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Orpington
ChickenFew breeds say "backyard favorite" like the Orpington, a big, soft-feathered English bird developed in the 1880s near Orpington, Kent. Its plush plumage — famous in buff, plus black, blue, lavender and more — wraps a genuinely gentle, sociable temperament that tolerates handling and children well. Hens are dependable layers of large brown eggs and go broody readily, making natural, attentive mothers. Calm, cold-hardy and forgiving, Orpingtons are one of the best choices for first-time keepers.
Beginner friendly
Quiet breed
Good with kids
Cold hardy
Broody
Good to know
- Gentle, docile — great with kids and beginners
- Lays ~200-250 large brown eggs a year
- Goes broody often; an attentive mother
- Plush feathering handles cold well
Egg colorLight Brown
Egg production200–250 / year
Weight8–10 lb
TemperamentDocile
BroodinessFrequent
ClimateCold hardy
PurposeEggs, Meat
Varieties
Black
Blue
Buff
Lavender
LemonWhiteRose Comb BlackRose Comb BlueSplash
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