Orpington World - Buff Orpingtons, Black Orpingtons, Blue Orpingtons, Crele Orpingtons, Gold Laced Orpingtons

Large & Bantam Orpingtons

I’ve been keeping Orpingtons for 6 years now, and plan on keeping them forever! I currently keep, breed and exhibit 6 colours. If you have never kept Orpingtons before here is a brief insight into the breed.

They come in many different colours but the recognized colours in the UK at the moment are Buff Orpingtons, Blue Orpingtons, Black Orpingtons and White Orpingtons. There are many more non standardised colours like Gold Laced, Cuckoo, Crele, Lavender… the list really does go on. I have also just created the first Blue Mottled Orpington in the world I believe.

If you choose to keep Orpingtons you will soon realize that they are big, fluffy and super friendly - mine frequently try to enter the kitchen. They lay a reasonable 120-140 eggs per year so they do pay for their keep - plus they also make brilliant mothers!

Shown below are some photographs and a descriptions about each colour I keep.

	Blue Orpingtons The quality of these birds varies but as you can see from the photos we keep very good examples of the colour. Breeding blue x blue you will hatch 25% Splash Orpington, 25% Black Orpington and 50% Blue Orpington. Sometimes I have the breeding pen setup with Black hens over a Splash cockerel - this producing 100% Blue Orpington chicks. As with all Orpingtons they are very docile and placid.

	Black Orpingtons Probably my favorite colour of Orpington, I have been breeding and showing Black Orpingtons for 4 years now, the best result to date was a 2nd at the Federation Poultry Show. My Black Orpingtons always have good top colour - when I say top colour this is the beetle green sheen you see through out the top of the bird. I always breed black x black resulting in 100% Black chicks. Orpingtons are incredibly docile and Blacks especially look amazing running around the garden.

	Buff Orpingtons The Buff Orpington is the most recognized breed and most popular colour of Orpington, mainly due to the Queen Mother keeping them. My birds are a mixture of Danish and Belgian bloodlines resulting in well balanced, round and fluffy Orpingtons. When breeding Buff x Buff you always hatch 100% Buff. I don’t tend to show this colour due to me focusing showing the Blacks and Gold Laced but I still keep very good examples of the colour. Buff Orpingtons are very popular so please show any interest early to avoid disappointment.

	Gold Laced Orpingtons Gold Laced Orpingtons (and Black Orpingtons) are my favourite colours, the Gold Laced are truly stunning to look at. My particular strain came from Germany, I travelled to Hannover in late 2008 to bring a new improved bloodline to the UK and without a doubt you can see the difference. My breeding birds I can safely say are the best in the country, my hen took 1^st prize at the Federation in the AOC Class. I have orders until 2010 but may have some spare eggs later in the year.

	Crele Orpingtons By far the most striking Orpington, the Crele has great type and size but it is proving hard to breed them true to colour. Though the colour is proving hard to perfect they are throwing some amazing coloured birds - every one being unique in colour. If you’re looking for a unique Orpington this is the one for you!