The Buff Orpington is the golden retriever of the chicken world: soft buff feathering, calm and friendly enough to lap-sit, an excellent broody mother, and a reliable brown egg layer. The classic backyard 'pet with benefits' breed. FastPoultry takes free quote requests for Buff Orpington as hatching eggs, day-old chicks, started pullets, and adult birds and matches each one with NPIP-certified breeders within 1 business day.
| Origin | Kent, England - 1894 by William Cook |
|---|---|
| APA recognized | 1902 |
| Conservation status | Recovering |
| Also called | Buff, Orps |
| Adult weight | Roosters 10 lb, Hens 8 lb |
| Size class | Standard |
| Eggs per year | ~200 |
| Egg color | Brown |
| Egg size | Large |
| Broodiness | High |
| Cold hardiness | Excellent |
| Heat tolerance | Fair |
| Noise level | Quiet |
| Flight tendency | Calm/won't fly |
| Beginner friendly | Yes |
William Cook of Orpington, Kent, set out to develop a chicken that would replicate the table quality of Asian breeds while keeping the laying productivity of British breeds. The result, first shown in 1886 as Black Orpington, evolved into a multi-color family - Buff, White, Blue, Splash, Lavender, and others. Buff is by far the most popular variety, prized as much for its personality as its production. Heritage Orpington bloodlines are larger and more productive than the hatchery 'Buff Orpington' strain commonly sold; serious breeders work to maintain breed-true show standards.
Best for: eggs, meat, pet, show, broody mother, kids
Slows to ~150 in years 3+. Hens go broody often, halting laying.
| Indoor coop space | 4.5 sq ft per bird |
|---|---|
| Run space | 12 sq ft per bird |
| Roost bar | 10 in per bird |
Space: Heavy feathers + plump body = poor heat tolerance. Provide shade and water in summer.
Feeding: Standard layer 16% feed. Tendency to obesity - skip the daily scratch handout.
Health: Fluffy butts collect droppings; trim feathers around vent quarterly. Watch for fly strike in summer.
Climate: Bred for English cold + wet. Thrives zones 3-7. Struggles above 90F - cool shade is mandatory.
You can request Buff Orpington through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 4 request pages for hatching eggs, day-old chicks, started pullets, and adult birds, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Buff Orpington are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
A Buff Orpington hen lays roughly 200 eggs a year, and the eggs are large and brown. Slows to ~150 in years 3+. Hens go broody often, halting laying. Broodiness is rated high. Real production depends on strain, hen age, season, and daylight, so ask breeders about the laying record of their parent stock.
Yes. The Buff Orpington is rated beginner friendly. Temperament: calm, friendly, docile, broody, lap-sit-friendly; cold hardiness: excellent; heat tolerance: fair; noise level: quiet. It is best for eggs, meat, pet, show, broody mother, and kids. Check local rules on roosters and flock size before you buy.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
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