Ruth Corbin
Hatching
- Jun 20, 2017
- 3
- 2
- 2
Did you know that Buff Orpingtons are more closely related to the Leghorn breed than other Orpington chickens?
William Cook developed the first Orpington chickens (the single comb Black Orpington) by cross-breeding Minorca roosters with Black Plymouth Rock hens. He then cross-bred the Minorca/Black Plymouth hybrid chickens with Langshan chickens.
He developed the Buff Orpington by cross breeding Golden Spangled Hamburg roosters with Buff Cochin hens. Then he cross-bred the Golden Spangled Hamburg/Buff Cochin hybrid hens with dark or colored Dorking roosters. Finally, he cross-bred that hybrid offspring back with Buff Cochin hens.
None of the same mixes as the original Black Orpington!
The Lincolnshire Buff breed was originally developed by cross-breeding Dorkings and Common Fowls, then cross-breeding the Dorking/Common Fowl hybrid hens with Buff Cochin roosters. So, the Dorking and Buff Cochin are present in both the Buff Orpington and the Lincolnshire Buff. The difference is that Buff Orpingtons also were cross-bred with Golden Spangled Hamburgs.
At the time (1890's) there was an uproar among chicken lovers in England. The Orpington Club, Lincolnshire Buff breeders and other critics protested the Buff Orpingtons being included in the Orpington family. They said the breed was too similar to Lincolnshire Buffs, which were developed first. Cook eventually won the argument, obviously. Some said it was because he had connections in the poultry field and money for extensive advertising.
I love Buff Orpingtons, they are the sweetest chickens. I created a website dedicated to history and information about the breed if anyone is interested:
www.bufforpingtons.net
William Cook developed the first Orpington chickens (the single comb Black Orpington) by cross-breeding Minorca roosters with Black Plymouth Rock hens. He then cross-bred the Minorca/Black Plymouth hybrid chickens with Langshan chickens.
He developed the Buff Orpington by cross breeding Golden Spangled Hamburg roosters with Buff Cochin hens. Then he cross-bred the Golden Spangled Hamburg/Buff Cochin hybrid hens with dark or colored Dorking roosters. Finally, he cross-bred that hybrid offspring back with Buff Cochin hens.
None of the same mixes as the original Black Orpington!
The Lincolnshire Buff breed was originally developed by cross-breeding Dorkings and Common Fowls, then cross-breeding the Dorking/Common Fowl hybrid hens with Buff Cochin roosters. So, the Dorking and Buff Cochin are present in both the Buff Orpington and the Lincolnshire Buff. The difference is that Buff Orpingtons also were cross-bred with Golden Spangled Hamburgs.
At the time (1890's) there was an uproar among chicken lovers in England. The Orpington Club, Lincolnshire Buff breeders and other critics protested the Buff Orpingtons being included in the Orpington family. They said the breed was too similar to Lincolnshire Buffs, which were developed first. Cook eventually won the argument, obviously. Some said it was because he had connections in the poultry field and money for extensive advertising.
I love Buff Orpingtons, they are the sweetest chickens. I created a website dedicated to history and information about the breed if anyone is interested:
www.bufforpingtons.net
