Recent content by lvalley

  1. lvalley

    When and How to tell my chicks are hens and not roosters?

    Hi there - Australorps tend to be one of the easier chicks to sex using a combination of tail feathers and combs. In my Australorp birds, the female chicks had much better developed tail feathers from about 3 weeks until 10 weeks, while the males had only stumpy short tails. The difference was...
  2. lvalley

    What chicken do you guys think suits my needs?

    I think Black Australorps are great for beginners as they provide nice eggs and have a good temperament too. I have 4 BA hens and a BA rooster which are all great. I also bought 2 Rhode Island Reds pullets recently that have just started laying and they have nice brown eggs as well.
  3. lvalley

    In need of info please.

    6 months sounds about right for your first egg depending on the breed. You should think about getting 1 or 2 more younger pullets - chickens are much better in a flock and get lonely when they are by themselves!
  4. lvalley

    Broody??? **UPDATED**

    Sounds like she is definitely broody as she has all the classic broody signs, especially the bad temper and the bald patch where they pluck out feathers to get their body warmth and humidity on the fertile eggs. This bald patch is not caused by mites. If she has been broody like this for a few...
  5. lvalley

    Pullets & rooster in the nest box?

    I think 12 weeks is too young to be laying, but my young pullets often go into the nest boxes for a look, especially when they see real or fake eggs in there. So long as they are not sleeping in there, it sounds like normal behaviour. As for your cockerel, it sounds as though he is just...
  6. lvalley

    Brown tinted feathers on purebred Australorps?

    Hi all - just to close off this thread, all my girls have now fully moulted (it's beginning of winter here in Australia) and all the old brown coloured feathers have been replaced by glossy black ones and the girls are back looking their best. The brown tint must have been from the sun and old...
  7. lvalley

    Can you tell if these Australorp chicks are girls or boys?

    Hi there - Australorps tend to be one of the easier chicks to sex using a combination of tail feathers and combs. In my Australorp birds, the female chicks had much better developed tail feathers from about 3 weeks until 10 weeks, while the males had only stumpy short tails. The difference was...
  8. lvalley

    cloudy egg whites

    I would not be too concerned about this. Very fresh eggs contain carbon dioxide gas in the white which gives it a slightly cloudy look. As the egg gets older this gas dissipates and the white turns clear. This info is taken from the Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens which is a great book...
  9. lvalley

    Brown tinted feathers on purebred Australorps?

    Hi there - I am new to the chicken world and recently purchased 6 birds for my backyard flock. I have 2 Hy-lines, an Australorp pullet about 4 months old, 2 Australorp hens about 12 months old, and an Australorp rooster who is 6 months old. All the Australorps are supposed to be pure bred and...
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