Orpington chicken facts for kids
A Black Orpington hen
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Standard |
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| Traits | |
| Weight |
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| Skin colour | white |
| Egg colour | brown |
| Comb type | medium single |
| Classification | |
| APA | English |
| PCGB | soft feather: heavy |
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The Orpington is a popular and friendly chicken breed from England. It was first bred in the late 1800s by William Cook in a town called Orpington, Kent. He wanted a chicken that was good for both laying eggs and providing meat. However, the Orpington quickly became famous for its beautiful looks and is now often seen in chicken shows.
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The Story of the Orpington Chicken
William Cook created the first Black Orpington in 1886. He did this by crossing different chicken breeds. These included Minorcas, Langshans, and Plymouth Rocks. Cook chose a black chicken because it would hide the dirt and soot from London.
When the Orpington was shown in Madison Square Gardens in 1895, it became very popular. William Cook also bred a type of duck called the Orpington Duck.
Orpington Colors and Sizes
The first Orpington chickens came in black, white, buff, blue, and splash colors. Even though there are many more colors today, the American Standard only recognizes these original ones. The buff color is the most common.
In the early 1900s, a smaller version called the Bantam Orpington was developed in Germany. Bantam chickens look just like the full-size birds, but they are much smaller. There are many colors for Bantam Orpingtons. These include black, blue laced, white, buff, red, and more. Bantam Orpingtons are also known for being friendly. They almost never fly.
Orpington Clubs
In the United Kingdom, the main club for this breed is the Orpington Club. It joined with the Orpington Bantam Club in 1975. In America, the club for breeders is the United Orpington Club. Australia also has its own club, called the Orpington Club of Australia.
What Orpington Chickens Look Like
There are two main sets of rules, or "standards," for what Orpington chickens should look like. The Poultry Club of Great Britain has one standard. It says that male Orpingtons should weigh about 3.60 to 4.55 kilograms. Female Orpingtons should weigh about 2.70 to 3.60 kilograms.
These standards also describe a chicken with a heavy, wide body and a low stance. Their feathers are very fluffy, which makes them look even bigger. The soft feathers on their body cover most of their legs. Orpingtons also have a curvy shape with a short back. They have a small head with a medium-sized comb on top.
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A Buff Orpington
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Lavender Orpington hen
How Orpington Chickens Are Used
Orpington hens lay about 175 to 200 light-brown eggs each year. These eggs are usually medium to large in size.
Long ago, some people said that Orpingtons could lay as many as 340 eggs per year! However, over time, breeders started to focus more on how the chickens looked for shows. Because of this, the number of eggs they lay each year went down.
See also
In Spanish: Orpington (gallina) para niños
