Buff Orpington Chickens
Baby chicks hatching weekly year round.
Orpingtons are fluffly, sweet chickens. The Buff is a gorgeous, rich, golden color.
Production: Buff Orpingtons are excellent dual purpose chickens, as they will grow to a good, heavy table weight, but are also productive egg layers. You can expect between 175 and 200 eggs per year from one Buff Orpington hen.
Temperament: Orpingtons are known to be docile, sweet birds. Aside from their practical aspects, they make good pets.
History: If there are celebrities within the poultry fancy, then William Cook must be counted among. Mr. Cook developed the Orpington breed, and named it after his hometown in County Kent, which was, of course, the town of Orpington.
Mr. Cook did more than develop a breed of chicken, though. He also did an excellent job of making that breed well known across the world. Orpingtons were popular in Mr. Cook’s native England, but he also brought them to a poultry show in Madison Square Garden in 1895 where they were met with great enthusiasm.
Due to their weight, Orpingtons do not tend to be flighty and are easily contained. And, because of their feathering, they can withstand cold weather. There are many reasons for the Orpingtons’ continued popularity, both here and across the world.
The orginal Orpingtons were Black Orpingtons, but Mr. Cook quickly added colors and the Buff was one of the first. Buff is now the most common color variety within the breed, and has always been the favorite color in the US. Buff Orpingtons were included in the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1902, a full three years before Black Orpingtons were.
Colors: Buff Orpingtons are a beautiful golden color all over. They do have a bright red comb.
Status: American Livestock Breeds Conservancy Conservation Status: The ALBC lists Buff Orpingtons as Recovering.
Average Mature Weight: 5-8 pounds
Classification: American Poultry Association Class: English
