Buff Orpington — Day-Old Chicks
Buff Orpington — Day-Old ChicksNPIP Certified Hatchery - License #51-770
- 180–200 Eggs/Year
- Large Light Brown Eggs
- 20–24 Weeks to Lay
- Minimum 6 chicks per shipped order. Mix any breeds on the same hatch date to reach 6, or order 12 or more and the Marek’s vaccine is free.
- No small order fee. Shipping is $34.95 for 6–25 chicks by USPS Priority Mail · $49.95 for 26–50
- Live Arrival Guarantee on every shipped order
- Marek's vaccine available: free on orders of 12 or more chicks, otherwise $0.75 per chick. Check the box in your cart.
- Free local pickup in Preston, MD, no minimum
Checking hatch dates…
Orders close Sunday at 11:59 PM Eastern before each Tuesday hatch date. After that, that week is no longer available, so please choose another week from the dates still open.
See other hatch dates
📦 Learn how we carefully pack and ship your chicks →
If chickens had a personality contest, the Buff Orpington would win every time. These fluffy, golden beauties are the gentle giants of the backyard flock — calm enough for kids to hold, productive enough to keep your egg basket full, and hardy enough to thrive in any season.
Why backyard keepers love them:
- 🥚 180–200 large light brown eggs per year — reliable production from a breed that actually enjoys being around people
- 👋 Famously docile temperament — the friendliest breed in the coop, great with children and other birds
- ❄️ Cold-hardy and adaptable — their dense, fluffy feathering keeps them comfortable through harsh winters
- 🐣 Excellent mothers — known for going broody and raising their own chicks naturally
- 🌿 Dual-purpose breed — raised for both eggs and meat, making them a practical homestead choice
What to expect from Chesapeake Hatchery chicks:
Our Buff Orpingtons are selected for true golden plumage, calm disposition, and consistent laying. Marek's Disease vaccination is optional and is not included in the chick price. To vaccinate your chicks, check the Marek's vaccine box in your cart. Chicks are backed by our live arrival guarantee. Whether you're building your first flock or adding a crowd favorite, Buff Orpingtons never disappoint.
Weeks to first egg: 20–24 weeks
Egg size: Large
Egg color: Light brown
Common questions about Buff Orpingtons
Are Buff Orpingtons the friendliest chickens?
They're one of the most docile breeds there is, calm enough for kids to hold and easygoing with other birds.
How many eggs do they lay?
About 180–200 large light brown eggs a year, starting at around 20–24 weeks.
Do Buff Orpingtons go broody?
Often, yes. They're excellent mothers. If you don't want chicks, collect eggs daily.
Do they handle cold winters?
Yes. Their dense, fluffy feathers keep them comfortable in cold weather.
Pairs well with:
- Lavender Orpington: the same sweet nature in a rare color
- Black Australorp: more eggs, the same gentle personality
One of our most-requested breeds — reserve your spot before the next hatch is gone.
Breed specifications
Breed specifications
Production
Maturity
Temperament
Appearance
Adaptability
Chick care overview
Chick care overview
Brooder temperature: Start at 95°F for the first week, reducing by 5°F each week until fully feathered.
Food & water: Offer chick starter feed and fresh water immediately. Dip each chick's beak gently into the water on arrival to encourage drinking.
Hydration boost: We include hydration supplements in your shipment — add to water for the first 24–48 hours to help chicks recover from transit.
Space: Allow at least 0.5 sq ft per chick in the brooder for the first few weeks.
Watch for: Huddling under the heat source (too cold), panting or moving away from heat (too warm). Active, spread-out chicks are happy chicks.
For detailed care guides, visit our FAQs.
Shipping
Shipping
Your chicks ship in a USPS-approved live animal box designed specifically for safe poultry transport, complete with soft bedding, temperature control packing, and hydration supplements for the journey.
We take immeasurable care in every shipment — each box is packed with your flock's safe arrival as our top priority.
Day-old chicks ship by USPS Priority Mail with live-animal handling, the same day they hatch. Most orders reach your local post office in 1–2 days; some rural areas take up to 3. Started pullets ship by USPS Priority Mail Express, as USPS requires for older birds.
LIVE CHICK SHIPPING
USPS Priority Mail:
6–25 chicks — $34.95
26–50 chicks — $49.95
51–100 chicks — $59.95
Optional Priority Mail Express at checkout: $56.95 for 6–25 chicks, $66.95 for 26–50, $76.95 for 51–100.
Shipping farther than a day's drive from Maryland, such as south of the Carolinas or west of Ohio? We recommend Priority Mail Express. Express chicks are loaded first and usually arrive sooner, but USPS does not guarantee delivery times for live animals.
Ordering more than 100 chicks? Call us at (410) 635-1970.
Minimum shipped order: 6 chicks • Mix & match breeds
Local Pickup — Wednesdays in Maryland
No shipping fee · No minimum order
Live Arrival Guarantee
We stand behind every shipment. In the rare event that any chicks do not survive transit, you will receive a full refund for those chicks.
The chicks arrived happy and chirping. One of the buffs die a few days later. All of the rest are getting big and buff 🤣
one died, I tried to keep her alive but she and a leghorn didn't make it so i have three.