Black Orpington Chickens

OVERVIEW

Black orpington chicken drawn in pencilBlack Orpington Breed Standard : Black plummage with green sheen, black beak, black or dark eyes, bright red comb, face & wattles, white skin & dark legs.

 Here at Essex Orpingtons we have a very large group of blacks consisting of one utility strain and two exhibition quality strains from two different bloodlines.

We also use the blacks to cross out to  some of our other colours that are based on black to improve them.

Buy Black Orpington Chickens that are for sale

Please note: to purchase cockerels or breeding groups please contact us to discuss availability via our contact form.

Black Orpington hatching eggs ( £2.50 each )
Black Orpington hatching eggs ( £2.50 each ) (Price: £2.50)
1 x Black Orpington hatching egg laid by our own hens.
Quantity :
( 0 Available )

Black Orpington pullets for sale ( £35 each )
Black Orpington pullets for sale ( £35 each ) (Price: £5.00)
These Black Orpington pullets (pullet is a female under 18 weeks old) have been bred from our own flock and hand reared at our Essex Orpingtons farm.

Reserve by paying a £5 deposit per bird. Simply add birds to the cart and then checkout. We will then contact you regarding collection / further payment / courier services via email, phone etc..

Quantity :
( 4 available )

Black Orpington Chicken  Photos

Please click on the images below to enlarge.

Further information

Black is the oldest colour of the Orpington breed which can be traced back to 1886 when a poultryman called William Cook who resided in Orpington in Kent decided to create a new utility chicken.  The first Orpingtons were the result of mating Black Minorca cocks with black Plymouth Rock hens, then mating the black offspring from these birds with the Black Langshan.  Apparently Cook selected a black bird that would exhibit well by hiding the dirt and soot of London.

These utility egg / meat birds bear very little resemblance to the Black Orpingtons we see today.  Orpingtons are now bred as much for their looks and temperament as for their egg laying capabilities. A healthy Black Orpington hen should lay 120 – 200 eggs per year and achieve a weight of between 8-10lbs and a cock bird should achieve a weight of between 10-12lbs. A striking feature of the Black Orpington is the vivid beetle-green sheen across the feathering which is indicative of good health and purity of colour.