Chicken Boy Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 (edited) Hello folks, I've not posted on here in a while, as I lost my three girls to a fox attack a number of months back. To be honest, I've not had the heart to replace them, so I've not been on here much. However, with Spring coming up, I've decided to get some more birds. I'm looking at getting some Buff Orpingtons. I want a bird that is friendly, quiet and a reaosnably good layer, and everything I've read about the Buff seems to indicate that it looks like they fit the bill. I live in a housing estate, so want to keep noise down to a minimum. My three girls were characters, but they couldn't half make a racket when laying. I never got complaints, but only found out my neighbors annoyance after they were gone I've also got two young children, four and two, who are able little helpers, so they need to be friendly. I'd like to find out what your experiences are with these birds, especially related to their docility? I'm also looking for a breeder in the Wolverhampton/West Midlands area. I'm happy to do a bit of travel if needed. Thanks in advance for your help! Cheers, Dan Edited February 17, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Hi, I've got a buff orpington and a cross between a two orpingtons( same size and temperament but different colors). They make fantastic pets. Very friendly, lay great eggs and what i like best is that they can't fly very high and because of their large size they are great for children to pick up, very sturdy. Love them to pieces. They make a bit of noise when laying but no more then a crow or a dog so isn't a problem.Hope this helps and really sorry re fox attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Hi Dan i love my buffs they are so friendly but they can be whingy i have a couple that just go round and round all day moaning for nothing and they dont have pens they just run free so maybe mine are just whingy i wouldnt expect loads of eggs from them as all mine lay for a couple of months and then decide to go broody maybe other peoples are different i wouldnt be without mine leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I hear that sussex and bluebelles are really friendly, and lay well. im getting some on saturday, so ill tell you then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneyolktoanother Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 i have a buff orp and a buff wyandotte, they are both lovely and have great temperments but the buff orp does get broody alot which hence me dragging her out the coop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 All my LF orps are as quiet as church mice (except the boy ) and haven't gone broody for years . Egg production isn't great; but young healthy girls should give you 3 or 4 a week; its a bit pot luck - some strains are better than others. I know some people have noisy birds, there will always be exceptions but generally speaking orps are known as a quiet breed. They are certainly a docile breed and therefore excellent for children. The only thing I would say is that they are rather on the large side so a bit of a handful for small people. You could consider orp bantams, equally as docile, but in my experience a bit squawkier - but thats possibly because I have mine in with some noisy polands! In fact all the neighbourhood bantams like to shout after an egg, whereas the larger ladies around and about don't seem to bother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie1007 Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 I have a buff orpington and she's lovely - she is very nosy and inquisitive, she is clucks quietly unlike my squawking silkie! She's really friendly and I think she's the one who is laying at the moment out of the 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella14 Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 Orpingtons are lovely birds. I'd also recommend considering Barnavelders. Like Orpingtons, they are pure breds, but they lay more (about 250 per year) and in my limited experience (my suppliers and my one bird!) are quieter. Also large birds (not quite as big as full size Orpingtons), docile, sweet and with gorgeous plummage and the most beautiful deep brown speckled eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megalin Posted February 17, 2011 Share Posted February 17, 2011 We have a wonderful Orp! I love her to bits. She follows me around and is interested in everything. She chuckles pleasantly while pottering about but makes a bit more noise if I don't let her free range for a bit in the day but is very popular with the neighbours. She is big and looks really striking when wandering round the garden. I've heard lots of good things about the Barnevelders too and think we may get one next. Can't comment on eggs, we've not got any yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margalot Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Hi have you thought about Brahmas?? I wanted some Buff Orpingtons, but couldnt locate any near me and was getting impatient. Then I stumbled upon Brahmas, They are known as the gentle giants of the chicken world! They are unvbelievably docile and large and fluffy. My hens are gorgeous so docile always under my feet, one of them runs to me for petting and pushes through the others so she can be tickled uner her beak! See if you can research about these hens they are wonderful for small children! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Our buff orpie was as scatty as anything - hated to be picked up and always running away. She turned out to be the best layer - we had 2 other orpies (splash and blue), but then she became broody and nothing would shake her out of it. We hatched some chicks under her, but she was too good a mum and wouldn't eat and anything given to her was immediately passed on to the chicks. Even if we separated her she fretted and wouldn't eat - if she did eat anything it wasn't enough to sustain her - quite distressing for us. Sadly she died, but the chicks were well able to fend for themselves by then. I don't remember her making a noise like the other two (WHIIIIIIINE, WHIIIIINGE) but her broody gargles were really funny. But not all birds are the same - one of the chicks was a buff Sussex and in spite of all the handling she is a little demon from hell! Why couldn't she be more like Mostin's buff Sussex girls!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna C Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Hi Dan, We got our orpingtons from pages poulty, she's on the net. Very nice lady has loads of chickens and happy to show you around. Great for advice etc after aswell. She had some wonderful orps we are going back to get another asap. Have a lool at her internet site.Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshchwcks Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Hi, We got our Buff orpington last week and love her to bits already. She is so tame, friendly and follows me round the garden. She is big with big feet so would probably be a bit for young kiddies. We are just waiting for her to give us an egg now I got her from breeder in Malpas, Cheshire and he was great with information etc Let me kow if you want his number. Have a look at some pics of her from my link below. Hope you get one soon Elaine x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Boy Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 Thanks for all the replies folks, and apologies for the lateness of my reply! I've finally got my run fox-proofed, so I'm looking to move some Orps in very soon. Page's Poultry looks like my best bet so far, so will be heading up there soon. I'm away in May, so will probably wait until I get back. Getting impatient though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
