Introduction
Lavender Orpingtons are beautiful and remarkably popular breed of chicken with their lovely plumage of lilac. This breed is beloved for its tenderness, friendly nature and lays a large amount eggs on high level. It is perfect for the lovers of small family homesteads: both for their first flock and for the experienced ones. In this article we will tell you everything about the history, character and features, care and benefits of this breed.
History of Lavender Orpingtons
The Orpington breed was developed in the late 19th century by William Cook in Orpington, Kent, England. They were bred to be a dual purpose bird, capable of laying brown eggs and providing good quality meat. The Lavender Orpington was developed in the early 1990s and is not an official breed recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA). It is closely related to the Orpington but is a different colour type. Lavender Orpingtons have a lovely temperament and aren’t known for being flighty.
Characteristics of Lavender Orpingtons
Appearance
The stocky, heart-shaped-bodied Lavender Orpingtons weigh in at 9lb (4kg), and a profusion of feathers, particularly around the neck and underside of the body, make them look still bigger. Their feathers are self-blue, or light grey-blue, sometimes with a lavender-coloured sheen. Their legs and beaks are the same slate grey as their feathers, and their comb is a single, five-pointed, deep red, with matching wattles and earlobes.
Temperament
Perhaps best of all, Lavender Orpingtons are docile little birds, affectionate and mostly calm. Many people have commented on their amiable temperament. They get along well with people and children, and they are intelligent and curious as well – to the point of cuddling. They are quiet and even-tempered. In short, what a lovely bird they are! With such positive qualities, it’s no wonder Lavender Orpingtons have become respected members of backyard flocks across the US and Western Europe.
Egg Production
Lavender Orpingtons are good layers, putting out 170 to 280 light brown eggs per year, depending on who you believe. The eggs are medium to large, and they can be persuaded to go broody, making them good mothers if you want to hatch chicks.
Dual Purpose
They also have value as meat birds, being another kind of dual-purpose breed. Most roosters weigh around 10 lbs; the hens weigh a bit less, about 8 lbs, so they’re pretty good-sized table birds.
Care Requirements
Housing
Big birds, they need lots of room and should be allowed at least 4 to 10 square feet of space per bird in the coop. Later in the day in the brooder area, the chicks slept on one side while the rooster scratched in soil on the other side Below, the birds will also need lots of shade and water during the summer months, and don’t tolerate heat well. Later in the day in the brooder area, the chicks slept on one side while the rooster scratched in soil on the other side They are pretty good in colder climates; their down feathers offer insulation to help them cope, but they should have areas equipped with dry nests and roosts to prevent frostbite.
Feeding
Restrictions on the number of food types (overeating and under-exercising, as is the case with pet birds) makes it easier to keep the birds slim and allow them to live a longer and healthier life. Have healthy food ready in the form of a balanced high-quality poultry feed diet with occasional treats and access to foraging. Current guidelines recommend that they have constant access to fresh water.
Health
A healthy flock of Lavender Orpingtons is no more prone to health problems than any other flock of chickens. They can, as all chickens do, be prone to infestations by mites and lice, known as red-mite, so regular checks and dust baths are important to prevent infestations. When it comes to weight, some chickens have issues with egg binding or even prolapse, so it’s worth regularly doing a quick check of body shape to be sure your chickens are in good shape.
Breeding Lavender Orpingtons
Breeding Lavender Orpingtons can be a rewarding experience. It is quite easy to do, since the lavender gene is a recessive gene and needs to be present in both parents to produce an offspring with this endearing colour. Despite its recessive nature, selective breeding can be quite helpful in improving the feather quality, since the lavender gene often comes with poor feather structure.
Getting Started with Lavender Orpingtons
Choosing the Right Chicks
If you’re going to start with Lavender Orpingtons, for example, know that, when choosing chicks, you should look for ones that are healthy, active, with bright, clear eyes and clean, fluffy down feathers. Avoid chicks that are lethargic or visibly deformed.
Setting Up the Brooder
Before you get your chicks home, find a brooder for them – a box with a heat lamp, soft bedding and food and water dishes, set to a temperature of 95°F (35°C) for the first week of life, lowered 5°F each week as they grow into their coop.
Breeding Lavender Orpingtons
Breeding Basics
Breed Lavender Orpingtons for fun. If you are a fan, making your own chicks can be rewarding. Select males and females that are healthy, mature and have good type and temperament. Let them mate naturally or use artificial insemination.
Incubation and Hatching
If you’re keeping eggs warm to hatch them, this means keeping the temperature at about 99.5°F (37.5°C) with an average humidity of about 55-60 per cent; keep turning the eggs several times a day until the last few days before they hatch. Chicks will generally hatch after 21 days. They’ll then need to go into a brooder.
Behavior and Temperament
Typical Behavior
Specially bred Lavender Orpingtons, for example, are known to be calm, friendly and docile. They generally tend to be less aggressive than other species, and are good with children and other animals. They also tend to make happy social birds, which can bond closely with people.
Handling and Socializing
However, for properly socialized chickens, a slow and gentle touch can be a good thing, so handle them frequently in their first weeks of life. Spend some quality time with your flock on a daily basis by talking with them, offering treats, and imprinting on them. Properly socialised chickens are less flighty and can be handled more easily, ultimately making them more playful and pleasant companion animals.
Seasonal Care
Winter Care
In winter, make sure your coop is well insulated and your birds stay warm by adding extra bedding. Use a heat lamp if temperatures get extremely cold. Make sure water does not freeze, and give your chickens a little more feed to generate body heat.
Summer Care
During the summer, make sure your chickens have plenty of shade and fresh water to keep cool. Be sure that the door of the coop is closed most of the time to prevent overheating. In especially hot areas, consider installing fans or misters in the coop to provide more air circulation and evaporation.
Variations of Lavender Orpingtons
There are several variations of Lavender Orpingtons, including:
Lavender Isabel Orpington: Cross between a lavender and a partridge, the result is soft yellow-orange bird.
Lavender Cuckoo Orpington: A lavender cuckoo with barred black quills and faint black striping, because of the barring gene.
Benefits of Raising Lavender Orpingtons
Egg Production
Lavender Orpingtons are excellent layers, producing around 200-280 medium to large brown eggs per year. Their consistent laying makes them a great choice for backyard flocks and small farms.
Meat Quality
While primarily raised for their egg-laying capabilities, Lavender Orpingtons also provide good-quality meat. They have a decent size and produce tender, flavorful meat, making them a dual-purpose breed.
Aesthetic Appeal
One of the standout features of Lavender Orpingtons is their stunning plumage. Their soft lavender-gray feathers make them a beautiful addition to any flock, adding a touch of elegance and charm to your backyard.
Breeding Lavender Orpingtons
The lavender gene is recessive, which makes breeding for it more complicated, but the result is rewarding. Here’s a multistep process for you to follow:
Understanding the Genetics
Lavender Orpingtons have a lavender colour because they carry a recessive gene. Two parents that each carry this gene will produce offspring with lavender plumage. If a lavender rooster is paired with a Buff Orpington hen, the rooster can pass its lavender gene to its daughters but not to its sons. If the lavender rooster is bred to a Buff Orpington, the first generation (F1) offspring will be a mixture of buff and lavender colour. This first generation will be split for the lavender gene but not lavender-coloured. Breeding F1 birds to one another will produce second generation (F2) birds: half of them (25 per cent) will be lavender, half (25 per cent) will be buff, and half (25 per cent) will be split for the lavender gene but not lavender-coloured.
Breeding Steps
Initial Cross: Cross a lavender rooster with a Buff Orpington hen. The F1 will be heterozygous for the lavender gene.
Inbreeding F1 Generation:cross the F1 generation. You will get 25 per cent lavender chicks, 50 per cent split for lavender, and 25 per cent without the lavender gene.
Parental Selection and Backcrossing: Pick the best lavender F2 birds and cross them back to the pure Orpington to introduce more Orpington genes while retaining the lavender colour.
Further refinement: Continue, in every generation, selecting the birds with the best feathers and then backcrossing, in order to improve feather quality and general health.
Challenges and Considerations
Feather Quality: Occasionally linkage with the lavender gene results in poorer feather quality, so it’s important to choose carefully.
Monitoring Health: Routine health checks should include body weights to avoid obesity and regular limb checks to prevent walking problems.
Health and Maintenance
They are generally healthy birds but, because of their size and feather density, their care must be tailored for them to stay healthy.
Common Health Issues
Weight Issues: Orpingtons, and especially lavender Orpingtons, tend to eat too much and exercise too little, becoming overweight and uncomfortable. Pay close attention to their diet and their weight. Do not overfeed. Keep them outside on pasture as much as possible with plenty of room to climb trees and fence posts to keep them trim.
Leg Problems: Size can put strain on their legs, leading to arthritis. Keep perches low so they can’t get injured jumping.
Parasites: Periodically inspect for lice and mites in the vent area and under the wings, and regularly supplement dust baths to help resist parasites.
FAQS
Are Lavender Orpington Chickens Rare?
Yes indeed. Lavender Orpingtons are a rare breed because the lavender gene is recessive, meaning a rooster must carry the gene for lavender if it’s to be passed on to a female, and a hen must carry it to produce a lavender Orpington male (these birds are all female). Plucking the feathers from these birds is quite easy.
How Many Eggs Do Lavender Orpingtons Lay Per Year?
Lavender Orpingtons usually lay between 170 and 200 light brown eggs a year. Some sources say they can produce even more than that — up to 250 a year in perfect circumstances.
Are Lavender Orpingtons Good for Families with Children?
Absolutely. Because of the calm and friendly temperament of lavender Orpingtons, this breed makes great pets for families with children. They are very docile and like to interact with humans making them great companions.
What Are the Housing Requirements for Lavender Orpingtons?
But they will each require four to 10 sq ft of space in a coop, and shade and water during the hotter months of the year because of their heavy feathering, which can lead to overheating.
Conclusion
So, between their lush colour, their friendliness, and their abilities as egg layers and general charmers, Lavender Orpingtons have become a preferred and welcome addition to many backyard flocks. Seriously, if you’re looking for a good egg layer, a good meat bird, or a good family chicken, Lavender Orpingtons are a top choice. You can do it right and make your birds – and you – happy.
