I swear, those Buffs are the friendliest chickens I've ever seen. They see me coming and they start peeping, then they run from the coop up to the henhouse which is elevated above the coop so they can jump into my arms and crawl up to my shoulders. If I take them out of the coop and put them in the yard, they follow me around like a dog.
I had 3 of that breed at that age and went down today to pick up a couple more but they had just sold out of that age group, so I picked up a couple 8 week old Buffs instead. They're only 3 weeks younger, yet they're half the size of the 'older' pullets.
That gives me two Naked Neck hens, one paranoid Leghorn hen, the biggest and fattest goddamned rooster I've ever seen, and 5 Buff Orpington pullets.
That rooster's so fat that when he starts feeling his oats and flares on me, I can just walk fast and outrun him. He's so damned fat I've seen him laying on his side to eat. He's so fat that when he runs he reminds me of the fat boy in high school gym class running, legs pumping up and down and from side to side and still in last place.
He's so fat that the only time he can get laid is when I've got the adult birds locked up in their coop and he can corner a hen, otherwise they just walk away real fast.
That's a beautiful spread there.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Three acres of cleared land. It looks nice, but damn, with the rain we get out here I have to mow it every 5 days and that's a 3-4 hour job, plus another hour if I weedeat which I usually don't. I'm going for that wild look.
DeleteYeah; that is A LOT of grass!!! I live in the Wild West. We've got as much dust as you have grass, and it STILL takes us hours to deal with the house yard, the corral, and the fruit trees on a weekly basis! If it weren't for my wife, I'd be going for the "ghost town" look!
DeleteIt wouldn't so bad if I didn't have so much shit to mow around - ornamental shrubs and trees, swinging chair, sheds, chickens, trailer.....
DeleteI've been checking tractor supply for several weeks. Mostly Cornish cross. Today they had some ISA reds, figured what the heck and got a dozen.
ReplyDeleteSounds like he needs to be center piece in Fried Chicken Dinner and get a new rooster that can protect the flock. But that is just me.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, he's big enough that nothing fucks with his bitches. I don't even see hawks circling overhead any more since I got him.
DeleteIt's the only bird I'll have. They love my wife and are all over her when she goes to visit. Love the large and light brown egg too. They are a real proficient layer. I also like them cuz they are quiet.
ReplyDeleteWell, with a rooster on the property, noise isn't a concern although he isn't loud at all.
DeleteI thought my Naked Necks were friendly but they don't hold a candle to these Buffs. I'm pretty sure they'll be my go-to birds from here on out.
I keep finding myself going out to the pullet coop to pet them because they enjoy it so much. They'll actually push each other out of the way to get to me.
Love my buffys. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p3399yrjYtzXvaX9FTvZz1LUMwyean6o/view?usp=sharing Buffy sitting next to me on the chair.
ReplyDeleteThat's a cool picture, Jim. I'll post one of the same when they grow up a little more.
DeleteWe love our Orps! They're hard to get though! The local feed store has chicks, but they're unsexed, and given that you have a better than even chance of getting a rooster, I pass. We've got five Buff Orps. We had thirteen, but, Coyotes... Two are young, and one of those looks to be a cockerel. Our buff Orp rooster died last year. We've been looking ever since for another one. We're looking at building an Orp only flock. Best chickens on Earth!
ReplyDeleteI get mine from a hatchery/breeder down in Carthage. They charge by age, so these cost me 13 bucks a pop. Expensive, but they are healthy and sexed. I've bought every one of my birds from them and haven't got any complaints.
DeleteIf that cockerel ain't, shoot me an email and I'll send you a link to where I get mine. They might ship, I don't know. Never hurts to ask.
Those are what I kept. They are just about the best mannered chickens.
ReplyDeleteSteve in KY
Buff Orpington has Aussie beginnings. Good camo for straw colors of summer.
ReplyDeleteMedium size eggs. Less productive than my Barred Rock and Rhody Red/White hens. My
Buff Orpington rooster is an attentive pimp I've had to fight repeatedly for dominance.
A rooster is a must free ranging the flock, otherwise he might have been dinner.
I love my chickens like family.
Arrrggghhh, this is a Tennessee parrot.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that my buffs are my favorite hens out of all the breeds we have out here. The buffs are very sweet and they are social. I have 3 generations of that breed running around the yard. I have a buff rooster that thinks he's pretty tough but he is all show and no go. He's a big dude so the hens feel comfortable with him around.
ReplyDeleteHaha. Yer fat rooster.... --nines
ReplyDeletesame experience here. buff orpingtons are big teddy bears. one of ours
ReplyDeletewould get on the swing with me and fall asleep in my lap. crazy old lovable bird.