A Royal History: Jubilee Orpington Chicken Breed

When I learned the history of the Jubilee Orpington, I knew I had to add them to my flock.

Jubilee Orpingtons are becoming more popular in the United States, but are still somewhat hard to come by. This Orpington variety has a long history dating back to 1897.

In this article, we will cover everything you could want to learn about Jubilees.

Breed Overview

Here are some quick facts about this breed:

Lays 150+ light brown eggs per year

Large, dual-purpose breed (though mature slower than commercial meat breeds)

Cold tolerant

Mild disposition and good for families

Breed History

The Orpington chicken breed was one of the first dual-purpose breeds developed in Great Britain. William Cook lived in Orpington, Kent, and is credited for the creation of the breed.

The versatile breed quickly gained popularity, which led to the expansion of new color varieties.

It is believed that the breed was developed by crossing Buff Orpingtons, Spangled Old English, and Dorkings.

Originally called the Diamond Jubilee Orpington, Queen Victoria was gifted with a flock of these birds as part of her Diamond Jubilee Celebration.

With such a royal history, it's no wonder this breed is an heirloom favorite!

Temperament

Jubilees are extremely docile and friendly. They mature on the large side, so they are not super flighty as they mature.

This variety is also known to go broody, which is great if you are looking to grow your flock.

Appearance

As a heritage breed, Orpington's are slow to mature. Add in the complex color pattern of the Jubilee, it can take up to 18 months to reach maturity. The mahogany background with white and black specks is similar in appearance to Speckled Sussex. The emerald sheen and Orpington carriage set them apart.

Eggs

Jubilees will reward you with 150+ light brown eggs each year. Their eggs are medium-large and a light brown color.

Since they are slow to mature, hens will likely not lay before 6-8 months of age. They will remain productive well into their fourth year.

How to Find

Very few hatcheries offer Jubilee Orpingtons for sale. If you can find them, you will likely pay over $30 for a pullet. I started my flock from hatching eggs acquired from a breeder on the other side of my state. When hatching your own, pullets are easily distinguishable by two months of age.