Sun, 10 May 2026 09:58:43 +0000

From Covert Coops to Curious Crowds: Why Lavender Orpingtons Are Taking Over In recent years, Lavender Orpingtons have emerged from quiet, niche farms into the spotlight, captivating poultry enthusiasts, backyard gardeners, and urban homesteaders alike. Once a rare hybrid celebrated mainly by specialty breeders, this striking dark-feathered poultry variety is now surprising “curious crowds” with its grace, hardiness, and unexpected charm — and somehow stealing hearts one crow at a time. ### The Enigmatic Origins: Covert Coops and Hidden Gems The Lavender Orpington traces its ancestry to the classic Orpington breed, celebrated for its docile temperament and fluffy plumage. However, the introduction of a subtle lavender-colored variant—accented by soft lavender-tinged feathers and elegant, ground-covering plumage—originated in a few carefully managed covert coops. These small, often unannounced breeding operations, operating away from mainstream attention, nurtured rare bloodlines and selective crossbreeding efforts to uncover this unique aesthetic.