Buff Orpington (Chicken) (Goat) — FarmPal

The golden retriever of chickens friendly, fluffy, and great with kids. Excellent dual-purpose: 200+ eggs/year and a plump table bird. The most recommended breed for beginners.

Origin
Orpington, Kent, England
Conservation Status
common

Traits

7-8 lbs
Dual-purpose
Friendly
Cold-hardy
Goes broody
200+ eggs/year

✓ Pros

  • •Extremely friendly lap chickens
  • •Great egg layers (light brown)
  • •Good meat bird
  • •Cold-hardy
  • •Will hatch own eggs
  • •Beautiful golden plumage

✗ Cons

  • •Can be bullied by aggressive breeds
  • •Tendency to go broody (stops laying)
  • •Not heat-tolerant
  • •Can get obese without foraging

Housing Requirements

Space
Chickens: 4 sq ft indoor, 8-10 outdoor. Turkeys: 6-8 sq ft indoor, 20+ outdoor. Ducks: 4-6 sq ft. Geese: mostly outdoor, minimal shelter needed.
Fencing
Chickens: 4-5 ft fence or electronet. Turkeys: 4 ft fence (clip wings) or free-range with guardian. Ducks/geese: low fencing works they don't fly much.