Australorp

[skai]

Hi,
I am new here and as having backyard Chickens. I am researching the perfect breed for me and thought the Australorp would be perfect, eggs are my biggest besire. However I have found a contridiction and hope I can get some straight answers here. Are they good foragers? What breed you you recommend? Maybe Wyandotte or Plymouth Rock? Its so hard to decide! Thanks, I look forward to getting to know everyone here!

 

[260906]

Just from limited personal experience, I would recommend Rhode Island Reds. My RIR is the best forager of my flock--she has never been skinny.

My Australorp hasn't laid quite as many eggs as the RIR over the last 2 years.

If I keep a feeder out, most of my chickens lay daily. Due to mice overpopulation, I had to switch to taking feed to them once or twice per day, and the RIR lays consistently no matter how much or how little I feed her (except in the middle of winter, of course, when there isn't much on which to forage).

 

[skai]

Thanks, I am thinking maybe I could get a mix of the Australorp and maybe the Wyandottes. Egg production is my main purpose for having chickens, foraging is good to supplement feed I was thinking.

 

[chickenfarmer15]

I would recommend Rhode island reds,my reds always laid through the winter, with large to extra large eggs. I was averaging about 6 to 7 eggs a week, also barred rocks lay fairly decent with nice size eggs as well.