The Buff Orpington is a popular choice of duck amongst backyard poultry owners, thanks to its attractive plumage and docile personality. As a multi-purpose bird, people prize Buffs for both their eggs and their meat. Some people keep them purely for ornamental purposes. No matter how you decide to raise your bird, it’s important to understand how to care for this unique breed.
Buff Orpington Origins and Uses
The Buff Orpington is a relatively new breed of domesticated duck first introduced in the early 1900s. Most people credit William Cook, a poultry breeder from Orpington, Kent, with breeding the first iteration of the modern Buff Orpington duck.
Cook crossed several different birds to reach his final result, including the Aylesbury, Cayuga, Indian Runner, and Rouen. His end goal was to create a hardy, dual-purpose bird that came in a variety of colorations. He finally succeeded in the late 1800s, creating buff-colored, black, white, and blue duck varieties.
The buff coloration was by far the most popular, and in Great Britain, the breed became standardized in 1910. By 1914, the American Standard of Perfection included the Buff as an official breed. Nowadays, Orpington ducks are available in buff-colored, blond, or brown.
While there aren’t any wild populations of Buff Orpington ducks, they’re popular as domesticated poultry. According to the Livestock Conservancy, there are more than 1,000 breeding Buffs currently in North America.
Buff Orpingtons are prolific layers, making them a popular choice for those seeking to produce duck eggs. Their robust build and fast growth also make them good meat birds. Young Buffs reach full size and are ready to butcher by 8 to 10 weeks.
Many people describe Buff Orpingtons as having a rich flavor, but the taste of the meat largely depends on what an individual bird eats. Those allowed to forage will have a stronger, gamier taste than those who eat a commercial blend.
Physical Characteristics of Buff Orpingtons
Buff Orpingtons are “light class” poultry, meaning they’re smaller and lighter than most other duck breeds. However, compared to other light-class birds, Buffs are fairly large. They tend to reach around 23 inches in height, with hens typically weighing between 5 and 6 pounds and drakes weighing between 6.5 and 8 pounds.
You can best distinguish Buffs by their unique, light brown coloration covering their entire bodies. Males sometimes have darker feathers around the head and neck area, while both sexes may or may not have white markings. Buffs also boast distinctively large heads with curved, elegant necks similar to that of a goose. Their tails are shorter and curlier than other similar breeds.
While their plumage is a dusty buff color, these ducks boast bright orange feet. Females also have orange to light brown bills, while male bills are most often a vivid yellow.
Do Buff Orpingtons Fly?
Like most domesticated duck breeds, Buff Orpingtons aren’t able to fly. They may be able to get enough lift by flapping their wings to cross short fences but will have trouble escaping anything taller than a few feet high. Owners don’t have to worry about clipping wings or enclosing their run.
For the most part, Buffs use their wings to propel themselves forward. In the wild, this would help them to escape from predators. However, for most backyard bird enthusiasts, it just means that Buffs can be a challenge to catch and handle.
Buff Orpington Lifespan
The Buff Orpington is a largely domesticated breed, meaning that most ducks live in safety and comfort, surrounded by plenty of food and fresh water. Under ideal conditions such as these, Buffs can live as long as 8 to 12 years. In the wild, their lifespan would be significantly shorter due to hunger, disease, and predators.
Certain factors can still negatively impact the lifespan of a Buff living in captivity. Domesticated ducks aren’t immune to parasites and disease, particularly worms. It’s important to treat them regularly with deworming medicines and, ideally, a yearly vet check-up. Other issues such as stress, loneliness, or an inappropriate diet can also shorten a Buff’s lifespan.
Buff Orpington Diet
Buff Orpington ducks need a healthy, balanced diet for optimal egg production and tasty meat. They prefer to forage free-range for a variety of different treats such as worms, insects, fish, small plants, seeds, and more. However, it can be difficult for ducks to find all of the nutrients that they need in captivity.
You can supplement your flock’s diet by providing an appropriate commercial blend in a safe, dry location at all times. You can find different blends specially formulated based on age and life stage. Ducklings, for example, need a high protein content to promote growth, while layers need something supplemented with calcium for stronger shells.
It’s also a good idea to supplement your duck’s diet with fresh food from the fridge, such as nuts and berries, fruits and veggies, leafy greens, and more. They should receive a small fresh meal at least twice per day.
Like most birds, ducks digest their food using rocks and stones stored in the gizzard. Poultry owners should ensure that their flock always has access to sand or gravel for optimal digestive health.
Buff Orpington Breeding and Egg Production
Most Buff Orpington owners find it easy to breed their flock so long as they have both hens and drakes present. Though domesticated ducks don’t mate for life, they often form seasonal bonds and raise their own offspring to maturity. Owners have to do little to help the process along in most cases.
Buffs lay eggs year-round, meaning it’s possible to breed birds in any season. However, it’s best to raise ducklings in warmer weather, such as during the spring or summer, for better chances of success.
Buff Orpington hens start laying at around 25 to 30 weeks of age and continue until they reach around 5 to 7 years old. They lay one egg a day about three to four times per week, meaning that the average Buff hen will lay around 150 to 220 eggs per year. Eggs are typically large, weighing approximately 80 to 90 grams apiece. They’re white to off-white in color, with rich, creamy yolks.
After laying, Buff Orpington hens may begin to exhibit broody behavior. They’ll spend most of their time sitting with their eggs and may get aggressive with humans who approach their nesting area. Broody hens may also gather up abandoned or unattended eggs to raise alongside their own offspring.
Buff Orpington Behavior
Buff Orpingtons are known for their friendly, sociable behavior. They tend to get along well with other flock members as well as pets, livestock, and family members of all ages. However, birds may be wary of large or aggressive pets that they see as predators, particularly dogs.
Buffs are also highly intelligent and curious birds. They like to explore by foraging for food, which means that they need plenty of free space to thrive. While it’s best to have a confined run for them to wander, Buffs are intelligent enough to train. You can teach them the boundaries of their territory, and they won’t likely wander off or get lost.
Keeping Buff Orpington as Pets
While Buff Orpington ducks make both good layers and good meat birds, plenty of people keep them as backyard pets. Their calm and friendly disposition makes them a good companion for both adults and children alike. What’s more, Buffs are one of the quietest duck breeds around for noise-conscious poultry owners.
Keep in mind that even though Buffs can make good pets, they need plenty of space to roam and forage. Prospective owners should also consider that, as with any waterfowl, ducks can produce a strong smell, especially without regular cleaning and upkeep.
Tips on Buff Orpington Care
Buff Orpingtons are relatively easy birds to care for, even for beginners. However, following a few simple tips can help poultry owners to raise a healthy, happy, and productive flock of ducks.
- Be sure to offer fresh food and filtered drinking water daily.
- Provide a clean water source to keep your flock cool in the form of a tub, pond, or pool.
- For free-range birds, offer at least four sq ft of floor space per bird in their enclosure.
- Indoor, cage-free ducks should have at least ten sq ft of enclosure space per bird.
- Treat your flock with a worming medication 2 to 3 times per year.
- Stick to just one drake for every 4 to 6 hens to avoid conflict.
Buff Orpington Cost
The most cost-efficient way to purchase a Buff Orpington duck is as a duckling. New hatchlings generally cost between $2 and $10, depending on gender. Some hatcheries offer discounts when you purchase several ducklings at once.
Experienced backyard bird owners can hatch their own Buffs if they like by incubating fertilized eggs. Those with both hens and drakes can hatch their own eggs, or they can purchase a pre-fertilized one. Doing this is often slightly more expensive than buying a live chick.
You can usually purchase both eggs and chicks through hatcheries either online or in person. Many agricultural and livestock supply stores also stock ducklings in the spring and summer months.
Adult ducks are the most expensive option, running anywhere between $15 band $40 depending on the age, size, sex, and coloration of the duck. Prolific egg layers and robust meat birds tend to be the priciest, while smaller or older birds will cost less. You can find adult ducks in some livestock stores, breeders, or you can check local classified ads.
While there’s some initial cost to getting your duck’s habitat set up, a healthy flock is relatively inexpensive to keep. The main cost of raising Buffs comes from feeding, which costs most small-time backyard poultry owners less than $100 per year.
Noteworthy Facts about Buff Orpington
- Buff Orpingtons are intelligent birds that can handle simple training commands
- This breed is rare, and its status is considered to be “threatened”
- The original breeder, William Cook, also bred the wildly popular Buff Orpington chicken
Info Table
| Purpose | Eggs and meat |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Breed Class | Light |
| Weight – Drake | 6.5 to 8 lbs |
| Weight – Hen | 5 to 6 lbs |
| Eggs per year | 150 to 220 |
| Egg size | Large |
| Egg weight | 80 to 90 g |
| Egg production age | 25 to 30 weeks |
| Diet | Worms, insects, fish, small plants, seeds |
| Lifespan | 8 to 12 years |
| Flying ability | Limited |
| Personality | Friendly and docile |
| Distinguishing features | Curled tail |
| Varieties | Buff, blond, brown |
| Cost (USD) | $2 to $10 (chicks), $15 to $40 (adults) |