Australorps breed Thread

[ponchu]

We bought 11 week old faverolles that never had much human contact and I did the same thing with them and they eventually became very friendly pets. Remember that young birds,even hand raised ones are much jumper than adults too.

I would keep them locked up till they are absolutely sure where bed is and are putting themselves to bed in their house each night. A few weeks at least. Then I'd probably put some sort of cheap wire and tomatoe stake run out into the yard and let them in that for a bit. Remember that the smaller or younger they are the more likely something is going to swoop down and eat one.

Good to hear they can turn friendly

They walked in to the coop at sundown and hopped onto the roosting bar on their own from Day 1, I didn't have to do anything, which was lucky.

I havent' seen any kind of birds of prey in my suburb, apart from one small owl late at night some years ago. But then I wasn't looking for one and didn't have their food in my backyard...

 

[bruceha2000]

Hi everyone, newbie here
I have a question, but not sure which thread to post in. I'll start here since I've got Australorps.

I bought two 12 weeks old pullet hens a week ago. They came from a winery where the owner let them free range in the vineyard. They were raised by a broody and not handled by people much at all.

For the last 3 days, I've been getting into the run once a day and sit on the ground to offer them treat. Their favourite treat is sprouted wheat, and I clink the china dish with a spoon before I feed it to them, so they should hopefully associat that noise with the treat. They're getting closer, and even took some sprouts off my hand and pecked at my shoes, but still very skittish.

If I keep doing what I'm doing, do you think they'll warm up to me, or will they always be skittish? I chose Australorp because I heard they're laid-back and good with kids. My 4 year old daughter wants to pat them but they're nowhere near ready for that kind of contact.

They've been free-ranged before, so obviously very keen to get out of the run into the garden. But I'm guessing that if I let them out now, I'd have to chase them around to get them back into the run/coop, and that's not a good idea. Or will they go back into the run on their own if I put some treat in there?

Any suggestinos/tips would be much appreciated!

BTW, they're indifferent to dried mealworms or live earthworms - they eat them eventually, but no sign of excitement what so ever...

I agree with appps, give them a small temporary enclosure outside their run and let them explore that. Of course at 12 weeks and already used to free ranging, they likely will want MORE! Since they are already going into the coop at night on their own, I am confident they will go there from the run "addition".

My girls have always loved scratch (which they get at lockup time and BOSS (*) which they get in the morning. I have the thundering of 32 feet following me when I go into the barn at night. Amazing how much noise 16 chickens can make running. I usually have to watch where I step when I am getting the scratch out, they are ALL underfoot. I trained the nine 4 Y/O girls by rattling the scratch container, like you clink the spoon, and they know goodies are at hand. The 7 one year old girls learned by watching the older ones, that and when their adoptive mother came running, so did they. That is how I get them to come back to the enclosure if I have to leave the house for a while, or find a straggler that hasn't realized it is getting late and time to head for the barn.

I don't know that ANY specific chicken will want to be handled and petted, it depends on the bird. They are prey animals and before their brain thinks "friend or foe", they run. Keep sitting with them and talking to them when giving out treats. Some of the girls will get on my daughter's legs (she is 23) if she sits on the ground, especially if she has something for them to eat, BUT none of the 16 wants to be petted.

* Black Oil Sunflower Seed

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Of my current flock of five, the Australorp is the only one who does actually consent to being petted. She is the sweetest, calmest bird - I am really falling in love with the breed.

But in my (admittedly limited) experience, 12-week-old pullets tend to be somewhat skittish in general and that's not even taking into account a bird that is adjusting to new surroundings. The hens I have hand-raised tend to be somewhat calmer, and the ones raised by a broody much more avoidant of human contact.

They all calm down to some degree after they start laying, and some become genuinely affectionate. We had an Ameracauna that loved to sit in our laps, as well as a Silkie. Our five-month-old Australorp looks like she's headed that direction, too.

Treats definitely help. Mine love mealworms but they are even more passionate about CHEESE! Cheese is the end all and be all for them. Live crickets will bring them running, too.

 

[dynomy]

Hi all,
My girls (the Aos) are a pretty friendly group also. My husband bought an Easter Egger from a neighbor and Big Bird obviously was never held or petted by anyone. Also have no idea how old she is but since I have had her with all my girls (8 others ) for about a year I don't have to chase he or wait till night time to check her out or treat her for her leg mites. She now does that sitting posture for me to pick her up and carry he around like I do with the others. Both of my black giants get jealous so when I am free they both want to be held at the same time. That is very heavy and tricky but they let me. Spoiled - yes♡. Fun - absolutely. Wait a while and she will come around.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Hi everyone, newbie here WELCOME !

. They were raised by a broody and not handled by people much at all.
uNLESS THE Broody is really friendly.. they will be more wild ..
They're getting closer, and even took some sprouts off my hand and pecked at my shoes, but still very skittish.
They havent ever had meal worms probably ..Try a little bird seed ..ALL BIRDS LOVE THIS ...toss it slowly or they will scatter ...LOL

, do you think they'll warm up to me,They will ...they will get more tame with time and as they start to lay

. But I'm guessing that if I let them out now, I'd have to chase them around to get them back into the run/coop, and that's not a good idea.
I let mine stay in a week before I let them out to free range ..The 1st day you may have to chase them back ...but after that they will lnow where to go

 

[appps]

I havent' seen any kind of birds of prey in my suburb, apart from one small owl late at night some years ago. But then I wasn't looking for one and didn't have their food in my backyard...

First one I saw was the one killed our bantam.

 

[ponchu]

First one I saw was the one killed our bantam.

I'm sorry to hear that, poor thing.

I thought foxes live in the hills and countryside and not in the metropolitan area, until my friend in the next suburb told me that her neighbour lost a few chickens to foxes.

 

[appps]

I'm sorry to hear that, poor thing.

I thought foxes live in the hills and countryside and not in the metropolitan area, until my friend in the next suburb told me that her neighbour lost a few chickens to foxes.

I think these days there are more in towns than out of them. Our rubbish gives them a reason to be there.

Years and years ago we lost our first flock to a fox and we are a 3 minute drive to our city centre. Hubby often sees them on his way to work early at day break.

I think we get a false sense of security thinking in a town it's civilisation not nature but in reality towns are attracting them as there is always an easy meal here.

I've had a goshawk kill a fully grown bantam while hubby was in the garage feet from the chickens and then after that had them out free ranging in a little wire run with bird netting over it and happened to look out the window and there was a big brown hawk sitting on our pool fence checking it all out (chickens were all hiding in their coop). We had a good 3 year run before that but suddenly we seem to be on the predators radar.

 

[duluthralphie]

I think your right on more predators in town than in the country. As more homes are built less hunting, or trapping occurs. The predators soon learn the "people" will not hurt them so they have young in places they would never have them in the country. The more people in town have pets, cats, dogs, chickens the more there is for them to eat and reproduce. They are the apex.

Out here in the country, they get shot at, trapped and harassed. They have to be a little more careful than in the city. Of course, that changes out here also as it gets more suburban. In my case I am surrounded by a "wildlife refuge" that isn't really one. The feds allow hunting of deer, and small game, but forbid the killing of predators. Which means we get more predators and they have less food, so those of us with chickens or small animals pay the price for a silly hunting rule. To me either, allow everything to be hunted or nothing, screwing with one side of the predator prey formula does not work....

(stepping off the soap box)

 

[appps]

 I think your right on more predators in town than in the country.     As more homes are built less hunting, or trapping occurs. The predators soon learn the "people" will not hurt them so they have young in places they would never have them in the country.   The more people in town have pets, cats, dogs, chickens the more there is for them to eat and reproduce. They are the apex.

Out here in the country, they get shot at, trapped and harassed.  They have to be a little more careful than in the city.   Of course, that changes out here also as it gets more suburban.  In my case I am surrounded by a "wildlife refuge" that isn't really one. The feds allow hunting of deer, and small game, but forbid the killing of predators.  Which means we get more predators and they have less food, so those of us with chickens or small animals pay the price for a silly hunting rule.  To me either, allow everything to be hunted or nothing, screwing with one side of the predator prey formula does not work....

(stepping off the soap box)

Don't you wish rules were not made by guys in suits with no real life experience with the object of their rules sigh