Orpington chickens first originated in Orpington, England back in the late 1800s, which is how this breed got its majestic-sounding name. The Jubilee Orpington Chicken was introduced by William Cook’s family in 1897. It was created to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It was believed that they were a cross between a Spangled Old English Game, Dorkings, and Buff Orpingtons, though some believe that the Speckled Sussex could also have had a strong influence. Since then, Orpington chickens have elevated into one of the most popular chicken breeds to raise as pets.

They are easily distinguishable by their fluffy feathers. They have a mahogany ground color with black spangles with white tips at the end. Their feather color pattern is very complex and can take up to 18 months to finish. People often make the mistake of assuming that they are much larger than they are because of their plumage. It’s their feathers that also allow these chickens to be hardy enough to survive in almost any climate