Australorps breed Thread

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I have a couple of questions about my Australorp. She is 5 and a half months old. The three other chickens I got her with(2 ameraucana's and 1 SLW) are already laying. But she isn't. Do Australorps take longer to lay???
Also, I have seen her mounting one of the SLW she grew up with. But she is not Crowing and she looks like the perfect Australorp hen. What's wrong with her???? I am really disappointed because out of all the breeds I have she would hypothetically be the best layer (if she were laying). And I don't want her to hurt my SLW by mounting her.
Thanks in advance,
Zoë

Hi Zoë,

There are two possibilities. The first is that she is a Roo! Sometimes They do not crow for a long time. Another possibility that I have read about is a damaged on non functioning ovary. That messes up the hormones and a hen can still lay but act like a roo.

Please post pictures, one from the side and one that is a close up of the head with comb and wattles.
 
ChickenCrazy8 said:
I have a couple of questions about my Australorp. She is 5 and a half months old. The three other chickens I got her with(2 ameraucana's and 1 SLW) are already laying. But she isn't. Do Australorps take longer to lay???
Click to expand...

I don't know what is "normal" but all my girls turned 22 weeks today. The Australorps don't even have full combs yet, nor do the EEs. The breeds I THINK are laying (got 3 today so obviously more than one breed in my flock) are the Ancona and Faverolle.

Bruce
 
ronott1 said:
I have a couple of questions about my Australorp. She is 5 and a half months old. The three other chickens I got her with(2 ameraucana's and 1 SLW) are already laying. But she isn't. Do Australorps take longer to lay???
Also, I have seen her mounting one of the SLW she grew up with. But she is not Crowing and she looks like the perfect Australorp hen. What's wrong with her???? I am really disappointed because out of all the breeds I have she would hypothetically be the best layer (if she were laying). And I don't want her to hurt my SLW by mounting her.
Thanks in advance,
Zoë

Hi Zoë,

There are two possibilities. The first is that she is a Roo! Sometimes They do not crow for a long time. Another possibility that I have read about is a damaged on non functioning ovary. That messes up the hormones and a hen can still lay but act like a roo.

Please post pictures, one from the side and one that is a close up of the head with comb and wattles.
Click to expand...
Are these good???








 
 
Hi Zoe,
great to have a Canadian on the thread! Re the sex of your bird, I can only offer an opinion. I know a fair bit about 'lorps and lots of theories about sexing, but I think it only gets 'easy' when you have a distinct strain and are familiar with its characteristics. Different strains seem to develop differently. If you find it hard with one bird, imagine trying to sex and cull around a hundred! Firstly, the bird looks like a typical, good Utility 'lorp pullet from the longshots. Has that typical tight feathering and pointy/Langshan tail. However, the closeups are more revealing. 'She' has a clean face more like Australian exhibition chooks. In most respects, her comb is terrific - smooth, with a small number of evenly spaced points/serrations, but they are rather unusually rounded 'points'. I don't know how 'into' 'lorps you are from a breeding perspective, but if you want to produce birds of show quality from this girl/boy, a couple of suggestions - try to breed with a bird with 'pointier' points, but dont lose the really good comb/face/wattle features you already have. The bird appears to have brown eyes. This is acceptable but not ideal and, over here, is suggested that you mate 'it' with a blackeyed bird and you should get around half the progeny with dark eyes. If you breed 2 birds with brown eyes, you'll merely perpetuate the 'problem.'
As to laying, we should never forget that time of hatching is a huge influence on when a bird of any breed begins laying.
Cheers Geoff from Aus
 
Looks like a nice pullet. its hard to tell but the tail kind of gives it away , mine all start crowing by 5 mos or so...ours start laying between 6 and 7 mos.. sometimes one like her can be low woman on the totem pole..she might hold back a bit if she doesnt feel comfortable and they dont always externalize that..they might look calm on the outside and be a little nervous on the inside..she will be fine and a very dependable winter egg layer..when everyone else takes a break, you will find her in the egg box..many great egg layers out there..the australorp is one of the best..she will be a great addition to your flock..

here is a few pics of a cockeral and a fat rooster, hes so spoiled ..sorry about my amazingly poor photography..I wouldnt hire me to take a picture of anything. Walts freeze frame works best but I didnt know that when I took these.

















 
Last edited:
ChickenCrazy8 said:
Quote:
RattlesnakeRidgeWV said:
CC8,
It definitely looks like a pullet to me at 22 weeks. Enjoy the BA's, they are my favorite!
Click to expand...

ChickenCrazy8 said:
Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly!!!
Click to expand...
I agree that your BA looks like a pullet. Mounting the other hens is weird so there is still a chance that she may one day become a secret roo.

This time of year it can take longer for them to lay. Mine hatched in February and took 25 to 27 weeks before all of them were laying.

Have fun!
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:

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