Australorp

One of the main breeds on my farm

Australorps are a great breed for beginners seeking a good bird for laying purposes and have a somewhat friendly bird. There great layers, laying about 3-5 eggs a week. Although, Australorps are a little big for me and that makes them difficult to show.

Love these birds. Honestly, I think they are perfect for beginners, or anyone really. They are friendly, pretty, and lay a fair amount off eggs. Australorps seem to be a favourite among many chicken lovers. I can see why because they really are awesome birds!

Hope that helps,

When we first bought our 2 Australorps, we knew nothing of the breed. As fate would have it, the two were bought separately-- we'd selected all different breeds for our first backyard flock of three, Midnight (our Australorp), Frieda (our Dominique), and Apple (our Light Brown Leghorn). Perhaps because Australorps are SO gentle, they tend to fall to the end of the pecking order, or perhaps we had just ended up with a particularly aggressive Leghorn. Whatever the case, the Blue Kote wasn't providing Midnight any protection, so we ended taking Apple back to our amazing farm/garden supply store (and she was readopted to her perfect home-- a small hobby farm). We were able to adopt one of Midnight's original sisters we named Scarlett (and a sweet baby Buff Orpington who was glued to her side, 'Baby Apple'). Even though Scarlett was just three months old, she was sure Baby Apple was her baby-- and what a good Mama she made! Though gentle and talkative like her sister, Scarlett was also fiercely protective. She didn't peck at the other pullets, but she'd run as fast as she could in their direction, and then run right back to Baby Apple. The other pullets posed no threat at all, but Scarlett wanted to make sure they knew who they were dealing with. My Australorps are the first to jump on our laps, in fact Scarlett sometimes can't wait long enough for you to sit-- she will fly up on your arm, back, whatever she sees first. They sing while they eat treats and even make purring noises. When we first bought Midnight, we had to be careful walking around-- she was like a puppy always at your feet, we were afraid we'd trample her. Their plumage is not merely black-- they are gorgeous birds that sparkle in the sun, their black feathers giving off a green and purple sheen. I am so glad the breed we knew nothing about became our favorite breed. Like all chickens, each are unique in personality, but the Australian Orpington lives up to its friendly reputation as the perfect backyard 'lap chicken'. And as Scarlett demonstrated, they make honorable mothers as well.

My Australorps are my sweetest birds. They're a tad subordinate (pro or con?) but don't get run over by the other birds. They hang back but aren't skittish. One of them would actually run to me when she was real young. They size up well against my other chickens but I have Barred Rocks and RI Reds, so the Australorps assume a more submissive role. I would recommend them for any first-timer, anyone who wants a gentle, weather-hearty and easy to maintain bird, or as a member of a multi-breed flock. They don't cause trouble, but are big enough to handle themselves. They're very productive layers. If I had a small flock or could only have one breed, I would go with the Australorp.

I love these birds....they really are no problem at all.

Australorps were one of my first breeds of chickens. They love attention and will stand still and let you pet them or pick them up. They are by far my best egg-layers. Can be mean though when they go broody.

I love my Australorp! Elphaba just recently laid her first egg at 23 weeks. Her fourth egg weighed 2 ounces! My leghorn's egg was 2.3 ounces that day and she has been laying for a year! So Elphaba is already laying large eggs at an early age. Her eggs are a very pale brown.
Elphaba is also my prettiest chicken. Her beetle green sheen is gorgeous, and the bright red comb compliments it.
As a month old chick, Elphaba was very curious but still loved cuddling. She would perch on my arm. Now that she's older, she is a little more skittish, but I still love her. Elphaba doesn't take discipline very well. If she eats Snowball's (top hen) food, Snowball gives her a peck, but Elphaba just comes back for more later!
I would highly recommend!

My 8 aussies are about 8 and 10 weeks old. Lately I've been noticing that they're eating less and less of their feed and getting the bulk of their diet from my yard. There was a point about a month ago where they wanted food twice a day but now they leave leftovers after breakfast! I'm hoping this trend continues when they're grown.

They get let out in the morning and free-range all day long. They stick together like glue so I'm never running around searching for that "random stray" like I have to with the RIRs.

They don't like being picked up, even though I handle them every day. They will sit on my lap or perch on a shoulder quite happily, though.

I've had my australorps for a few months now and I can say they're great backyard birds. They call frequently but quietly, and almost never sing an egg song. I like this because I live in a suburb. They're big sturdy birds, good foragers, and great to look at. I have to chase them around a little in their pen but they let me pick them up. They sit quietly while I handle them, and they come when called, and go away when directed to. No illnesses at all so far.
The only downsides for me were the egg size and broodieness. my chooks lay medium sized eggs, not large. Sometimes they get large, but sometimes they're quite small so medium is the best description. All three of my chooks went broody on me this year, one of them twice. We had a chicken in our broody buster constantly for two months before they stopped, and hopefully they won't brood again 'til next year and we'll stick some chicks under them. But that was a lot of broody girls that puffed up like monsters in their broody box!



All around I'm pleased with these birds, but I wish they layed the big eggs more regularly.

I have 3 of these, though one I think is crossed with a Jersey Gieant. The 2 that are definitely BAs are great birds. They started laying and rarely ever skip a day. Its kind of nuts. Serious egg laying machines! And they let me pick them up, pet them etc even though I bought them as nearly grown adults just before they started laying. One lays frequent double yolkers too.

We have 10 Australorps, 7 girls and 3 boys. They are very friendly and have great personalities. They will walk with us in the garden and do not bother our plants at all. They will come running when they see us step outside and love getting treats. They tend to look out for each other and stay together for the most part.
They also have the most beautiful green sheen to them. One of our favorite thing to do is go out and just watch them interact with each other and listen to all the peacefull noises they make. They do not get very loud at all. I have to really listen closely to hear any of the boys in the morning from the house. I truely cannot think of a better breed to start your flock with. They even get along with our 5yr old.

I have one Australorp and believe it is by far the prettiest chicken I have! In fact, though my other hen are all picked bare-backs, my Australorp makes the whole flock look good!
Australorp's eggs are slightly small, but lovely pale brown and fit beautifully in cartons, making them a good breed for people who want to sell their eggs.
Australorps take care of their feathers, which are usually dark and glossy. This adds shine to any flock!
Australorps are notoriously broody and will care for eggs and chicks.
If they are not properly tamed they with become flighty, but still come running when it's supper time!
Their feet are nice and even-toed, making them ideal show birds.
I think there ought to be an Australorp in everyone's flock!

Great bird. I would recommend buying one.

I only have one Black Australorp so far and it's safe to say that I'd definitely get another.

They tolerate both hot and cold weather well and are consistent producers of eggs year round. A bonus is their lovely beetle green sheen to their feathers when they step out into the sun.

i love my very sweet black Austrolops! when ever i go to they coop gate, then they are the first of my whole flock to come and stand by the gate clucking! they have a very sweet noise, sweet temproment, and never miss a single day of a week in egg laying! i love them! they are very sweet!

We have 4 australorps due to there great eggs. Regularly we get an egg a day from these girls. They were hand raised so they are pretty nice not the tamest i'll say. They are very noisy and love to talk, although they are always picking on others.

I've got blues and blacks. These are my favorite chickens. They are sweet tempered, still enjoy being picked up and handled, and run to meet me every time I pop outside. I have two roos and only one of them has crowed twice. That's it and they're over a year old. We also have very cold, snowy winters and they seem to enjoy the snow. As long as it's not windy and the sun pops out I open the door and they play in the snow. They are a very hardy bird.
My only issue is that they can eat everything, grass and plants very quickly and thoroughly. I plant a couple patches of oat grass for them and they tend to stick to it.
Overall a great bird. Mine lay an egg everyday and 2 or 3 days a week they lay 2.

I purchased a flock of 25 birds. All Australorps. 2 died young. I can deal with that. I had seven go broody at once. Atleast one so far became what I would describe as a late bloomer and revealed itself as a roo at almost 10 months old. I raise chickens for their egg production. Not an ideal breed for that at all. In the future I will stick with RIR and Plymouth Barred Rock.