Orpington Hens

Orpington Hen

The Orpington hen is a large, friendly, and dependable breed known for her fluffy feathers, calm personality, and excellent egg-laying ability. A favorite among backyard chicken keepers, she’s both beautiful and practical.

Appearance:

• Build: Large, full-bodied, and heavily feathered with a rounded shape.
• Feathers: Soft and dense, giving a puffed, almost “cushiony” appearance.
• Color Varieties: Available in several colors including Buff, Lavender, Black, and Blue.
• Comb: Single, medium-sized red comb.
• Legs/Beak: Clean-legged with pinkish-white or slate legs, depending on color variety.

Temperament:

• Exceptionally docile and friendly — ideal for families, kids, and beginners.
• Very gentle around other chickens and rarely aggressive.
• Easily tamed and enjoys human interaction.

Egg Production:

• Good layers of medium to large light brown eggs.
• Lays around 180–280 eggs per year, depending on care and variety.
• Often goes broody and makes an excellent mother hen.

Purpose:

• Dual-purpose breed — great for both eggs and meat, though most people keep them for eggs and their sweet temperament.
• Popular in homesteads, small farms, and backyard coops.

Care Tips:

• Cold-hardy due to their dense feathering.
• Needs a clean, dry living space — especially around feet and feathers to prevent matting.
• Does well in both free-range and confined environments.