Australorps breed Thread

[WVDan44]

Same here except I live in very fertile valley with limestone rock outcroppings and ground they call Karst which is a geological formation shaped by the dissolving of layers of soluble bedrock (limestone) to form caverns, caves and sinkholes. Anyway, the limestone doesn't move without blasting so we work around it. It is not uncommon to find an outcropping of limestone incorporated into the basements and cellars of local homes. Needless to say, we often concrete a fence post in because we hit a BFR while digging postholes. Temporary or moveable fencing is ideal for this area.

 

[groche]

Hi folks,
haven't posted recently as I still haven't started my cull. Interesting pics posted. I haven't commented much as I've found myself generally agreeing with the informed comments of Aveca, Ron, Bill et al. I find Cuba's comments especially informed and interesting. If you're a "kid", you're a hell of a precocious one! Ron, from the 1 pic of Stan's bird, I can't pick up any leg issue. Our SOP calls for "legs medium in length, strong, bayonet-shaped and spaced well apart.....and the whole of the shanks showing below the underline." Aveca, I'm sure your boy has a nice breast, but he aint showing it in that pose! It seems a real pity that your roo doesn't go to some good girls. Our country's big too, but I have friends who regularly 'import' birds from interstate. We have animal transport professionals, who don't seem to charge the earth and look after the birds well. Although it's difficult at times (never work with kids or animals!) I really think we should try to post a minimum of 3 pics of birds from different angles if peoples' comments are to be really useful.
On an unrelated point, we've had a hot, dry summer here with very little green feed available. Decided to try lucerne chaff as recommended to me. Mixed it with their normal ration. It got left in the bottom of the feeder. Thought I'd try soaking it in water for an hour. Fed it straight. Chooks love it! Might help those with penned birds, especially.
Ron, thanks for your suggestions re my birds tending to be cow hocked when the parents aren't. All of my hatches occurred over 4 days, with a mixture of eggs. Early hatched chicks, therefore, spent days in the inc. The Rcom 50 has a hard plastic floor and the egg-holding tray is slippery. I think the problem may be occuring from this.
Cheers Geoff from Aus

 

[WVDan44]

Enough about fencing, I wanna see some black aussies! who has some pics to show?

 

[WVDan44]

Hey Geoff, I was wondering where you have been keeping yourself. It's good to have you back on the forum. I enjoy your posts and look forward to them.

 

[groche]

Hey Geoff, I was wondering where you have been keeping yourself. It's good to have you back on the forum. I enjoy your posts and look forward to them.

Thanks Dan. Glad you enjoy my posts. I enjoy your obvious enthusiasm and interest in BA's. Lots of pics to come with the cull. Need to get 35 roos down to 1 or2! Then around 70 pullets down to mimimum 6.

 

[animallover505]

IHi there! I'm getting one of these in April. A black pullet

 

[WVDan44]

I can help you to cut down on your roos, just send a few over here to me that look like your avatar and I shall be happy to take them off your hands...with great enthusiasm!

Selecting that special one out of 35 must be a daunting task; labouring over each one that must go until you are left with your breeding roo and a spare or back up I would imagine.

Now about your feeding of lucerne chaff (alfalfa in our land) is there any concern about a build up of high concentrations of certain minerals or vitamins that could be harmful over time, i.e. iron, selenium, etc.? We commonly feed it to horses, cattle, goats, and rabbit, often sparingly as a suppliment. I suppose if there is no greenery, this would make an excellent substitute for poultry, and watering it down would help reconstitute it somewhat.

You must be in mid-summer at this time of year? I am well familiar with the fabulous paintings of the Australian countryside by master watercolorist Joseph Zbukvic. His pictures of fields in summer are often painted in browns and golds to appear very dry. You probably can't see it in this picture, but he nearly always paints little black chickens into his farm scenes as well as the ever-present black farm dog.

Beautiful country Australia, I would love to visit there one day.

 

[cubakid]

I find Cuba's comments especially informed and interesting. If you're a "kid", you're a hell of a precocious one!

Much obliged. I plan go thru the apprenticeship program here in the U.S. and to take the judging test when I turn 18, or whenever apprenticeship is fulfilled

people don't usually acknowledge the opinion of the youth, and I thank you for that.

 

[Carebearsmiles]

Enough about fencing, I wanna see some black aussies!  who has some pics to show?

I might.

Hello all! New to the thread and fairly new to bird owning. Loving it so far?
Do you all know if my chicken is a black australorp?

I'm using a collage I had on my phone. Enjoy the duck photos as well.

 

[ronott1]

Quote:

She looks like a 4 month old BA.

congratulations!