**At Humblebee Hatchery, we hatch on a pre-order basis, meaning we only incubate eggs that have already been reserved. This helps ensure every chick has a home waiting for it and prevents unnecessary hatching. Because of this, some orders may have a wait time. Please expect approximately 2–3 months for day-old chicks, with juveniles (4–12 weeks) and grow-outs (12+ weeks) requiring additional time as they must be raised to the appropriate age before going home. We appreciate your patience and are committed to raising healthy, well-started birds that are worth the wait!**
Estimated wait times vary by breed, season, fertility, and hatch success, and we will keep you updated throughout the process.
**Our lines come from many different breeders including Hoover Hatchery's English Orpingtons, Meyer Hatchery, The Cluckery and more, photos are from most of the breeders and an example of what your chicks will look like**
Breed: Chocolate Orpington
Large Fowl OR Bantam: Large Fowl
Color Variety: Deep Chocolate Brown, Chance for Chocolate Laced
Egg Production: Medium, 100-150 Per Year
Egg Color and Size: Medium Light Tan
Temperament: Calm, Docile, Friendly dispositions, Can be broody
Origins: A Heritage Breed Cross of BlackXBrown Orpingtons
Comb & Legs: Straight Combs, Clean Legs
Timeframe to Laying: 22-25 Weeks
Cold Hardy?: Yes
Dual-Purpose?: Yes
What to Expect: The Chocolate Orpington is a stunning, large, dual-purpose chicken known for its rich brown plumage, friendly temperament, and decent egg production, making it a popular backyard breed, though it's often a hatchery-created variety (a cross) rather than a standard breed, offering calm dispositions, cold hardiness, and lovely fluffy looks for homesteads, laying medium brown to cream eggs.