Buy Lavender English Orpington Chicken Online
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Lavender English Orpington Chicken
Breed Facts
- Poultry Show Class: English Class
- Weights: Hen — 9-12 lbs
Rooster — 13-15 lbs - Purpose and Type: Dual Purpose Egg Laying and Meat; Ornamental; Exhibition; Pet
- Egg Shell Color: Brownish to Cream
- Egg Production: Fair (90-120 year) (estimate only, see FAQ)
- Egg Size: Medium
- Temperament: Docile
- Fertility Percentage: 65-80%
- Broody: Variable
- Mating Ratio: 4 Females to 1 Male
- Roost Height: 2 to 4 feet
- Country of Origin: England
- APA: Not recognized by American Standard of Perfection
- TLC: Not applicable
- Breeder Farm Source: Cackle Hatchery® Poultry Breeding Farm has been developing our strain of pure Lavender English Orpingtons since 2024.
Lavender English Orpington Chicken
Breed Overview and Origin
The Lavender English Orpington Chicken is a beautiful and gentle dual-purpose chicken known for soft lavender plumage, a round English body type, loose feathering, calm temperament, winter hardiness, and cream to brown eggs. If you want a large, friendly, eye-catching backyard chicken with classic English Orpington charm, this variety is an excellent choice.
The Orpington breed was created in England by William Cook in the late 1800s. Cook developed the breed in Orpington, Kent, with the goal of creating a hardy dual-purpose chicken for eggs and meat. Although the original Orpington color was black, the Lavender English Orpington is a more recent color development.
Lavender plumage is an even shade of light slate blue. This color is also called self blue because each feather is a consistent color throughout. Unlike blue chickens, lavender chickens breed true. When two lavender birds are bred together, the chicks should be lavender.
Cackle Hatchery® Lavender English Orpingtons are 100% English stock, giving them the round, full, fluffy appearance that many English Orpington customers prefer.
Appearance and Characteristics
Lavender English Orpingtons have an even light slate-blue color, broad body, short back, short legs, small head, medium-size single comb, low stance, and soft loose plumage. Their full feathering gives them the extremely round appearance associated with English Orpington type.
Expected traits include:
- Lavender or self-blue plumage
- 100% English stock
- Large, round body type
- Short back and shorter legs
- Small head
- Medium-size single comb
- Loose, soft feathering
- Docile temperament
- Cream to brown eggs
- Dual-purpose value
- Winter hardiness
- Good heat tolerance with proper care
Because English Orpingtons have looser plumage than many American-type Orpingtons, they often look rounder, fluffier, and lower-set.
Lavender vs Blue: What Customers Should Know
Lavender and blue are often confused, but they are different.
A Lavender English Orpington has an even self-blue color caused by recessive lavender genetics. Lavender breeds true, so lavender bred to lavender produces lavender chicks.
A Blue Orpington is based on blue genetics. Blue does not breed true, so blue-to-blue breeding can produce blue, black, and splash chicks.
Choose Lavender English Orpingtons if you want a soft, even slate-blue color that breeds true.
Choose Blue Orpingtons if you like blue-gray plumage and understand that blue genetics can produce several color outcomes.
Important Shredder Gene Note
Lavender chickens can carry a feather-quality issue often called the shredder gene. This issue can cause feathers to split, fray, or look rough because the feather barbs detach.
Not every lavender chicken will show this issue severely, but customers should understand that lavender genetics can be associated with feather-quality challenges. Careful breeding selection helps improve feather quality over time.
For customers who want to learn more, Cackle Hatchery’s Shredder Gene in Lavender Chickens blog is a helpful resource.
English Orpington vs American Orpington Type
English Orpingtons and American Orpingtons share the same breed foundation, but they often look different because breeders have selected them for different traits.
A Lavender English Orpington is typically rounder, fluffier, lower-set, shorter-backed, and shorter-legged. The loose feathering gives the bird a soft, full appearance.
An American or standard Orpington may have a slightly different body outline and is more commonly discussed in relation to American Poultry Association Standard varieties.
Choose Lavender English Orpingtons if you want 100% English stock, a very round body type, loose plumage, and an extremely gentle backyard bird.
Choose another Orpington line if you specifically want an APA-recognized American show variety or a more production-focused bird.
Egg Production and Broodiness
Lavender English Orpington hens are good winter layers of medium-size eggs with cream-colored to brown shells. Egg color and production can vary by individual hen, feed, daylight, age, weather, and flock management.
As a dual-purpose breed, English Orpingtons are useful for both eggs and meat. They are slower growing than some production breeds, but many keepers value their meat quality, large body size, and old-fashioned farm breed character.
Broodiness can vary. Some hens may set and raise chicks, while others may not. When a hen does go broody, the calm Orpington temperament can make her a steady and attentive mother.
Temperament and Backyard Suitability
Lavender English Orpingtons are extremely people-friendly. Their docile temperament makes them a strong choice for families, young poultry keepers, beginners, and backyard flock owners who want gentle chickens.
This variety can work well for:
- Backyard family flocks
- Beginner chicken keepers
- Flocks with children
- Brown or cream egg baskets
- Orpington enthusiasts
- Gentle mixed flocks
- Homesteads and small farms
- Customers who want large, calm birds
- Keepers who enjoy ornamental color and practical value
English Orpingtons like to forage, but their docile nature also helps them do well in close confinement when they have enough clean space, proper feed, and good care.
Winter Hardiness and Warm Weather Care
Lavender English Orpingtons are winter hardy because of their large bodies and soft, loose plumage. They can also do well in warm weather with proper management.
For cold weather, provide dry bedding, good ventilation, draft protection, and unfrozen water. Damp coops and poor airflow can create problems even for cold-hardy birds.
For warm weather, provide shade, airflow, cool water, and enough space. Because these birds are large and fluffy, heat management is important during summer.
Lavender English Orpington vs Lavender Orpington
A Lavender English Orpington is 100% English stock from Cackle Hatchery® and is selected for English type, including a rounder body, shorter back, shorter legs, and loose feathering.
A Lavender Orpington chicken may refer to a more standard Lavender Orpington line rather than the 100% English stock type.
Choose Lavender English Orpingtons if you specifically want the round English look and 100% English stock.
Choose Lavender Orpingtons if you want lavender color but do not specifically need English type.
Lavender English Orpington vs Black English Orpington
Lavender English Orpingtons and Black English Orpingtons share the same English Orpington type. The biggest difference is feather color.
A Lavender English Orpington has even light slate-blue plumage from lavender genetics.
A Black English Orpington chicken has black plumage and represents the original Orpington color family.
Choose Lavender English Orpingtons if you want a soft slate-blue bird.
Choose Black English Orpingtons if you prefer classic black plumage and the original Orpington color history.
Lavender English Orpington vs Silver Laced English Orpington
Lavender and Silver Laced English Orpingtons both offer English body type, gentle temperament, and ornamental beauty, but their plumage is very different.
A Lavender English Orpington has a smooth, even self-blue appearance.
A Silver Laced English Orpington chicken has black-and-white laced plumage and is a rare modern Orpington color variety.
Choose Lavender English Orpingtons if you want a soft, uniform color.
Choose Silver Laced English Orpingtons if you want dramatic black-and-white feather patterning.
Is the Lavender English Orpington Chicken Right for Your Flock?
Choose Lavender English Orpington chickens if you want:
- 100% English stock
- Soft lavender or self-blue plumage
- A color that breeds true
- A large, round English body type
- Shorter back and shorter legs
- Loose, full feathering
- Gentle, people-friendly temperament
- A beginner-friendly backyard chicken
- Medium cream to brown eggs
- Winter laying potential
- Dual-purpose value
- A bird that can forage or adapt to confinement
However, consider another breed if you need maximum egg production, a smaller chicken, or an APA-recognized American show variety. In short, Lavender English Orpingtons are best for customers who want rare beauty, gentle temperament, English type, and soft self-blue color.
Care and Housing Tips
Lavender English Orpingtons need dependable care and enough space for their large, heavily feathered bodies. They do best with a clean coop, secure run, proper feed, fresh water, and predator protection.
For best results, provide:
- A dry, well-ventilated coop
- Predator-resistant fencing
- Clean bedding
- Fresh water at all times
- Balanced chick starter and age-appropriate feed
- Wide roosting space for large birds
- Roomy nest boxes for medium eggs
- Shade and airflow during hot weather
- Protection from drafts and damp bedding in cold weather
- Enough room to keep feathers clean and reduce stress
Because Lavender English Orpingtons have loose feathering, clean bedding and dry ground help maintain plumage quality. In hot weather, give extra attention to airflow, shade, and cool water.
Recognition and Availability
English Orpingtons are not yet recognized by the American Poultry Association as a separate English type. Lavender English Orpingtons are best chosen for backyard beauty, temperament, English type, and rare color rather than APA exhibition status.
Since hatch dates and shipping windows can change during the season, customers should check Cackle Hatchery’s Chicken Availability Chart before ordering.
Related Breeds and Helpful Cackle Hatchery® Resources
Customers who like Lavender English Orpingtons may also enjoy other Orpington varieties, brown egg layers, gentle family breeds, and Cackle’s lavender feather-quality resource.
Helpful Cackle Hatchery® links for this product page include:
- Orpington chickens for sale
- Lavender Orpington chickens
- Black English Orpington chickens
- Silver Laced English Orpington chickens
- Buff Orpington chickens
- Jubilee Orpington chickens
- Shredder Gene in Lavender Chickens
- Brown Egg Layers for Sale
- Rare Chicken Breeds for Sale
- Baby chicks for sale
- Chicken Breed Selector
- Chicken Breeds List Comparison Chart
- Chicken Availability Chart
FAQ: Lavender English Orpington Chicken
What is a Lavender English Orpington Chicken?
A Lavender English Orpington Chicken is a 100% English stock Orpington with soft self-blue plumage, a round body, loose feathering, gentle temperament, and cream to brown eggs.
Where did Orpington chickens originate?
Orpington chickens originated in Orpington, Kent, England. William Cook developed the breed in the late 1800s.
Is Lavender the original Orpington color?
No. The original Orpington color was Black. Lavender English Orpingtons are a more recent color development.
What does lavender mean in chickens?
Lavender is an even light slate-blue feather color. It is also called self blue because each feather is the same color throughout.
Is lavender the same as blue in chickens?
No. Lavender and blue are genetically different. Lavender breeds true, while blue does not.
Do Lavender English Orpingtons breed true?
Yes. Lavender bred to lavender produces lavender chicks.
Are Lavender English Orpingtons 100% English stock?
Yes. Cackle Hatchery® describes its Lavender English Orpington chickens as 100% English stock.
Are English Orpingtons recognized by the APA?
English Orpingtons are not yet recognized by the American Poultry Association as a separate English type.
What is the difference between English Orpington and American Orpington type?
English Orpingtons are generally rounder, fluffier, lower-set, shorter-backed, and shorter-legged than many American-type Orpingtons.
What do Lavender English Orpingtons look like?
They have soft light slate-blue plumage, a broad round body, short back, short legs, small head, medium-size single comb, low stance, and loose feathering.
What color eggs do Lavender English Orpingtons lay?
Lavender English Orpington hens lay medium-size eggs with cream-colored to brown shells.
Are Lavender English Orpingtons good winter layers?
Yes. They are described as good winter layers, though production can vary by hen, daylight, feed, age, and management.
Are Lavender English Orpingtons broody?
Broodiness can vary. Some hens may set and raise chicks.
Are Lavender English Orpingtons friendly?
Yes. They are extremely people-friendly and docile.
Are Lavender English Orpingtons good for beginners?
Yes. Their gentle temperament makes them a good option for novice chicken keepers who have enough space for large birds.
Are Lavender English Orpingtons good with children?
Yes. Their calm and friendly nature can make them a great fit for families with young poultry keepers.
Are Lavender English Orpingtons winter hardy?
Yes. Their large bodies and loose plumage help make them winter hardy.
Are Lavender English Orpingtons heat tolerant?
Yes. They can do well in warm weather with shade, airflow, and fresh water.
What is the shredder gene in lavender chickens?
The shredder gene can cause lavender feathers to split and look rough because feather barbs detach. It is a known feather-quality issue associated with lavender chickens.
Are Lavender English Orpingtons dual-purpose chickens?
Yes. English Orpingtons are dual-purpose chickens used for both eggs and meat.
Where can I check Lavender English Orpington availability?
Customers can check Cackle Hatchery’s Chicken Availability Chart for current hatch and shipping timing. Availability can change during the season.
Ordering Information
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