What climate are you in? I loved my Australorps but they only lived 3 to 5 years, except the daughter of one who made it to 8. It gets very hot in north Texas and I always lost them in summer.
BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens
Gypsi
Data
I'm in Delaware. It gets miserable hot and humid in the Summer and I've lost track of the times I found them without water, but they do have plenty of shade available in the run.
Australorps are known for heat tolerance as long as they have shade (It gets pretty hot in most of Australia in the summer.). I could see them having trouble with hot sun without shade and sufficient fresh water. Without shade their black plumage absorbs a lot of heat which puts them at risk of heat stroke. They should be fine in hot, dry shade as long as plenty of cool fresh water is available you might need to add electrolytes to the water to make up those lost in respiration. I'd watch for panting, wing lifting and other signs of heat stress which indicate additional cooling procedures are necessary. I found good article on heat stress in chickens https://www.vetpoultry.com/blogs/ba...pot-signs-and-prevent-heat-stress-in-chickens.
Australorps are known for heat tolerance as long as they have shade (It gets pretty hot in most of Australia in the summer.). I could see them having trouble with hot sun without shade and sufficient fresh water. Without shade their black plumage absorbs a lot of heat which puts them at risk of heat stroke. They should be fine in hot, dry shade as long as plenty of cool fresh water is available you might need to add electrolytes to the water to make up those lost in respiration. I'd watch for panting, wing lifting and other signs of heat stress which indicate additional cooling procedures are necessary. I found good article on heat stress in chickens https://www.vetpoultry.com/blogs/ba...pot-signs-and-prevent-heat-stress-in-chickens.