What does "buff" mean regarding chickens?

[Feanor]

I racked my brain trying to figure out where best to post this question (I couldn't find a "General Questions" topic in the forum guide)

Anyway, What I undestand as "buff"

Generally, means big, strong, meaty--I assume a "buff" chicken is a big (as opposed to a bantam) meat or dual purpose bird

Example given, my buff Orpington is huge, she's over 7 pounds and the biggest in my flock tied in size with my Jersey Giant

Then I ran across the alternative name for Golden Comets being Golden Buffs. On Meyer and MPC's page they are described as hens about 4 pounds... that's not buff at all!!

So does buff mean big? Does buff refer to a robust laying ability or the size of the eggs they lay? What in the world does buff mean in chicken-talk?? I can't see any similarity between a compact red Golden Buff and a robust meaty Buff Orpington!

Also, I couldn't find the answer to this question any where else on google, so apparently I'm the only person to whom the answer isn't obvious

Thanks!

 

[dancingflower68]

Buff is the color

 

[TallChickMagnet]

This is a Buff colored bird...

 

[Feanor]

so why would this chicken (golden buff) be called buff when she's clearly red/white?

 

[duckinnut]

I would assume its called that because its a cross breed and a sexlink. Also known as Golden comet, Gold sex link, Cinnamon Queen amongst others.

I think "Buff" has many definitions included lack of clothing. " I was tanning on the deck in the buff".

As it refers to color "buff" pertains to the undyed skin for leather from "buff"alo, oxen of elk.

So in your case it is referring to color not the bird. Orpingtons come in other colors too such as black. The first word is the color. I have Cinnamon Queens and they have a golden/buff color. As far as I know there is no Orpington in this hybrid. I believe they are RIR hen and SLW rooster.

 

[galanie]

There are people that call Buff Orpingtons "Buffs" because they don't realize that Buff refers to the color and not the breed.

 

[BigRooNTN]

There are people that call Buff Orpingtons "Buffs" because they don't realize that Buff refers to the color and not the breed.

I love your avatar. Beautiful birds, especially the on in the foreground. Looks like a bantam of sort. I am new at this and still learning.

P.S. Thank goodness for spell check

 

[Jitamon]

buff is a color,lol

 

[Whittni]

Yup, buff is a color in chickens that varies from a light yellow to a dark gold and sometimes even an oranged tan.

 

[Narragansett]

Buff is a color? Imagine that! So I guess that all of these people who have blue chickens, doesn't mean that their birds are depressed?