When I started raising chickens, I didn’t care much about chicken colors until I saw my neighbor’s Lavender Orpington.
This bird was just different. Purple-ish feathers that caught the light in this weird, pretty way. Made all my regular chickens look plain.
So I asked her about it. Keeping these chickens is a great deal in the world of chickens. They’re sweet, have good lay-egg capabilities, and they don’t cause any problems in that process.
The purple thing? That’s where it gets interesting.
Once, my neighbor talked about how she waited eight months to get hers. Eight months! Nobody has these birds because they’re hard to breed.
Cackle Hatchery calls them “one of the rarest color varieties in the Orpington breed.” Makes sense now.
The genetics are messed up or something. Most breeders won’t even try because it’s such a headache.
But watching that purple chicken walk around my neighbor’s yard? I get why people wait for them.
What is a Lavender Orpington Chicken?
You are frustrated now. Why not explain what exactly this is? So what exactly is a Lavender Orpington? It’s simply an Orpington chicken with a cool purple-gray color instead of the usual buff or black.
They’re the same bird as regular Orpingtons, just wearing a different outfit. The purple comes from special genetics that make their feathers look lavender.
Origin and History of Lavender Orpington
The Orpington story begins in the 1800s when William Cook bred these remarkable chickens in a small town in England.
Named after his hometown, these birds were designed as dual-purpose chickens – excellent egg layers and substantial meat birds perfect for the dinner table.
When they arrived in the U.S., they became an instant hit at poultry shows. The real black-colored breed expands quickly to include white, red, and buff varieties, making them an American favorite by the mid-20th century.
Especially, this breed represents a recent addition to this beloved breed.
This stunning color was introduced in the late 1990s as a diluted black variety. After decades of careful breeding work in the U.K., this variety now breeds true – meaning two Lavender parents reliably produce Lavender babies.
Today, these gentle giants continue to grace both home garden coops and popular exhibition halls worldwide.
What are the Physical Characteristics and Appearance of Lavender Orpington?
Distinctive Lavender Coloring:
This dual-purpose breed is eggs- exactly, so what their name suggests – a stunning departure from the traditional Buff variety.
Their feathers show a unique light purple tinge that sets them apart from other chickens. The light-colored feathers have a pearl-like quality with a pretty type of silvery-lilac tint.
Think of it like using purple toner on blonde hair – that’s the exact shade these beautiful birds display. Having raised various strains over the years, I can tell you this pretty coloring is what makes them so sought after at show events.
Size and Body Structure:
These are large and sit close to the ground with their characteristic arched, broad back.
Their stubby tail gives them a compact appearance, while their broader frame showcases dense plumage with a loose-knit texture that adds to their impressive size.
After handling these birds, their substantial build makes them excellent for both egg production and meat purposes. Their low-slung body structure is a hallmark of the Orpington breed.
Detailed Physical Features:
Their dark grey, slate-colored legs are clean and free of stray feathering, which is essential for show-quality birds.
Everyone has a single, five-pointed, bright red comb along with matching wattles and earlobes.
Their bay-red eyes provide a striking contrast against their lavender plumage, while their beaks show a dark, horn-colored finish.
These specific physical traits combine to create truly magnificent birds that catch the attention of any flock.
How Big are Lavender Orpingtons?
Lavender Orpington hens weigh about 8 lbs when weighing them as adults, while roosters reach 10 lbs.
Their plumped-up purple plumage makes these large birds look even more substantial than their actual weight. They are considered to be large ones in the chicken world.
Why Are Lavender Orpingtons Rare?
Yeah! They are rare; the reason behind this is that the lavender gene is dominant in most cases. While breeding, both parents must carry it for the chicks to show that beauty, such as purple coloring.
This gene also sometimes causes weak feather development, which requires breeders to balance genetics from time to time through careful breeding programs to maintain healthy, functional plumage.
What Are Lavender Orpington Chickens Like to Keep?
This heritage breed has won me over completely – they’re tough birds that can handle whatever the weather throws at them, but they’re also the biggest softies you’ll ever meet.
These friendly, affectionate ladies will come running when they see you, practically demanding belly rubs and begging for treats like spoiled pets.
The best part about these chickens is that they want to be around you.
They’re super easy to care for and turn every trip to the coop into a social visit, with them following you around and “talking” your ear off about chicken gossip.
Are Lavender Orpingtons Like Other Orpingtons?
This one belongs to the original breed, but it has a gene ‘lav’ which shares the genetic characteristics like their feathering, temperaments, appearance, and others like that.
Again, I am saying that it could be like the original breed, but due to ‘lav’, they can share traits.
What is the Lavender Orpington Breed Standard?
Here’s the thing about Lavender Orpingtons – they’re still flying under the radar officially.
The US and UK poultry associations haven’t given this color their stamp of approval yet, so there are no specific variety standards for these lilac beauties. But honestly, with how popular they’re getting, I’d bet money it won’t be much longer.
For now, if you want to show these rare chickens, you’ll need to follow all the regular Orpington breed standards – just with that gorgeous purple twist that makes everyone do a double-take at the show ring.
What are the different varieties of Orpingtons?
The Orpington family is way bigger than most people realize – there are 12 known varieties out there! Buff takes the crown as the most common color since it’s been a crowd-pleaser for decades, while lavender and Spangled sit at the opposite end as the rarest varieties.
You’ve also got White, Birchen, Chocolate, Cuckoo, Gold Laced, Jubilee, Lemon Cuckoo, Partridge, and Red Orpingtons to choose from.
If you strike out finding a lavender Orpington, don’t give up on the breed entirely – mixing a few of these gorgeous varieties makes for one seriously eye-catching flock that’ll have your neighbors stopping to stare.
How are Lavender Orpington Bantams?
These bantam-type chickens are like finding a four-leaf clover – absolutely rare gems here in the US, but perfect for folks with smaller backyards who still want that Orpington magic.
These chicks like fluff balls only weigh about 34-38 ounces, so they need way less space, food, and everything else.
Trust me, you’ll become that person who is showing off photos of your tiny lavender powder puff, which may follow you around like a shadow.
Sure, they’ll give you just under 200 smaller eggs instead of the full-sized haul, but watching these mini miracles waddle around your yard makes up for every missing egg.
What about Lavender Orpington Roosters?
Roosters are about as chill as roosters get – they’re genuinely friendly birds who’d rather avoid trouble than start it. Like any good dad, they’ll step up to protect their hens and chicks when needed, but they’re not looking for fights.
Most backyard keepers skip keeping these boys since breeding is tricky business, and hens are way more predictable than their male counterparts.
Unless you need a bodyguard for free-range birds, many folks just stick with the girls.
That said, these roosters are pretty docile if you handle them regularly from when they’re young. They’re friendly for roosters, sure – but remember, they’re still roosters at the end of the day, so don’t expect them to be lap chickens!
Lavender Orpington Hens vs Roosters
Telling male and female chicks apart is like playing a guessing game most of the time. The males usually sport longer tails while the female chicks keep theirs shorter, but that’s about the only reliable tell early on.
Both boys and girls will have those faint white streaks near their upper wing joints, though females often show more lines on their backs. Sometimes you’ll spot a cute little brown beauty spot on top of a female’s head – like nature’s way of giving you a hint.
Sexing your chickens from this variety before they hit maturity is mostly guesswork, so don’t feel bad if you get it wrong. Even experienced chicken folks mess this up regularly!
What Do Lavender Orpington Chicks Look Like?
Don’t expect their chicks to pop out of their eggs looking like tiny purple fluff balls – that’d be too easy!
These baby chicks start life with adorable, fluffy, greyish, and yellow feathers, with just hints of lavender showing through here and there. Their little beaks are black from day one, which is a good sign you’ve got the real deal.
The magic happens when your pullets hit maturity. That’s when they’ll finally show off their proper grown-up feathers and sprout that cute little red comb.
You’ll notice their color shows up on their wings first – it’s like watching them grow into their fancy purple party dress!
Which colour eggs do Lavender Orpingtons lay?
A misconception in the chicken world is that they lay purple eggs. I am sure to say that they are not purple egg layers. Their egg colour is pale brown, and the size is large.
How Many Eggs Do Lavender Orpingtons Lay?
Hens are solid performers in the egg department – you can count on 3-4 eggs a week from each girl, adding up to around 200-280 eggs per year. They usually get their act together and start laying somewhere between 5 and 7 months old, and once they flip that switch, they’re pretty consistent about it.
The Thing that makes them great among all chickens is that they’ll keep cranking out eggs even when it’s freezing outside – the cold doesn’t faze them one bit.
Just watch out for their tendency to go broody and want to hatch everything in sight, which can put a temporary halt to your egg collection!
Do Lavender Orpington Hens Go Broody?
They go broody – expect it at least twice a year, thanks to their incredibly strong maternal instinct. When those hormones kick in, you’re in for a real battle trying to get them off their eggs!
After raising chickens for years, I watch these ladies; their breeding behavior is fascinatingly complex – they’re almost like Silkies in how determined they become.
These magnificent birds make adoptive Mommas who will sit on anything, so understanding what your hen’s body needs during this time helps both you and your feathered kids.
Do Lavender Orpingtons Make Good Backyard Chickens?
Yes, they are best for backyard chickens thanks to their easygoing nature, inspire nature with fun, and make them friendly to keep. These amenable birds work perfectly whether you are free-ranging them or keeping them in a well-sized chicken run.
What makes them perfect family birds is they’re healthy, cold, hardy, and not demanding while being naturally quiet – a real bonus for keeping your neighbors happy and your household sane!
How Much Space Do Lavender Orpington Chickens Need?
They need a generous run of 8 to 10 square feet per bird to get proper exercise, though these somewhat lazy ladies don’t need much motivation. They’re not big on trying to fly or forage aggressively, so smaller fences work fine for keeping out predators.
Inside the coop, plan on 4 to 5 square feet per hen – these girls wear natural fluffy jackets year-round, so they get hot fast in cramped spaces. This becomes especially important in warmer conditions when they need extra room to cool down.
Keep roost heights low since these hefty birds can easily injure themselves when hopping down from high perches.
As a broad breed, they’re not the most graceful, so anything around 1.5 feet high works perfectly for these substantial chicken ladies.
Are Lavender Orpingtons Cold Hardy?
Usually, these are trained to live in colder climates; they can handle hot seasons also, but for that, they need extra care, excessive amounts of cold water, and shade.
In winter, they are a perfect match.
Are Lavender Orpington Chickens Noisy?
They make their name in the list of the quietest breeds. They can crow sometimes very nicely while they are chattering if you see them.
What is the Average Lifespan of an Orpington?
If you care about your flock, how long can they live? Then, most of the time, they can live 5-8 years, while some of them can live 10 years if you do extra care.
Their hardy nature and calm temperament help them have a long lifespan compared to other chicken breeds.
Lavender Orpington Health Issues
They are generally hardy hens, but their heavy build and somewhat lazy nature can lead to expanding waistlines if you’re not careful.
Obesity becomes a real health issue to watch for with these substantial chickens who’d rather lounge than exercise.
Their weight also makes them prone to leg injuries, especially when jumping down from high perches or navigating elevated coop entrances. From my point of view, keeping everything low and accessible prevents most problems with these hefty ladies.
Breeding Lavender Orpingtons
Breeding them is a genuinely tricky business that’s best left to experienced expert breeders who understand the complexities involved.
The lavender-colored gene is recessive, meaning both parents must carry it to produce a baby with that gorgeous purple hue.
Even with two unrelated carriers, you’re looking at only a 65-80% fertility rate – places like Cackle Hatchery work hard to maintain these lusted-after lines.
The lavender mutation is linked with abnormal feather development issues, including the shredder gene problem.
This tail shredder effect means the barbs on feathers don’t interlock properly, reducing insulation and overall function. From what I’ve seen, successful breeders constantly balance genetics to keep these chickens both beautiful and healthy.
The challenge is that every clutch hatched requires careful selection to maintain the breed standard while avoiding the genetic pitfalls that come with this stunning chicken variety.
My Experience With Orpingtons in My Flock
What struck me first about these free-range chickens was their incredible gentleness with other flock mates – they naturally settle at the bottom of the pecking order and stick together as a group.
My mixed flock has learned to accept these calm giants without much drama.
Their medium light brown eggs come consistently, delivering around 170-200 eggs/year per hen, though the broody problem can be real.
When they decide to grow a family, it’s surprisingly easy to break their broodiness with some persistence and patience.
Those big, poofy feathers make them look heavier than they are, and they’re more vocal than I expected – not exactly noisy, but they like to chat. Overall, they’ve been nice additions that make perfect gentle giants in any backyard setup.
