Bantam Orpingtons are not true bantams as they have a large counterpart.   Strictly, therefore, they are miniatures.   They were actually developed at the beginning of the C20th in Germany by crossing large Orpingtons with Cochin (or Pekin) & Java bantams. Wyandotte bantams were used later to introduce new colours.

Orpington birds are friendly, active, but docile birds.   They are good layers of tinted eggs though they do have a tendency to go broody and are good mothers.  Characteristics are the same as for the large birds.

Bantam Orpingtons come in several colours including black, blue-laced, blue, white, buff, red, barred & buff columbian.

We have four varieties:

Black:   These are a rich black with a green sheen all over.

Blue:   The cock birds have black neck & saddle hackles, with the rest of the body a grey-blue.   Hens have the dark neck hackles and the rest of the body is covered in grey-blue feathers with a darker edging.

Splash:   This is the fully recessive version from crossing a blue cock & hen.   The result is an attractive pale blue-grey colour with darker feathers 'splashed' throughout.   Some birds have more splashing than others.

Buff:   The birds are a rich buff colour all over though the cockerels may have a darker, richer neck.   On exposure to sunlight, the colour gets paler as it also can with age.   They are not common.

Buff Orpington Cockerel