Chicken Breed Focus - Australorp

[sumi]

The Australorp is an Australian breed which was developed from Black Orpingtons imported into Australia starting around 1890. The egg laying ability of the Orpingtons was emphasized by the Australian breeders, and other breeds including Minorca, Leghorns, and Langshans were bred into the lines to increase egg production and decrease broodiness. The result was a bird with exceptional egg laying ability. They were popular entries in egg laying contests in the day, and for years Australorps held many of the world egg laying records, one hen famously laying 364 eggs in 365 days.

These "Australian Black Orpingtons" were given the name Australorp around 1920. Australorps were exported in the US and England in the 1920’s, where they were an immediate hit because of their great egg laying ability, and they remain a very popular breed to this day.

Australorps are a medium sized breed. The APA recognises only one color, the original Black, but there are several other colors developed by breeders, including Blue and White, which is recognized in Australia.

They tend to be calm, docile, fairly quiet birds, with nice temperaments and they make good pets. The roosters are generally good natured. They are dependable winter layers of big brown eggs, fairly heat tolerant despite the usually black feathers, and quite cold hardy. They generally do not fly well and take well to confinement. The hens will occasionally go broody and make good mothers. They are very popular with backyard flock owners looking for a friendly productive brown egg layer, and small flock owners looking for a duel purpose breed with hens that have excellent laying ability.

It was recognized by the APA in 1929 and it is on The Livestock Conservancy's Recovering list.

Details:

Breed purpose: Duel Purpose, egg layer.
Comb Type: Single
Broodiness: Occasional
Climate Tolerance: Heat tolerant, Cold hardy
Weight: Roosters 8.5 lbs, Hens 6.5 lbs.
Egg Productivity: Good
Egg Size: Large
Egg Color: Brown


Pictures:

Australorp Rooster, picture @Mat1616


Australorp Rooster, picture @tigercreek


Australorp Rooster, picture @maddogdodge


Australorp Hen, picture @Dees Hens


Australorp Hen, picture @maddogdodge


Australorp Pullet, picture @Stormview


Australorp Chick, picture @Shawneegyrl

Link to the BYC Breed reviews.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/australorp.10831/
Link to the General breed discussions & FAQ threads.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/australorps-breed-thread.316084/
Link to the Exhibition, Genetics, & Breeding to the Standard of Perfection thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/australorps-breeding-for-sop-and-exhibition-thread.882318/
Thread on egg Laying Age.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ralorps-begin-to-lay-their-first-eggs.535581/

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

 

[srutan23]

Just got one on Tuesday and she is already creeping into my heart. She is so friendly. Her name is Beyonce.

 

[TwoCrows]

OH!!!! My FAVORITE breed!!!! These birds have to be the MOST friendly and docile of all the breeds. If raised from chicks and handled well, they grow to be VERY affectionate birds. ALL my Aussies are lap sitters, they beg for attention and will come running to see me even without the goodies. My girls are 4+ years old and are still laying well, very healthy and docile with each other as well. I just CAN'T say enough about these birds!!

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks for the focus on Australorps. They are my favorite standard breed. I've raised them for years (still have them in my flock), and they are extremely hardy, calm and gentle (my children and granddaughter made lap pets of them), and excellent layers of large, brown eggs (as you stated in your article). )

 

[TwoCrows]

More pics...

 

[MrsBrooke]

Australorp photo dump!!

MrsB

 

[TwoCrows]

Learning to lap sit....Aussies in training....




This is my largest hen...she is huge!


This is my heaviest hen....

 

[maddogdodge]

Definitely the best breed around Thanks for using my photos.


Can't wait until this spring when i can start hatching some Australorp chicks!!

 

[MrsBrooke]

I'd like to add that there is a difference between the Australian SOP and the American SOP when it comes to showing and conformation.

Aussie Aussies tend to be more "rounded," while their American cousins have a little longer tail, among other slight variances...

We're an Australorp-only farm! Absolutely LOVE them!









MrsB

 

[lowflyer]

Mine are sweet natured and very docile. I did discover a cockerel amongst them awhile back, who was not as tame and gentle as the others, so I had to cull him.

Since then, there's been one more rooster that has made himself known, but he's not at all aggressive. The hens are very calm, and not quite as bold as the Golden Comets and Buff Orpingtons, or the Barred Rocks. They let the others investigate anything new, and only then venture after.

They do hang together, just like the Comets and Buffs keep to their own "clique". Now I understand the old saying, "Birds of a feather flock together"!

They are more "polite" and "ask" for treats rather than demanding them. If I'm giving out goodies, I have to distract the Comets and especially the Buffs, so they can get some too.They don't hop into my lap as often, but they follow me everywhere and patiently wait at my feet for treats. If I pick them up, they settle right down into my arms when I stroke their backs and necks.

Two of the hens are notably more curious and friendly than the others, they let me pick them up without so much as a squawk.

Roughly two months old when this was taken...Sarah, Letitia and Mary...up top is now named George, as he's obviously now a rooster. They're asking for fresh wiggly earthworms from the bucket.