Lavender Orpington Chickens: Breed Profile
The Lavender Orpington chicken has to be one of the most elegant and beautiful chicken breeds I’ve come across since starting our homestead. Orpingtons come in a wide variety of colors, and Lavender is one of the most uncommon.
Aside from their beauty, Lavender Orpingtons are a great breed to add to your flock because they’re friendly, docile, and great with children and beginners. Read on to learn more about this unique breed, how to care for Lavender Orpingtons, and if they are a right fit for your flock.
Lavender Orpington History
Lavender Orpingtons are descended from Black Orpingtons, which were originally bred in Orpington, County Kent, England, in 1886. According to the Livestock Conservancy, coachman William Cook developed the Black Orpington from Black Langshan—Black Minorca—Black Plymouth Rock crosses. Wikipedia reports that Cook wanted a dark, dual-purpose breed that would grow fast yet also hide the dirt and soot from London’s streets.
Although we can’t be sure of Cook’s initial intent, the Livestock Conservancy states that once the breed took off, Cook began selective breeding in order to develop new color combinations. After the success of the Black Orpington, Cook developed White, the Buff, the Jubilee (Speckled), and the Spangled (Mottled.) His son-in-law, A.C. Gilbert, is credited with developing the Blue and Cuckoo Orpingtons.
The original Black Orpington breed came to the United States in 1890 for an exhibit at the Boston Show. However, at the 1895 show in Madison Square Gardens in New York, the breed’s popularity took off.
The American Poultry Association currently recognizes four varieties of Orpingtons: Buff, Black, White, and Blue. So, the Lavender variety is not currently a breed standard. Although Orpingtons were considered endangered throughout much of the 20th Century, the breed was officially taken off Livestock Conservancy’s priority list in 2016.
Appearance
Feather Coloring
The Lavender Orpington coloration is completely unique, which is why this chicken breed is experiencing a surge in popularity. The color is a light gray-blue with violet-lavender shimmering hues in the sunlight.
It’s hard to capture the Lavender Orpington’s unique beauty on camera because the faint lavender undertones are hard to pick up. In many pictures, this breed just looks gray. However, in person these birds are subtly beautiful.
Their feathers are very light and fluffy. Although they are a large bird, their fluff make them look bigger than they actually are. The feathers should follow the contours of their body but not be tight. The picture above shows one of our Lavender Orpingtons with her feathers compressed. Many times she’ll walk or rest with her feathers fluffed out and look twice as large as she does in this picture.
Lavender Orpingtons have a short tail and clean, grayish blue feet.
Body Type
Lavender Orpingtons have a heavy body. The standard weight for an Orpington hen is 8 pounds, while a cock weighs in at 10 pounds.
Lavender Orpington Temperament
Lavender Orpingtons are laid back and docile. They are one of the best chicken breeds for kids and beginners for this very reason. Our two boys can be a bit rambunctious, but they rarely disturb the calm demeanor of these birds. With consistent and proper handling early on, Lavender Orpingtons will grow up to be a true family pet. They really love human companionship!
Although you may love their laid back, unruffled disposition, their lack of assertiveness can be taken advantage of by other flock members. This breed can be bullied and picked on by other chickens simply because they’re so easygoing. If you have an aggressive or overly assertive chicken in your flock, keep on eye on her to ensure she’s not pushing your Lavenders around too much.
Broodiness
Lavender Orpingtons have a tendency to go broody. This might be an annoyance if you don’t have a rooster, so make sure you learn how to break a broody chicken so you’re ready when your Orpington decides to sit. Keep in mind that broodiness can spread throughout your entire flock and seriously impact egg production, so it’s important to stay on top of this!
However, if you do want to hatch chicks at home then learn how to care for a broody hen so you give her the best chance of success. Lavender Orpingtons will likely go broody around once per year, usually in the late spring or summer when daylight hours are longest. Most Orpingtons make excellent, attentive mothers, so feel free to put a few other fertilized eggs under your broody hen to increase the size of your flock.
Eggs
Lavender Orpingtons don’t start laying eggs as early as some other breeds. On average, some high producing breeds will start laying as early as 16 to 18 weeks. Lavender Orpingtons, on the other hand, won’t begin to lay until they’re 24 weeks old or older.
Once they come into lay, Lavender Orpingtons are considered to be decent layers. Hens produce around 200 medium sized, light brown eggs per year, and they have a lifespan of five years. However, keep in mind that like all other breeds, egg production will decrease as the hen gets older.
Should You Free Range Lavender Orpingtons?
Lavender Orpingtons aren’t the best foragers. If you’re planning to free range your chickens, you might want to keep an eye on these birds simply because they’re a bit lazy and don’t keep a sharp lookout for predators. Adding a rooster to your flock is a great way to keep your Lavender Orpingtons safe.
You might also find that they’re loathe to leave the coop during the day. Case in point: this spring we had a problem with chicks sleeping in the nesting boxes during the day. Who were the primary instigators? You guessed it: the Lavender Orpingtons. Instead of foraging, they preferred to lay around the coop and the barn near the feeder like lazy teenagers. Every day I had to run them out of the coop just so the hens could get in there to lay.
So, can Lavender Orpingtons free range? Sure. They can find bugs and plants to eat just like any other chicken. However, they lack the initiative and drive to really get out there and forage all day long like some other breeds.
As I write this, I can see my flock of Orpingtons lounging about under the bush right outside my office. They’re chilling in the shade with the Cuckoo Marans, a breed that’s typically a great forager. Where is everyone else? Foraging in the yard and pasture, of course, eating ticks. I suspect the Orpingtons are becoming a bad influence on the Cuckoos. I might have to give them a talking to.
Lavender Orpington Health Issues
Lavender Orpingtons are considered fairly healthy, hardy breeds. However, there are a few concerns you should be aware of.
Perches
Because of their heavy body, Orpingtons need roost poles that are lower to the ground than normal. This will make it easier for them to roost at night, and help them avoid any leg injuries if they fall.
Climate
Lavender Orpingtons are very cold hardy thanks to their fluffy feathering. This makes them ideal for northern climates that experience cold winters. However, they can chill and die quickly if they get wet in cold weather. If you notice a wet bird during the winter months, take her in for a rub down and blow dry to make sure her body temperature doesn’t drop to dangerous levels.
Since Orpingtons do well in the cold, you might guess that the reverse is true in July. Lavender Orpingtons can quickly get overheated on hot summer days, so it’s essential that you have several different ways to keep your chickens cool during the summer months. More chickens die from overheating than from exposure to cold, and Lavender Orpingtons are definitely at risk in hot weather.
Always make sure they have plenty of fresh water to drink, and plenty of options for shade. You might also consider putting a kiddie pool in your yard or chicken run for your Orpingtons to step into. The cool water on their bare legs will help lower their body temperature and cool them down. Another option is to install a fan in the coop to keep the air circulating. Although if you do this, good luck getting them out of the coop at all when it’s hot out.
Mites
Orpingtons are prone to mites because of their thick feathering. Make sure you provide plenty of dust baths so they can keep their feathers clean and in good condition. You’ll also want to inspect your coop on a regular basis to make sure mites have not moved in.
Is the Lavender Orpington Right For Your Flock?
I believe that Lavender Orpingtons are a great addition to just about any flock. They’re easy-going, personable, friendly, and quiet birds that do great around rambunctious kids and other family pets. If you and your kids handle the chicks daily early on, they will turn into adorable pets that follow you around the yard.
The biggest risk with Lavender Orpingtons is keeping them healthy in very hot weather. If you live in a region with particularly hot and humid summers, make sure that you stay on top of your birds to ensure they don’t overheat.
I’d love to hear back from you. Do you have Lavender Orpingtons? What has your experience been like with this breed?
