I/we have a flock of Belgian d'Anver bantams that are wonderful tiny chickens, but I would like to add a few Australorp hens to produce large brown eggs, to supplement the tiny bantam eggs. My coop/run/nest boxes is/are large enough to support both large & small hens. My chickens are spoiled rotten. My hubby thinks so!
Reading about black Australorps, it sounds like they are late to mature? I confess, that my reason for adding large hens is to provide larger eggs, brown eggs, AND, I also find Australorps very attractive.
Where, can I find good stock? Close, to Standard of Perfection, and yet good/hardy layers as well? It would be fun, to get some Blue Austr., but does egg production/hardiness "go away", with "Blues"?
Am skeptical of large commercial hatcheries, as for quality. My bantams did NOT come from a "Big Box Store". I/we also have "limited-chicken Real Estate", ...so "quality counts".
Ideas?
Thanks.
Reading about black Australorps, it sounds like they are late to mature? I confess, that my reason for adding large hens is to provide larger eggs, brown eggs, AND, I also find Australorps very attractive.
Where, can I find good stock? Close, to Standard of Perfection, and yet good/hardy layers as well? It would be fun, to get some Blue Austr., but does egg production/hardiness "go away", with "Blues"?
Am skeptical of large commercial hatcheries, as for quality. My bantams did NOT come from a "Big Box Store". I/we also have "limited-chicken Real Estate", ...so "quality counts".
Ideas?
Thanks.
)
