Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds.
Proverbs 27:23

We purchased 6 chicks from Tractor Supply a while back.  We ended up with 2 Rhode Island Red roosters, and 4 Red Sex-Link pullets.  They are now laying beautiful large brown eggs.
We also have 4 Barred Rock chicks for sale along with 2 guinea keets.  There are 3 pullets and 1 cockerel.  This would make a great addition to your home flock.  $60

Buff Orpingtons

We have Buff Orpingtons chicks coming in early November 2014.  
They should be available for sale in mid-January.  Check back soon for more details!

This photo is not mine, but it is so typical of the Orpington breed.  Good setters and good mothers.  We just love the golden color of these chickens!
Two day old chickie babies from McMurray Hatchery. 
Received February 10, 2014.
Five week old chickie babies.  They sure do grow fast!  Everyday, I look at them and thing, "Wow!  They're getting so big!"
Photo taken March 19, 2014.
 
 

About the Orpington Breed
The Orpington is a breed of chicken named after Orpington, England, which was made famous in part by this breed. Belonging to the English class of chickens, it was bred to be an excellent layer with good meat quality. Their large size and soft appearance together with their rich color and gentle contours make them very attractive, and as such its popularity has grown as a show bird rather than a utility breed. They go broody very often, and make great mothers. Although rather heavy, they are able to fly small distances but rarely do, so they work well as backyard birds. Due to their build they do well in very cold climates.

The Orpington has a heavy, broad body with a low stance, and the down from their body covers most of their legs.

Some characteristics of an Orpington are:

Heavy weight (7 to 10 pounds),
Soft, profuse feathering, which almost hides the legs of the bird,
Curvy shape with a short back and U-shaped underline,
A small head with a medium single comb.
Large and usually easily tamed
Fluffy feathers making it look distinctively large.

Orpingtons lay about 175 to 200 medium to large light-brown eggs a year. They do not stop laying in the winter.

It was said that at one time Orpingtons were capable of laying as many as 340 eggs per year. This decline in production was due to breeders selecting for looks over utility.

The chickens also get large, so they are suited for eating and make great mothers. All of these qualities make them perfect Homestead chickens.