Buff Orpingtons come out of their shell wearing the buff color they'll sport for life. Even males don't develop colored feathers like other breeds, and their short tails can make them hard to tell from females at first glance. Knowing a few subtle differences between the sexes can help you figure out who's who at any age. Subtle variations in down in the day-old chick can let you know your Buff Orpington's gender right from the start. Although both sexes sport buff-colored down, males have pale, whitish streaks in their down at the upper wing joints.