Description
Silver Laced English Orpington Chicken
Breed History and Origin
Cackle Hatchery® is pleased to offer the rare Silver Laced English Orpington, a newer color variety built on one of the most well-known English breeds. The original Orpingtons were developed by William Cook in the late 1800s, beginning with black and white varieties.
The Silver Laced variety is a more recent development, created by British master breeder and poultry judge Bob Follows. Cackle Hatchery® has been developing its own 100% English bloodline since 2017, focusing on maintaining proper type, feather quality, and consistency.
Appearance and Breed Characteristics
Silver Laced English Orpingtons are known for their large, rounded appearance and beautifully patterned plumage. Their feathers display a striking silver-white base with defined black lacing, giving them a bold and elegant look.
They feature:
- A deep, broad body with a short back
- A low stance close to the ground
- A small head with a medium single comb
- Soft, fluffy feathering that enhances their size and shape
These birds are significantly larger than standard Orpington strains, with roosters typically weighing 13–15 pounds and hens ranging from 9–12 pounds.
Egg Production
Silver Laced English Orpingtons are moderate layers, producing approximately 90–120 medium brown to cream-colored eggs per year. While capable of laying consistently, they are primarily valued for their appearance and exhibition qualities.
Temperament and Backyard Suitability
This breed is well known for its extremely docile and gentle temperament, making it an excellent choice for families and backyard flocks. They are easy to handle and do particularly well around children.
Their dense feathering also makes them especially cold hardy, allowing them to perform well in colder climates.
Broodiness and Breeding
Hens may go broody and are capable of setting and raising chicks. Fertility typically ranges from 65–80%, with a recommended mating ratio of 4 females to 1 male.
They prefer roosting heights between 2 to 4 feet and do well in both confined and free-range environments.
Recognition and Availability
The Silver Laced English Orpington is not currently recognized by the American Poultry Association, but it continues to gain popularity due to its unique appearance and true English type.
Its rarity and developing status make it a distinctive addition to any flock.
FAQ
What makes English Orpingtons different from standard Orpingtons?
English Orpingtons are bred for a larger, rounder body shape with fuller feathering and a lower stance.
Are Silver Laced English Orpingtons good egg layers?
They are moderate layers, producing around 90–120 eggs per year.
Are they good for families?
Yes, they are extremely docile and known for being great with children.
Are they cold hardy?
Yes, their dense feathering helps them perform well in colder climates.
Are they recognized by the APA?
No, this variety is not currently recognized.
Availability
Available Low Availability Unavailable
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| 2026-05-13 |
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| 2026-05-18 |
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| 2026-10-21 |
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Sarah Kezele –
I adore my Silver Laced Orpingtons. I ordered 3 females and they added an extra which happened to be a rooster. He’s a phenomenal rooster and so docile so I don’t mind. Unfortunately, I lost my favorite girl last night to unknown causes so I’m trying to find her egg to try to hatch it. They’re great birds and my Mabel was so, so sweet. I highly recommend this breed. They are great ladies and gents.
Carol Tieman –
We love our Silver Laced English Orpingtons. They are friendly and curious, very fluffy and pretty! We lost a chick on day one, but the others have been very healthy. We were sent a few extra chicks, so we still have a net gain of one. They started laying around 5 months.
Cristina Butler –
I’ve ordered these on three separate occasions now, and I’ve got some mixed feelings about them. They’re incredibly sweet, but I’ve continued to get weak birds.
Of the first 7 I ordered, 6 female and 1 male, only one female survived despite every effort to keep them alive and healthy and having them die in my hands, which was horrible and sad. My girl, Oreopolis, is an adult now and is NOT a fantastic layer, but did go broody almost immediately after laying her first egg. She’s a beautiful bird.
The second group I had did better, and since most passed right after arrival, Cackle took half off of the shipping of this order. I had 2 of 4 survive until they were fully feathered out, although one had a strange tumor in the inner corner of her eye that no treatments resolved and she remained weak and ridiculously small until she finally passed.
I’m on my third order and hoping for the best after all this. I ordered 3, was given a free fourth, and all but one have survived this round. We’ll see.
gizaroo2 –
I ordered these guys this year to bring some new blood into my flock back in February 2024. I am very pleased with how they are developing so far. Lacing, body shape and wing set are looking very nice so far. Combs aren’t too bad either. Will definitely be buying again!
shelby_cobra_200712 –
Absolutely gorgeous and beautiful birds. Healthy chicks! Love the disposition of this breed! They are growing up and becoming plump! Love being held also!!
sarahnhall2 –
Ordered 5 of these chicks in June of 2023. Received an extra, 4 of the 6 were males and 2 were female. Not a bad ratio for straight run, I’m just happy I ended up with two females. One of the hens is pretty petite at 5llbs but the others definitely lived up to the size of the breed. I kept 2 of the 4 roosters and they are gorgeous. All of the chicks I received grew up to be very friendly and I will be ordering them again.
jessicacohen2021 –
These orpingtons are “OK”. I read in the description that the males reach 15 lbs so I bought a few (straight runs) to add some more meat to my flocks’ genes. Cackle sent me 1 male and 2 females. The male is definitely the largest of his age group. But these three are by far the slowest to develop socially. They just cower in the corner, won’t roost on their own, and if given a choice would rather be in a cage instead of free ranging with the flock. One of the females has a serious scissor beak. It really doesn’t seem to affect her ability to eat or drink as she is the same size as the other female, and is actually the most confident of the three. Cackle refunded me for this one.
amber21meyer –
I ordered 20 chicks, the 10 I got which are these are lively. I just wish they would of called when they couldn’t fill my order because I wouldn’t of paid $30 in shipping for 10 birds…
BamaFan50 –
Prettier and fluffier than the pictures show. Love them.
ndomuczicz –
We purchased 3 female silver laced english orpingtons along with other breeds for a total of 20 birds shipped with extras. Only lost 1 out of the whole box before it arrived with a hatch date of April 7th they arrived on the 9th. Our girls are 24weeks now, healthy and have nice thick fluffy feathers getting ready for winter. They are sweet and get along well with the rest of our flock. Love how pretty they are.