You should know right off the bat that this article is going to be extremely biased: I both keep Orpington chickens and LOVE the breed to a pretty immense degree. However, I will do my best to provide you with a more unbiased view on why this dual-purpose heritage chicken is one of the BEST choices for anyone — homesteader or suburban backyard chicken keeper — this is a breed to seriously consider adding to your flock.
- Primary use: Dual-purpose (meat & eggs)
- Size (Roosters): 8-12 lbs (and they can get MUCH bigger too)
- Size (Hens): 6-8 lbs
- Egg production (Annual): 200-250
- Egg size: Large
- Egg colour: Light brown
- Origin: United Kingdom
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Top Reasons To Choose The Orpington For Your Flock
- Dual-purpose. The Orpington is a fantastic meat bird with large breasts and thighs, but it is also an excellent layer, producing anywhere from 200-250 eggs annually. Dual purpose breeds are my preference, and although we added a dozen egg-laying specific chickens this year (Azure Blues & Olive Eggers), there is something special about an old heritage breed that does it all.
- Orpingtons lay large to jumbo large eggs and will lay throughout the winter in the right conditions.
- Orpingtons do well in colder weather. So long as your flock has the appropriate winterized shelters, they shouldn’t mind colder temperatures.
- Although they do not lay exotic blue or green eggs, the eggs they do lay are very pretty in their own right and range from light brown to an almost pinkish-beigy-brown. Sometimes they are speckled like in the photo above.
- They are BEAUTIFUL! Orpingtons are some of the flashiest, fanciest, prettiest birds you will ever see. They come in a variety of colors (including black, blue, splash, lavender, speckled and more) and are so fluffy!
- They are BIG! And they look even bigger due to the profusion of soft fluffy feathers covering them. Bigger birds means more meat too. The roosters are particularly impressive size-wise and mine come up past my knees in height.
- Speaking of roosters — Orpington roosters are perfect gentleman. Although I do not recommend leaving children unattended around roosters, I really have no fear from mine at all. They are friendly, wary, and respectful of people, and this has been the case even when I have hatched out too many of them. (Wish I could say the same about my Bresse roosters, they are terrifying and aggressive!)
- Great with children. Orpingtons are a great choice for a family with children, especially young children.
- Orpingtons are also known for being a very docile and easy to handle bird, making them a great choice for first-time chicken owners. They are not known for being particularly flighty or skittish.
- QUIET! I'm amazed how quiet my Orpingtons are, even when laying eggs. The roosters crow maybe once a day in the morning.
- They lay for a long time. Years in fact. Did you know that many egg laying breeds will reach their peak within two years and then decline? Not Orpingtons. You can expect many years of beautiful large eggs from your flock.
Cons
- Orpingtons are a healthy, hardy breed but they can be prone to health problems if they are not well-cared for; they require proper care, habitat, and nutrition — like all chickens.
- Orpingtons are slow to reach full slaughter weight. In general, they are slow growers like many heritage breeds.
- Although they do lay many eggs and for a long time, it can take them quite a while to get going. Orpingtons don't start laying until they are 6-8 months old.
- Orpingtons are cold-hardy due to their size and immense feathering but they may not do as well in very hot climates. Make sure your birds have access to shade, dust baths, and plenty of fresh water. Make sure your coop is well-ventilated but draft-free.
- They require more food, due to their size, and this should be taken into account as well.
- If you only want chickens for eggs and are worried about the rising costs of chicken feed, consider a different breed. We also have Olive Eggers and Azure Blues strictly for eggs (alongside our Red Rangers which we're raising for meat but are technically dual-purpose) but there are many more to choose from too.
Breed Origins, History, & Standards
The beautiful Orpington breed hails from Great Britain. It was developed in the town of Orpington, Kent by William Cook, a coachman. In the late 1800’s was a period known as “Hen Fever” that had ignited a passion in the public for peculiar breeds of chickens and the Orpington was borne from that era.
Cook first developed the breed by crossing a Minorca chicken and a Black Plymouth Rock. From that offspring more chicks were bred with clean-legged Langshans. William Cook intended to develop a breed of chicken that was dual-purpose and he succeeded.
But after causing a stir with his new breed at a show, the Orpington and its profusion of beautiful feathers quickly also became a favorite chicken breed for those who love to exhibit and show poultry.
Their feathers were also used in hat-making and other accessories.
Color Varieties
Although the Orpington now comes in many colors, these are the original accepted varieties.
Note that not all colors are accepted in all breed standards depending on te country.
- Black
- Blue
- Buff
- White
Size and Traits
The Orpington chicken breed was developed in the United Kingdom in the late nineteenth century.
They are large chickens, with an Orpington rooster weighing in at around eight to 12 pounds, and hens weighing six to eight pounds. Both roosters and hens are known to grow to be much larger, though, so always note that Orpingtons have the potential to be impressively large poultry.
Orpingtons are docile chickens that do well in confinement, but they also enjoy free-ranging and exploring space allocated to them. This makes them, overall, an easy chicken to handle.
They are also cold hardy birds that can tolerate cold weather better than some other chicken breeds. Orpington chickens make good pets and can be friendly toward children and other animals. They adapt well to their living conditions and don’t require a lot of attention as long as their basic needs of food, water, and space/shelter are met.
Broodiness
The hens do tend to go broody and are thought to be excellent mothers. The hen is a sitter and will hatch out her eggs and raise the chicks by herself.
See Also:
Types of Orpington Chickens
There are three main types of Orpington chickens to take note of, and an additional breed that was once associated with Orpingtons:
English Orpingtons
English Orpingtons are what I raise. They are the largest, fluffiest, and most beautiful with short backs and upright tails.
These are the original Orpington breed. They have single combs, and their legs are covered by their fluffy feathers although the legs themselves are clean.
They are broad and round and come in a variety of colors, including buff Orpingtons, white, black, blue, and even a combination of colors (often referred to as diamond or splash).
American Orpingtons
The American Orpington is a chicken first bred in New York in the early 1900s and was bred based on the English Orpington.
American Orpingtons have rose combs, and their legs are not as hidden by feathers. They are also not as broad in stature as their English counterparts and are overall leaner foul. They lack the short backed appeal of the English varietals that I find particularly charming and beautiful.
Hatchery Orpingtons
Hatchery Orpingtons are a ‘cheaper’ version of the breed that does not resemble an Orpington in body type. I do not recommend them personally.
A hatchery or ‘commercial’ Orpington is a chicken mass-produced by a hatchery. Hatchery Orpingtons are the most common type of Orpington chicken found in the United States. They are typically white or buff-colored, although there is some variation in color depending on the hatchery.
Hatchery Orpingtons are usually smaller than English or American Orpingtons, with roosters averaging about seven pounds and hens around five pounds. They are very good layers of brown eggs, and like other Orpingtons, they are docile and calm.
To me they do not resemble true Orpingtons at all. I'm sorry if this offends you.
Australorp (Australian) Orpington
There is also a fourth type of Orpington, but they are considered a separate breed.
Australorps were developed in Australia from Black Orpingtons brought from Great Britain in the 1920s. Australorps are the largest type of Orpington chicken, with roosters weighing in at about 12 pounds.
While English, American, and Hatchery Orpingtons bear lower-statured bodies and round shapes, Australorps have a more upright, stern posture and a sleeker appearance overall.
Orpingtons are a notoriously docile, well-mannered breed. They can be handled most times and are a good choice for beginners or families with children who want to raise chickens.
Whether you are a homesteader or live in the suburbs, this breed is an amazing choice.
It's a friendly and versatile chicken for a backyard chicken coop. Whether you’re seeking a pet, a source of fresh eggs, meat, or all three, these chickens have a variety of appealing traits, including a history of being an overall healthy breed with a friendly temperament and excellent egg production.
There are many colors to choose from, too, whether you prefer lavender Orpington, Blue Orpington, or Buff Orpington chicks.
Learn More About Chickens:
- Rhode Island Red {Worth The Hype!}
- Keeping Ducks And Chickens Together {Yes You Can}
- Salmon Faverolles {The Beautiful French Chicken That Lays PINK Eggs!}
- Plymouth Rock {Popular For Good Reason}
- Dominique Chicken {America's Oldest Heritage Breed}
- Ameraucana Chicken {The Purebreed Blue Egg Layer}
- The Australorp Chicken {Top-Choice Dual-Purpose Breed}
- Wyandotte Chicken {The Most Beautiful Dual-Purpose Heritage Breed?}
Troy W. says
If you had to choose between the Bresse and Orpington, which one would you get? I'm looking for a true dual purpose with decent egg production and great, healthy meat.
The Peasant's Daughter says
You can't go wrong with either to be honest. The only reason we're not doing Bresse this year is because I hatched out an absurd amount of roosters and TWO hens! And neither hen was breeding quality, one being absurdly small.
Some points to consider from my personal experience which may or may not apply to you: Bresse roosters are extremely aggressive, at least mine were. Even when separated out into their own bachelor pad for fattening up, I had to be extremely wary of them. Orpingtons are considerably more docile and easy to manage, roosters included, and the Orpington rooster is much quieter. If you have children this is something to think about especially.
Orpingtons have more meat on them — larger breasts and thighs, white skin, a good amount of fat. Even with finishing both my Orpingtons and Bresse in the same way, I didn't notice a difference in flavour. This may be because of the North American genetics and may not apply to true French Bresse. Bresse get to slaughter weight faster though. Orpingtons are slow growers. Both are great foragers but the Orpington will consume more feed by the end.
Both lay a good amount of eggs but the Bresse hen will start to lay earlier by as much as 4 weeks.
The other issue is that I really only have roosters to compare and they require different cooking methods. Because both breeds reach slaughter weight after sexual maturity, and I'm not willing to caponize myself nor do I know of a vet that could come do it, I've only been able to cook them with more traditional slow/low/wet methods like coq au vin. I personally prefer a good coq au vin over a roasted chicken but it would also be nice to have the option for either.
This may not be much help unfortunately.