What Kind of Chicken is this?

[MrsJewelsRae]

The other day our family went to a small town zoo and they had a whole lot of chickens. In one cage, they had the biggest chickens I've ever seen! They were are a butterscotch colour and very large. They were fluffy, but not like a silky. The rooster was just massive, he seemed to look 15 lbs! The cage only listed them as being "Golden-Yellow" and I've never heard of that and can't find anything on google. The only thing I can think they resemble is a Buff Orpington, which I've never seen IRL, but coloring is similar. I know Buffs are big, but are they that big!? I wanna get me some of these!!! I've read that Buffs are great egg layers too, and good in the cold weather (Canadian here), as well as sometimes/often broody which means maybe I can breed them myself instead of buying new hatchery stock every year....Anyhow, it's making me look at McMurray Hatchery despite the shipping. So, any ideas on what breed this was? Maybe I can call them and get some further info.

[Linzie2]

Sounds like it could have been a Buff. They have been great egg layers for us in the past and our hen also sat a nest of pheasant eggs for us and hatched them!

[greenmulberry]

Buff orpington roosters are HUGE! I bet that is what it was.

There are other chickens that come in solid gold color, for instance, a Buff Rock, but the Buff Orpingtons are the most common.

[hildare]

yup! Buff Orps would fit the.. bill
They are very hefty and impressive. I love ours already, we've had them a short time, but they are loves.

[MrsJewelsRae]

Cool, thanks! Dh is really interested, I think we may get some next spring. We are really maxed out on chickens atm! We've got 10- 8 pullets and 2 roos- 7 barred rocks, 2 RRIs, and 1 plymouth rock roo that was too pretty to butcher! 10 just went in the freezer last week and dh just informed me we are getting 30 white rocks next week!! Plus we have 4 turkeys ready to go soon. But those gorgeous Buffs are gonna be next on my list, those and some Americanas- I want some green eggs!

[Shahbazin]

Originally Posted by MrsJewelsRae

.... In one cage, they had the biggest chickens I've ever seen! They were are a butterscotch colour and very large. They were fluffy, but not like a silky. The rooster was just massive, he seemed to look 15 lbs! The cage only listed them as being "Golden-Yellow" and I've never heard of that and can't find anything on google. The only thing I can think they resemble is a Buff Orpington, which I've never seen IRL, but coloring is similar. I know Buffs are big, but are they that big!?.....

Definitely sounds like Buff color.
Orpingtons (especially from exhibition stock) can be pretty big; if they were clean legged, that's probably what they were - here's some photos: http://feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/Orps/BRKOrps.html

If they had feathered legs, they were probably Cochins:
http://feathersite.com/Poultry/CGA/C...CochinStd.html

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

We've got a buff roo and he's probably 12-15lbs at 2yrs. Big boy who is a great protector!

[Tizzy]

Could have been a Buff Cochin.
McMurray's threw one in my last order as the "free rare and unusual" chick. I gave it to a friend who needed a buddy for a lone turkey she hatched out.
That thing is MASSIVE!

[Hykue]

Instead of McMurray's, you might go to AlbertaChickensEtc.com forum. There are quite a few members from Ontario, and I imagine one of them could procure for you some buff orpingtons next spring. The whole reason I came to MDC is because someone on that forum recommended it. Buying chicks from a local breeder might cost a bit more, but the shipping would probably be less, if I had to guess. And you're more likely to find someone with a particularly large line. Sounds like a buff orp to me, although that's awfully big even for one of those fellas. They also have a nice temperament.

[MrsJewelsRae]

Hykue- Thanks! I'm going to check that place out and a few other poultry boards in Ontario. I just got my McMurray Hatchery catalogue and yeah, the shipping will kill us to Canada, besides, they don't even ship to Canada so we'd have to go to MI (about an hour) and pick them up there and face the hassle of crossing the border w/ livestock, etc.