The Austrolorp thread

[lwiese58]

I'd sure love it if my BA chick loved being held. We have 10 chicks right now ranging in age from 3 wks to 5 wks, only one of which is a BA. I found this thread because I'm very curious about this BA. We previously had one that we got at 8 wks of age and neither she, nor two who belong to our next door neighbor and that came from the same batch at a local feed store as this one, look like her. I will try to get a good picture of her tomorrow to post, but her appearance is bedraggled and has been ever since she started feathering. At first I thought she must be sick and braced myself for her to die, but she doesn't behave like she's sick at all. All the other chicks have nice smooth feathers on their sides and hers stick out every which way.

 

[Michael OShay]

New to Austrolorp . Daughter brought us a chick home several days ago. Never even heard of this bird. I fell in love immediately although the chick feels differently about me. She (if in fact it is a she) prefers my youngest daughter and 5 yr old son over me. The bird talks non stop and screams until one of them pick her up. Hubby thought that maybe it was lonely and needed a buddy so he went back to the co-op (where it was purchased) and got another one. Didn't help. Although B' Elanna seems happy to have a friend, she still talks non stop and has a need to be held. Is this normal for this type of bird or do we have a spoiled rotten bird? We have 2 two yr old Pekin ducks and was wondering if they could be housed together with them. The ducks have the entire back yard to themselves right now and come and go as they please. Do you think they would get along or do I need to separate?

My Australorp hens are all pretty quiet, but then they are in a coop/run with 25 hens. I wouldn't put the Pekin Ducks in with the chickens. Ducks have very messy habits which are not conducive to chicken's health. Also, drakes can seriously injure hens trying to mate with them.

 

[Fuzzbut]

Our 2 chicks are supposed to be BA. One of the chicks feet has turned yellow while the other chicks feet stayed the whitish/pink color.What does this look like to you? Under the feet on the chick is really yellow. They are 8 wks old.

 

[Michael OShay]

Our 2 chicks are supposed to be BA. One of the chicks feet has turned yellow while the other chicks feet stayed the whitish/pink color.What does this look like to you? Under the feet on the chick is really yellow. They are 8 wks old.

Can you take a picture of the yellow bottoms of the chick's feet. If they are really an obvious yellow on bottom, then it's a Black Jersey Giant and not a Black Australorp.

 

[Fuzzbut]

Can you take a picture of the yellow bottoms of the chick's feet. If they are really an obvious yellow on bottom, then it's a Black Jersey Giant and not a Black Australorp.

This is the best I can do. She was wanting outside and wouldnt be still for me. Shes 9 wks now. Huge feet, it seems to me.

 

[Michael OShay]

This is the best I can do. She was wanting outside and wouldnt be still for me. Shes 9 wks now. Huge feet, it seems to me.

This one is a Black Jersey Giant. She will eventually grow into those feet.

 

[Fuzzbut]

This one is a Black Jersey Giant. She will eventually grow into those feet.

I think I got a better picture. Just wanted to post for funzies ...Cool... a JG....I thought she was a little piggy

 

[lizardandchicks]

I shall re-awaken this thread, since there do not appear to be any other Black Austrolorp threads similar to this. I have had 2 BA, but the first one was a rooster, and we only had him (We thought it was a she) for 3 days, but than an unknown predator got to him, right after it was confirmed to be a boy. So we got a new BA. She is one of our most friendly, and was really shy at first, but ever since the neighbors dog got in our yard and killed half our flock, she has become more people trusting. I really do like her, despite not liking us, she is pretty, and gentle.

 

[Fuzzbut]

My 2 gals are doing wonderful. They were a bit spoiled and it took some time but they now understand that they are chickens. I had a terrible time getting them to sleep outside in their coop. Hubby was quite annoyed that they kept coming to the back porch door and knock on the window to be let in. Of course I got used to them being in the house and sleeping in a tub in our room. They did too. Hubby said when the birds were able to knock on the door then walk themselves through the house and jump into their own box and put themselves to bed, then they need to be outside in the coop. We had to physically pick them up and carry them to the coop and shut the doors for days before they got the point. Even then they still came to the door and knocked and we had to walk with them to the coop and watch them go inside and then shut the doors. That was for another few days. Then one day they didn't come to the door and knock and I was very worried and had to go check on them and they had already snuggled down for the night in the coop. Been doing that ever since.......until last night. Ha ha... Hubby and me were sitting here and I heard the well known tap tap tap on the window and so I went to see who was tapping at our door. There stood one lone feather baby.Just for funzies I opened the door to see if she would try to come in. The other chicken was snuggled down in the coop like it was supposed to be but I think B'Elana came to the door to see my daughter who has been away at camp until now. I truly believe she was wanting to say hello because my daughter came and hugged on her and then she (my daughter)walked her to the porch where B'Elana then took off for the coop. She didnt even try to go down the hall. My gals are 16 wks now.