Have you ever wondered what makes Buff Orpington chickens so darn popular among backyard flock owners? Well, I’m here to tell ya – their stunning appearance is definitely part of the charm! As someone who’s raised these golden beauties for years, I can confirm they’re as gorgeous as they are gentle.
In this article, I’ll walk you through everything about the Buff Orpington’s appearance – from their fluffy feathers to their distinctive body shape and everything in between. Whether you’re considering adding these birds to your flock or just curious about this beloved breed, you’ll learn exactly what makes a Buff Orpington so visually striking.
The Basics: What is a Buff Orpington?
Before diving into their appearance, let’s clarify what we’re talking about. A Buff Orpington is actually just an Orpington chicken with buff-colored feathers. “Buff” refers to their golden-yellow coloration, while “Orpington” is the breed itself.
Orpingtons were developed by William Cook in the late 1800s in Orpington, Kent, England The Buff variety was the third color created and has become the most popular of all Orpington color varieties today
The Distinctive Buff Orpington Appearance
Size and Body Shape
Buff Orpingtons are BIG birds! They typically weigh:
- Roosters: 8-10 pounds
- Hens: 7-8 pounds
But here’s the interesting part – they actually look even larger than they are because of their loose, fluffy feathering Their body shape is distinctive
- Broad, stocky build
- Short back and legs
- Wide breast
- U-shaped silhouette (especially noticeable in roosters)
When you see a Buff Orpington in profile, they have this gorgeous curved outline that makes them look almost heart-shaped or like a fluffy U. Their bodies are carried low to the ground, which sometimes causes their underbelly feathers to actually touch the ground!
Plumage and Color
The defining feature of Buff Orpingtons is, of course, their beautiful golden-yellow feathering The best way I can describe their color is like a ripe peach or a warm honey glow Each feather should ideally be a consistent color throughout with no mottling or spotting.
Their feathers are:
- Soft and abundant
- Fluffy yet smooth in texture
- Loosely feathered (not tight to the body)
- Rich golden-buff color (like a warm honey)
A quirky thing about Buff Orpingtons – their beautiful plumage can fade when exposed to the sun and rain. After their annual molt, their feathers grow back in an even more stunning deep buff shade. It’s like getting a feather refresh!
Head Features
The head of a Buff Orpington is relatively small compared to their plump body, which adds to their adorable appearance. They have:
- A small head atop a short, thick neck
- Bright red single comb (upright and medium-sized)
- Medium-sized red wattles
- Red earlobes
- Short, stout beak
Legs and Feet
Buff Orpingtons have distinctive legs that are:
- Short and set wide apart
- Pinkish-white in color
- Feather-free (clean-legged)
Unlike some breeds that have feathered legs, Buff Orpingtons have clean legs, though they’re often barely visible beneath all that fluffy plumage!
Tail
The tail of a Buff Orpington is:
- Abundant with feathers
- Curves up and over the back
- Forms a rounded cape shape
- Coverts are especially plentiful, creating a cushiony appearance
The Difference Between Hens and Roosters
If you’re trying to tell apart male and female Buff Orpingtons, here are some visual clues:
Roosters:
- Larger overall (about 10 pounds)
- Larger comb and wattles
- More pronounced U-shaped silhouette
- Longer, more pointed tail feathers (sickles)
- May have somewhat thinner plumage, especially around the neck
Hens:
- Smaller (about 8 pounds)
- Smaller comb and wattles
- Rounder overall appearance
- Fuller, fluffier appearance all around
- Rounded tail without sickles
What Do Buff Orpington Chicks Look Like?
Buff Orpington chicks are absolutely adorable! When first hatched, they’re covered in soft yellow down. They don’t have the defined buff color yet, appearing more as a fuzzy yellow ball than the true buff of mature birds.
As they grow:
- Newly hatched: Soft yellow down, pinkish beak, legs, and feet
- 2-3 months: Enter the “ugly stage” with patchy feathering
- 5-6 months: Buff-colored feathers fill in nicely
- 1 year: Full mature plumage with peak color depth and volume
Breed Variations and Look-Alikes
While we’re focusing on Buff Orpingtons, it’s worth noting that Orpingtons come in other colors too, including:
- Black
- Blue
- White
- Lavender
- Partridge
Each color variety has the same body type and features – just a different plumage color.
Don’t confuse Buff Orpingtons with:
- Buff Plymouth Rocks (more upright stance, less fluffy)
- Buff Cochins (feathered legs, different body shape)
- Buff Brahmas (larger, feathered legs)
Why Their Appearance Matters
The appearance of Buff Orpingtons actually relates to their temperament and usefulness. Their large, fluffy bodies make them:
- Excellent cold-weather birds (all those feathers provide insulation)
- Less heat-tolerant (can struggle in hot weather)
- Less able to fly (their weight and body shape limits flight)
- Calm and slow-moving (their body type isn’t built for speed)
Practical Considerations Based on Appearance
Because of their unique look, Buff Orpingtons have some special considerations:
- They need lower roosting bars (or easy access to higher ones) due to their short legs and heavy bodies
- Their fluffy underbelly feathers can get wet in snow or mud, so covered runs are important
- Their large size means they need more space in the coop and nesting boxes
- Their low carriage means they need clean coops to prevent feces from getting on their abundant feathers
Why I Love the Look of Buff Orpingtons
I gotta say, these chickens are just beautiful to watch in a backyard setting. Their golden color catches the sunlight in a way that makes them look like they’re glowing. And there’s something so satisfying about their plump, rounded shape – they look like chicken teddy bears!
They’re also visually calming. Unlike some of the more angular, athletic chicken breeds that dart around, Buff Orpingtons move with this slow, dignified waddle that’s just pleasant to observe.
To sum up what a Buff Orpington chicken looks like:
- Large, plump body with a U-shaped silhouette
- Rich golden-buff colored feathers that are soft and abundant
- Small head with red comb, wattles, and earlobes
- Short legs that are often hidden by fluffy feathers
- Tail feathers that curve up and over in a rounded shape
- Overall appearance is like a fluffy golden teddy bear!
If you’re looking for a chicken that combines beauty with personality, the Buff Orpington might be your perfect match. They’re not just pretty birds – their gentle, friendly nature matches their soft, rounded appearance perfectly.
Have you added Buff Orpingtons to your flock? I’d love to hear your experiences with these golden beauties! Drop a comment below and share your Buff Orpington stories.
Buff Orpington chickens: Not hardy in all conditions
Buff Orpington chickens can really struggle in the heat. As a heavy and densely-feathered breed, they cannot regulate their body temperature as well as other breeds. Heat waves can be fatal for these birds.
One chicken keeper said of her hen, “We LOVED our Buff Orpington. She sadly died in our second summer in an extreme heat wave. Everyone else was totally fine, but she just couldn’t handle it.”
Another said of hers, “I found her a couple summers ago during our heat wave dead… She was about a year and a half old.”
In the video below, you can see what a Buff Orpington struggling in the heat looks like. She’s in the shade with her wings held away from her body, and she’s panting. This is one uncomfortable chicken. Notice that the other breeds of chickens in the flock appear to be much less affected by the heat than she is.
As with all chickens, Buff Orpingtons need a limitless supply of cold, fresh water and shade, but when temperatures soar, this may not be enough for them. Below is a video made from a Buff Orpington breeder that gives you some ideas on how to keep your Buff Orpingtons cooler in the summer heat.
You may also want to consider coop fans, such as this wall mount outdoor and waterproof fan from Amazon, or even AC.
You’ll also want to make sure you have good dust bathing spots set up in the shade for your Buff Orpingtons to help them cool down. Here, you can see a video of a Buff Orpington happily dust bathing.
And below, you can see a Buff Orpington dust bathing with a Rhode Island Red. Pretty cute.
This is something you’ll read on websites all over the place.
But the truth is, there are two exceptions to the cold hardiness of Buff Orpingtons.
The first exception is Buff Orpington roosters with very large combs. If your Buff Orpington roosters have large combs, they will be prone to frostbite, a condition that’s just as painful for chickens as it is for you or I.
You can typically prevent this frostbite if you hang a sweeter heater over your roosting bars.
The second exception to Buff Orpington chickens’ cold hardiness is when they get wet. When a chicken’s feathers get wet, she can no longer insulate to stay warm, and she is also prone to frostbite. While this simple fact is true for all chickens, Buff Orpingtons are much more susceptible to getting wet in the winter than other breeds.
With their extreme fluffiness and low carriage, Buff Orpingtons’ underbelly feathers can easily get soaked in the snow, just by walking outside. In the photo here, you can see how close to the ground these birds carry their bodies.
So, in order for your Buff Orpingtons to be cold hardy, you absolutely must be sure your yard is setup to keep them dry in the winter. For starters, a covered run is a must.
Many of us adore Buff Orpingtons because they are such a calm and docile breed, but, unfortunately, these very characteristics make them vulnerable to predators. Buff Orpingtons lack the strong fear response that protects many other breeds of chickens.
One chicken keeper told this story about her Buff Orpington flock, “We loved our 4 buff hens and rooster, but the hens were just an easy target while free-ranging. Thankfully, the rooster warned us when a coyote was about to take a hen, but the hen ignored the rooster and coyote and continued foraging. I was able to chase the coyote off, but can’t always supervise them, so we sold them to a farm with a large coop and run for their own safety.”
Another chicken keeper said her Buff Orpingtons are “the first breed to be targeted by hawks, coyotes, raccoons and other predators if we let them free range.” She said they are “also, very slow in reacting to a predator, [and] will just stand there or slowly walk straight into the predator.”
On the flip side, Orpingtons are very large chickens and their large size does deter some smaller predators.
And, depending on your environment, Buff Orpingtons may have the advantage of blending into the background. For example, I live in the dry foothills of Southwest Idaho, and Buff Orpingtons camouflage beautifully here.
Buff Orpington chickens do forage very well if they’re allowed to free range. Here you can see a video of two 6-year old Buff Orpington hens foraging in a forest.
As great foragers (among many other things), Buff Orpingtons are often a favorite breed among homesteaders. In the video below, you can learn why they are such an excellent bird for a barnyard setup.
And, just for fun, in the video below, check out Annie, the Buff Orpington hen, as she “forages” a cockroach in the living room. She is seriously fast!
Buff Orpington chickens tolerate confinement to a run well. However, remember that because these are larger-than-average birds they do need a larger-than-average space in their run.
And the more space you are able to give your Buff Orpington chickens in their run, the happier they will be. Remember, these birds love to forage, so if you can provide them with enough room to forage, they will be in heaven.
Because Orpington chickens are heavy with dense feathering and short legs, they don’t fly well at all (unless they are immature), so you don’t need to have tall fences to contain these birds. A fence that is a few feet tall will usually do it. However, if you have aerial predators, you will need to cover their run with a roof or netting.
And, in fact, you will likely need to cover their run anyway if you have soil that gets muddy or you live in a climate that gets snow. Orpingtons carry their bodies very close to the ground. And some Orpingtons have underbelly feathers that actually touch the ground, so it is imperative you protect these undersides from getting wet or muddy.
Also, keep in mind that because Orpingtons are so large, they will also require more space in the coop than your average breed. This means more space on the roosting bars, more space in the nesting boxes, and a larger pop hole door.
Alternatively, you can have a regular-sized pop door with a very shallow ramp or large steps that give them easy access to the pop door. You can see an example of this in the video below.
And one last thing about coop requirements for Orpingtons. Because these birds are so large with such short legs, they may need lower roosting bars than other breeds (or easy access to higher roosting bars, such as stairs).
You’ll also need to make sure to keep these roosts free of droppings each day (a good habit anyway), because you don’t want their low underbelly feathers getting wet with feces.
Origin of Buff Orpington chickens
Buff Orpington chickens are one of several varieties of Orpingtons. And they aren’t the original Orpingtons. That honor goes to the Black Orpington, which was developed by William Cook in the English town of Orpington in County Kent in the 1880s.
But wait… This commonly told story about the origin of Buff Orpingtons, which is told in almost every book and on every website about chicken breeds, may actually not be true.
Many British scholars and poultryman believe the Buff Orpington was actually developed from the incredibly rare Buff Lincolnshire chicken, a breed found in the Spalding area of Lincolnshire in the 1850s.
The Buff Lincolnshire, an older breed than the Orpington, also claimed a Buff Cochin and Dorking heritage. The breed went extinct in the 1920s, but was recreated in the 1980s by the breeder Brian Sands in conjunction with Riseholme Agricultural College in England.
Buff Lincolnshires physically differ from Buff Orpingtons in that they’re less fluffy and have 5 (rather than 4) toes.
Either way you look at it, Buff Orpingtons come from a very different heritage than the other Orpington varieties.
The Buff Orpington, like most heritage breeds, lost popularity in the 20th century during the era of factory farm chickens. Buff Orpingtons, of course, cannot produce the large number of eggs that factory farm laying hens can, and they grow much more slowly than factory farm broilers.
Buff Orpingtons dwindled in numbers and were listed on The Livestock Conservancy’s endangered species list. However, the breed was recently removed from that list in 2016, largely due to renewed popularity with backyard chicken keepers and fanciers.
How to tell if a Buff Orpington chick is a male or a female
FAQ
What does a full grown Buff Orpington look like?
Buff Orpingtons are very large, heavy, and fluffy chickens. They have a stocky build and a broad body with short backs and legs. You can usually only see a tiny bit of leg showing from underneath their loose, prolific feathering.
What color eggs do Buff Orpington lay?
Buff Orpington chickens lay large, light brown eggs. While the typical egg color is light brown, some individual hens might occasionally produce white eggs, though this is less common for the breed.
How big does a Buff Orpington get?
A full-sized Buff Orpington rooster weighs about 8 to 11 pounds, while a hen typically weighs 7 to 8 pounds. These large, heavy birds look even larger due to their broad chests, deep bodies, and dense, fluffy plumage.
What are the pros and cons of buff Orpingtons?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Docile and friendly | Can get picked on by other flock members |
| Good chicken for beginners | Don’t handle heat well |
| Great with kids | Love to eat – a lot |
| Not susceptible to any diseases | Not particularly predator savvy |