Obviously not everyone agrees or everyone would have BAs (and it would probably be a boring world if everyone agreed on everything). :o) But I think they are the best, all-around, dual purpose chickens on the planet. I know that TwoCrows loves them as well (as do a lot of other chicken farmers).
Welcome to BYC, Robyn! Glad you decided to join our flock. I like eggs to and my flock is now devoted totally to layers. I have 7 Black Australorps myself; wonderful birds, very hardy, calm and gentle, and the best layers of the standard brown egg breeds. I also have seven Araucanas...