Lorax Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 Our black orpington doesn't scratch the ground like all our other chickens. She's lovely but completely different to all the other chickens we've ever had. Not at all like a chicken! Has anyone else ever come across this? She's still quite young but I thought scratching was innate behaviour? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 I had an Mini Orpington who wasn't fussed about destroying the garden....she seemed to wander around in a permanent daze. She didn't even make normal chicken noises, she did a good line in squeaking. Her favourite thing was to lay ing the middle of the garden snoozing in the sunshine. She just didn't get the hang of being a chicken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorax Posted April 30, 2015 Author Share Posted April 30, 2015 She sounds very like ours! She isn't laying yet (tbh I can't even imagine her doing anything as chicken-y as laying an egg!), but she also squeaks, although she can also cluck. She's very beautiful, she looks like a raven close up, totally black eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 My mini Orpington was gingery coloured , she did lay the occasional egg. Rather than walking she bounced and flapped her wings. The other chickens just humoured her, like a scatty eccentric aunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 30, 2015 Share Posted April 30, 2015 A large black orpington female is the most beautiful chicken in the world to my eye They do scratch, but they are not quite as destructive as some other birds, its part of their docile nature. Having said that, our grass has plenty of dust baths made by orp claws. They love to rootle through leaf litter and twigs and will happily trample over your plants even if they don't dig them up They will also eat many prize possessions especially in the veg bed so I'd fence that off - they are quite piggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 I've got 2 or 3 hens that won't scratch around or dig their own dust baths they just wait for the others to do the hard work then muscle in on them then go back to their favourite sun trap or perch and sleep their exertions off after all it's hard work letting the others do your digging for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
