Ultimate Buff Orpington Chicken Guide
Adding some new chickens to your flock? Buff Orpingtons are great dual-purpose birds you might consider!

Buff Orpingtons have been a great choice for backyard chicken keepers and anyone wanting a gentle bird for their family’s flock of laying hens.
What Are Buff Orpingtons?
“Buff” is simply a color description, meaning a sort of soft orange/yellow color. The chicken itself is an Orpington, with there then being several color variations within the breed.
They are among the more docile breeds of chickens. In addition to being excellent egg layers, this large fowl can also be used for meat production.
A Quick History of the Breed
The Orpington breed originated in the late 1800s in the village of Orpington, County Kent, England.
It was developed by William Cook who was a poultry raiser at that time.
He first developed the Black Orpington and debuted it at the Chrystal Palace Poultry Show, where it won the grand prize.
Several chicken breeds were brought together to establish the Orpington as we know it today.
William Cook first crossed the Black Plymouth Rock with Black Minorcas, and then crossed those offspring with Langshans. The result was the Orpington breed.
Buffs Orpingtons themselves have a different history however. They came about via the combination of Golden Spangled Hamburgs, Buff Cochins, and Dark Dorkings. There is also the belief that the breed was strongly influenced by the Lincolnshire Buff.
I’ll be honest with you here… I don’t quite understand how Black Orpingtons that come from a completely different ancestral background as the Buff Orpingtons are all still considered Orpingtons.

What Climate are Buff Orpingtons Suited To?
With all their great fluffy feathers, they can do very well in cold climates like where I live in Minnesota. They can also do well in milder climates, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this breed if you live in a very warm climate or they might overheat.
How Big Are Buff Orpingtons?
These are a larger breed, weighing in at around ten pounds for roosters, and about eight pounds on average for a hen.
They also are very broad chested and have full, fluffy feathers. The puffy plumage combined with their larger size will make them one of the larger birds in your coop.
Their size is something to keep in mind. If you have a smaller coop or not a lot of roosting space, you might want to expand them so your delightful chickens have plenty of room to roam and rest.
Coop doors should also be an adequate size for them to get in and out of.
Buff Orpington Hens and Egg Production
Let’s talk about the most important part when considering any chicken breed, how are the hens? These girls are known to be excellent mothers and will readily raise and care for their own chicks.
They lay on average 200-220 light to dark brown eggs each year.
Like most laying hens they will produce more heavily years 1-2, less but still a respectable amount years 3-4, and then will likely dwindle down significantly after that.

What Other Color Orpingtons are There?
If you really like the Orpington breed, you can fill your coop with an entire menagerie of variations. In addition to Buffs, you can also get blue, cuckoo, ermine, jubilee, partridge, red, and white. At this time the American Poultry Association only recognizes black, blue, buff, and white.
How Much Do They Cost?
Being one of the more popular breeds, you can get a chick for around $5-6. More uncommon breeds go for around $8-11 per chick.
Where Can You Buy Them?
Again because of their popularity, you should have no trouble finding them at most poultry raisers. Murray McMurray, Hoovers, Cackle Hatchery, all carry them. You might also find them available at your local farm supply store starting around mid-March.
Bantam Orpingtons, A Smaller Option
If you really love the sound of this breed but you do not think you can accommodate their large size, then you are in luck! You can also get Buff Orpingtons as bantams.
Bantams are sort of “minis”. Many breeds have bantam or “banty” versions of them, the Buff Orpington included! On average the males only weigh three pounds, vs. up to ten with the standard size.

Drawbacks of Orpington Chickens
These really are great birds, but they do have a few small drawbacks.
First, with all their excessive feathers, you might need to keep an eye on their vent/backsides to make sure they haven’t gotten mucked up at all with poop or debris.
The extra feathers also can prevent roosters from mating them successfully. If you would like to increase the chance for fertilized eggs, it might be a good idea to trim back some of their feathers around the vent area.
If you have more aggressive breeds in your flock, because Orpingtons are so chill, they might end up being bullied or injured by other chickens.
Lastly, they are larger in size which might might not work as well for a backyard flock or smaller accomodations.
Looking for More Chickens?
- How to Get Rid of Lice in the Coop
- Recipes to Use Up Lots of Eggs
- Chicken Dumpling Soup
- How Many Nest Boxes Per Chicken
If you are new to chickens be sure to check out my Chicken Keeping Course!
Sources
- The Field Guide to Chickens by Pam Percy
- Mini Encyclopedia of Chicken Breeds and Care by Frances Bassom
- Storey’s Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds by Carol Ekarius