Australorps breed Thread

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Here is a little better pic of her, she is pretty camera shy

Nice Australorp!

 

[bruceha2000]

Given all the signs (but not present to confirm) Echo, my smaller Australorp laid her first egg today, one day shy of 24 weeks. Nice medium brown and medium size. Sorry don't have a picture. Her egg and one each from the Cubalayas were in the coop, not in the nest. I think Peep lays next to other eggs because she laid next to Andromeda's (EE) first egg (XL blue-green) IN the center of the 4' long community box yesterday and next to one from one of the Anconas IN the box on the left side on Friday (her first). Today it was on the floor next to either Echo or Fay's FIRST egg. I didn't pay enough attention to which eggs were close together and which one was under the roost. Guess I better put some fake eggs in the box.

Bruce

 

[SilkieCrazy123]

Lucky! My Australorps should be laying their first egg really soon, but i'm not sure if they will because of less daylight. As it is, I'm only getting about one egg a week from my two Ameracaunas. I have 6 other pullets that should be laying their eggs really soon too.

 

[DeesHens]

Here is a little better pic of her, she is pretty camera shy

That is a good pic. She has a pretty & clean face. Her tail actually stands higher than I had thought from the first pic. Might not be so, but looks like a brown cast in her eye in this pic. Thanks for posting another pic of her. I really enjoyed taking a closer look at her.
~Dee~

 

[bruceha2000]

Lucky! My Australorps should be laying their first egg really soon,

Only HALF lucky Not sure when Zorra will start. She's the BIG girl. No squatting but she is starting to get some red in her comb so maybe another 2 weeks. I have a 40W equivalent CFL light in the brooder fixture hanging outside the coop kind of pointing in. I have it set to go on at 4:30 AM. They put themselves to bed about 4:30 PM now and I have the light on from 4 to 5 since it is much darker in the coop than outside and they don't always head in as soon as they should. So they are getting extra light to about 12 hours a day. I think the "if you want them to lay all winter" advice is they need 14 hours. Some of my girls are supposed to be decent winter layers so I'm only pushing them "some"

Might not be so, but looks like a brown cast in her eye in this pic. Thanks for posting

My girls are both brown eyed. Another instance of hatchery birds not meeting standards.

Bruce

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

My Australorp pullet (who was mounting my other hen) started laying this week!!!!!

 

[DeesHens]

Quote:
Well, if you are going for good layers and not breeding to show your girls whether they have the brown cast in their eyes probably isn't a issue.

I would personally love to have hens with black eyes just because I think they look so cool. But I will be purchasing utility chicks and will accept whatever I get.
My girls are both pets and layers so as long as they are healthy I will be happy.

Doesn't stop me from totally admiring the SQ BA's & I enjoy learning as much as I can.

We are looking for the fencing now to expand the padlock area for them to safely forage. Have some rather dangerous racoons around. Killed one of my hens in broad daylight a few months back.

They were only 10 feet away from our house and I had just visited them 20-30 min. before it happened. Looked out the window and saw the killer trying to pull my dead hen through the fence.
So far haven't found the fencing I want locally so may need to order it online and pay the horrid shipping charge. Not at all strange to me what I ask for Christmas these days.

~Dee~

 

[DeesHens]

My Australorp pullet (who was mounting my other hen) started laying this week!!!!!

Wow! I bet you are relieved and happy.
~Dee~

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

Yup

 

[DeesHens]

I might be getting Australorps soon!!!

Me too Mr. MKK. I share your excitement!

Although I'm not sure how soon... got a fence to build. Will check to see when our farm store receives first shipment, etc. Might need to order all online??
~Dee~