet, but she is always first in line when I go down to the coop and is a very gentle, very sweet bird. Most of our pullets and our two cockerels except for the Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Reds, and Silkies are skittish, so I'm happy to have a friendly bird.

I had buff Orpington for 3 years and they never went broody
The rooster was aggressive and the hens only laid 3-4 eggs a week
But kept breaking them.
There eggs are big and the orpingtons look nice
Hope this helps

I had one and she was tame and very nice. She died a long time ago. :/

She was a good girl...

We have six Buff Orpington Hens and one Rooster. They are great egg layers even through the Winter months and are cold hardy. They also tolerant well excessive heat. They are extremely personable and friendly. They all have their unique personalities. The smallest of our Buffs is Suzie, but she actually rules the roost. She is extremely spoiled and likes to be placed in her special night time nesting box above the rest of the flock so that she can watch over them. They all come running when they see you and like to sit in your lap. I have a lot of snuggle buddies. We also have Rhode Island Reds which are a more aggressive breed and the Reds tend to pick on them. Thankfully they have plenty of room to get out of the way if the see a crazy red head coming their way. I love this breed. They are an extension of our family. We raise them for eggs. I would recommend this breed since they are super friendly and great egg layers.

I received my Orpington as a free bird in a shipment of Polish chickens. I'm starting to fall more for her than for the birds I've bought!! She's calm and easily adapted to being with a different breed. SHe hasn't layed yet, but I've heard Orpingtons are great layers! Reliable birds!

I have a flock of 7 different varieties and my Buff Orpington, Pecky is by far my favorite. She has so much personality and is a really funny friendly bird that lays the biggest eggs I have ever seen. She is also very consistent in her egg laying and I average 6 eggs a week many with double yolks! If I had to do it all over again I would only have Buff Orpingtons in my flock, they are truly a superior chicken in every way and a perfect choice for a backyard flock!!!

Bought our 1st Buff Orpington in spring 2013. I was amazed at how quickly she grew. She is a very good egg layer of light brown eggs. Very friendly and not aggressive. In 2014 we bought 2 more. They were purchased as 1 day old chicks from the feed store. One of the chicks died within a week. The ventilation in the brooder box (which was in the garage at the time) was not well ventilated. I did not lose any of the other chicks though, so may have just been an illness the chick had. I've had no other problems or issues with this breed.

They grow very quickly, so if you are looking for a dual purpose bird, I would definitely recommend the Buff Orpington.

This is a great all around bird, especially for a beginner. Friendly. VERY docile, can get picked on by more assertive hens, so I ordered my Buff's first to give them a two month head start on the others. They've been such a great influence on the 11 younger birds. Easy going and not flighty ( too heavy built). Great in a coop but enjoy free range as well. Very hardy and healthy. They lay a good sized egg consistently every couple days. Mine live in extreme dry summer heat and do fine with deep shade, great ventilation and plenty of cool water. I don't think they would fare well with heat + humidity in a stuffy coop. I have 3 Buff and 1 Lavender Orpington. Love this breed.

Now here we’ve got our hands on a fine docile breed! Named after the town of its origin, Orpington, Southern England, this breed has been one of the most famous English breeds across the world. This fluffy fowl first appeared in 1886 when the breeder William Cook decided to put his pure breeds of Minorcas, Langshans, and Plymouth Rocks into the work of forming a new hybrid chicken which he hoped would take a place at the top of the list in chicken breeds. The outcome was a black fluffy bird which he thought was perfect to hide the soot of London which covered his others, and when he was finally done completing the breed he brought it to the Madison Square Gardens in 1895 and, in an instance, his new bird went from a simple project to one of the most popular breeds on earth. Since then it has been bred into all sort of colors and sizes, primarily strands of white, buff, blue, lavender, and splash, the most popular in the continent of North America being the buff. The original appearance of the Buff Orpington is a heavy, broad body, with a low stance and a curvy shaped, stubby back, and white skin and legs. The facial features of the Orpington are a small red head with red ear lobes, a long thin beak, yellowy-buff colored eyes, with a small sized comb for the hens. The roosters have spikey feathers on the top of the head on either side of a large deep red crown. They are feathered in a very loose plumage which gives them the appearance of being very large, and have legs mostly covered by fluffy down. Being bred for a show bird more than a production bird, the Orpington only lays 175 to 200 eggs a year. This breed is amongst the most beautiful of chickens which is why it is a prize winner in the show!
I am breeding Buff and Lavender varieties along with some Barred Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Black Stars, Danish Brown Leghorn, and Black Australorps and this one sure is one of the most docile in the world! The roosters are exceptionally kind and add a great color to any flock. The cocks will offer you food and give little dances for you! The hens aren’t good egg layers but are very broody (My whole flock did!) and make good mothers! The overall is a very sweet, beautiful looking bird!

Summary of the Orpington

Conservation status: Recovering
Popular Names: Orps
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Use: Dual-Purpose, mainly Show
Personality: Docile to anything
Hardiness: Cold
Weight: Male: 10+ Pounds, Female: 7.5 Pounds
Feet Color: Pinkish
Skin Color: White
Egg Color: Light Brown to Buff
Comb Type: Medium Single
Plumage Pattern: Flat
Plumage: Several varieties, such as Buff, Lavender, Splash, Black, White, Laced, ect.
Broodiness: Often in the right condition