Australorps breed Thread

[MadameDork]

Here are my two girls who are six weeks today. They were sold to me as Australorps so I'm assuming they are. One was slow to grow, but caught up quickly. Now I'm wondering, are they both girls? One of the combs is such a bright yellow, but I've only heard red typically means boy. Any ideas?

Greta, my runt who is now the same size as her sister.

Ethel and her bright comb.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

Ugh..went from 9 Aussies to 1 Aussie cockerel....

~Aspen

Oh no! What happened?

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
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Hi,

They are probably Austoralorps, but may be mixed.

Ethel looks like a pullet and Greta has some Cockeral looks--Maybe some saddle feathers and a longish tail.

They are a bit young to tell for sure so I will keep hoping Greta is a she.

Ron

 

[MadameDork]

Quote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
Hi,

They are probably Austoralorps, but may be mixed.

Ethel looks like a pullet and Greta has some Cockeral looks--Maybe some saddle feathers and a longish tail.

They are a bit young to tell for sure so I will keep hoping Greta is a she.

Ron

I've been wondering about Greta being a boy since she was slow to grow. I've read a lot of stories where people had that happen and ended up with a roo. But the two look so similar in person now. I go back and forth on Greta being a Greta or Greg. Unfortunately, if she's a Greg, he'll have to find a new home.

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
Hi,

They are probably Austoralorps, but may be mixed.

Ethel looks like a pullet and Greta has some Cockeral looks--Maybe some saddle feathers and a longish tail.

They are a bit young to tell for sure so I will keep hoping Greta is a she.

Ron

I've been wondering about Greta being a boy since she was slow to grow. I've read a lot of stories where people had that happen and ended up with a roo. But the two look so similar in person now. I go back and forth on Greta being a Greta or Greg. Unfortunately, if she's a Greg, he'll have to find a new home.

They really do change a bunch up to six months of age.

I found this guide a while back. I have posted it before but will post it again:

Examine the blade of the comb which is the lobe-like area at the rear of the comb. Roosters have rounded blades nearly half the length of the comb. Female Australorp chickens have combs that only cover two-thirds of the head and end in a sharp point.

Check the red waddle of the bird. The Australorp rooster has a waddle that is longer than it is wide. The Australorp hen has a waddle that is wider, or as wide as, it is long.

Examine the neck plumage of the chicken. Males Australorps have pointy neck plumage that cascades over the shoulder and down to the beginning of the wing. Female neck plumage reaches the shoulder and is rounded.

Observe the tail of the chicken. The tail feathers of male Australorp chickens cascade in a soft rounded waterfall effect. Australorp hens have blunt, short tail feathers.

Listen to the birds. The roosters will crow while the hens do not.


best method is by observing the chicks' behavior. Startle the chicks by sailing a hat or similar soft object over their heads and watch their reactions. The cockerels will instinctively stand erect with their heads upright and will emit a peculiar warning chirruping sound. The pullets will tend to crouch down low and remain silent.

 

[BasicallyHeather]

Quote:
I have four BA girls who are 22 weeks old, and they do *wonderfully* with my five kids (ages 12, 10, 7, 4, and 2). We raised them from chicks and are very, very gentle. I would recommend them to anyone with small kids.

I also have three 10 week old silkies, and the BA girls don't really like them all that much! I think it would have been different if they were all raised together, or if the silkies were older than the BA girls...but they aren't. For now I have the silkies in a moveable coop and the BA girls free-range with the rest of the flock.

 

[huppfarm]

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howdy, did someone tell you it was an australorp? sorry to say odball is another breed but a very nice looking gentleman!

 

[henrietta101]

I had to join the thread. I have a ten week australorp, and I just LOVE her. Bought 3 other cross breeds which are okay, but I cannot get over how cute and funny and FRIENDLY she is. Wish I had got all Australorps now. Oh well.

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Hi And Welcome to this Forum

I bought a 5 pack from Cackle Hatchery last spring. They were my first chickens since moving to a city(Corning CA) in 1977 when I was 17. I picked them based on research I did. I now have added three RIR, two Golden Comets and two Barred Plymouth Rocks. I raised the BA's and the RIR's from chicks. I bought the others as started pullets. The BA's quietly go about their business and don't get into trouble. The RIR's are noisier and will squawk at me if I check into the coop while they are in the nest box. The Barred Rocks are very curious and will jump to get treats from the bowl if I don't put it down fast enough.

One thing, with the winter sun loss causing laying to slow down, the RIR and Barred Rocks keep laying in the winter. The BA's slow down or stop without supplemental light, but they kept laying here in Woodland, CA when it was over 100 degrees in the summer.

Post a picture when you can.

Ron

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Here's my chick Melanie But I'm thinking it's a rooster so I'm changing it's name to Merlin.