Australorp and Black Orpington Cross

[ParadisedivaChic]

Glad you revived it, @ParadisedivaChic , this is interesting. So in the pics above, which is which? Total novice here, but I have my first BA chicks arriving, hopefully tomorrow. (I have mature BOs and EEs at the moment.) From the discussion I'm guessing the BO is in the top pic?

Edit: typo (spelling)

Lol hey! Welcome in! Lol yes the top is the BO and so happy to here you getting or got your first BA? How is the baby doing? I can’t wait to get mines in! I’m a
New myself! No worries here! Lol

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi, yes, we received 18 BA chicks Tuesday and one BJG. Ten are pullets and eight were cockerels; the BJG is a cockerel, as requested. Three of the BA cockerels have died but everyone else looks heathy and lively. They sure are cute. Welcome to BYC, be sure to introduce yourself in the New Members section so you can get acquainted!

 

[ParadisedivaChic]

Hi, yes, we received 18 BA chicks Tuesday and one BJG. Ten are pullets and eight were cockerels; the BJG is a cockerel, as requested. Three of the BA cockerels have died but everyone else looks heathy and lively. They sure are cute. Welcome to BYC, be sure to introduce yourself in the New Members section so you can get acquainted!

Thank you! I feel dumb right about now as I can’t find this new member section????
lol but anyways please share some photos of your darlings! Love to see them!
meanwhile I’ll try figuring this out! Lol

 

[Egghead_Jr]

The original Orpington developed by Cook was black and an attempt to obtain a better utility bird to compete with America's Barred Rock. The Rock was cornerstone breed in it's development.

Cook's birds made it to Australia as it was still a colony of England at that time. Those black birds were selectively bred for better utility. Faster maturing and held egg laying records of the day. Cook was still alive to witness the development of Australorp and wholeheartedly approved. He also approved of the better egg laying of the Buff- his birds were bred to regional area in England that were predominantly buff. They were not as large as the black.

The fanciers of England took a utility bird and made it poof. I suppose without that it would not have the numbers it does today. With the advent of meat birds and super layers a dual purpose bird lost favor. To keep the fanciers interested the Orpington has evolved. The Australorp has lost utility due to the same pressure. It's not selectively bred to maintain that level of performance anymore.

Black Orpington and Australorps share the exact foundation genetics, they've simply been selectively bred differently for over one hundred years.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you! I feel dumb right about now as I can’t find this new member section????
lol but anyways please share some photos of your darlings! Love to see them!
meanwhile I’ll try figuring this out! Lol

I'll try to help you but my device no longer lets me cut&paste links. "Upgrades," sigh. @aart, can you help?

 

[Gray Farms]

Quote:

I'll second that. Also, Jersey Giant can be a good addition to Australorps.

Hi Gootzie!

I wouldn't add Jersey Giant. You'll add in unwanted yellow skin genes.

 

[June18]

I actually feel that Orpingtons are gorgeous with their rounded stocky body of feathers! Making their tails longer is like saying let’s add extra rear on a woman. Truely leave things as is. That said I feel the Black Australorps are also a beautiful bird all by itself. 2 different looks as above photos. Im actually getting both chickens this April and I Truely hope they both represent their true breed. I do realize that the Australorps are the Australian versions of Orpingtons but I think it was meant by the temperament. I could be wrong but that’s one reason I’m getting the Australorp is because of it being like a Orpington. I’m getting the Lavender and the Blue Black Splash Orpington chicks .. plus a Black Orpington Roo! I can’t wait! Been doing a lot of research on them all! Sorry if I’m jumping in this forum years later!! Ahahahahaha! Probably no body on this feed!

Just wanted to check and see how cross breeding with the Black Australorp and the Lavender Orpington turned out. I am thinking of breeding them together and wanted some more information from someone who has done it!