Australorps breed Thread

[maddogdodge]

I see a Roo Tail forming

I thought the same thing! But I'm fairly new to Australorps so I didn't say anything, haha. Neither of my girls (3 years old and 14 weeks old) have tails like that... they both have quite short tails that blend into their fat bodies

 

[Turk Raphael]

OK...at 17 weeks, shouldn't there be a bit more comb and wattles if the bird is a cockerel? I'm speaking only of the strain of birds I had. Not all strains are alike.

From very early on, my pullets had longer tails than the cockerels but as they grew and gradually molted, the the pullets kept their longish tails and the cockerels grew their tails before the pullets lost theirs.

Again, the small comb and wattles and what seem (to me) to be rounded saddle feathers would indicate pullet. But who am I? Certainly no expert, as I have previously assured everyone. To me, this is a discussion, not an argument.

Shortly, the bird will crow or lay an egg then, I hope the owner will be good enough to let us know which happens....first.

Turk

A bit more...The Australians in the discussion are dealing with a totally different bird, in my opinion. I doubt your birds have had the relatively recent and doubious 'benefit' of Leghorn genes added to their gene pool to increase production, which just might make your birds mature a bit differently.

So many American strains have had the 'hatchery alterations' that make them feather out in peculiar ways.

Just my observations..........looking forward to seeing what gender the pullet really is.

 

[appps]

[COLOR=FF0000]A bit more...[/COLOR]The Australians in the discussion are dealing with a totally different bird, in my opinion.  I doubt your birds have had the relatively recent and doubious 'benefit' of Leghorn genes added to their gene pool to increase production, which just might make your birds mature a bit differently.  

So many American strains have had the 'hatchery alterations' that make them feather out in peculiar ways.

Just my observations..........looking forward to seeing what gender the pullet really is.   

Yeah, that's why I was asking does it change with age. Not sure if you guys have as much of a bun or a longer tail?

Don't you sex girl australorps by their long tails when a bit younger? At what age do the boys out tail the girls?

 

[Turk Raphael]

Yeah, that's why I was asking does it change with age. Not sure if you guys have as much of a bun or a longer tail?

Don't you sex girl australorps by their long tails when a bit younger? At what age do the boys out tail the girls?

I'm only familiar with certain hatchery stock so I won't speak too broadly but by from my experience, pullets and cockerels can pretty well be sexed at 3 to 4 weeks, based upon their tail growth (but not always reliable). At 17/ 18 weeks, many of my cockerels were crowing or attempting to do so and the pullets were just 2 to 4 weeks from laying.

Turk

 

[maddogdodge]

Yes i've noticed the Aussie birds seem to have quite a different appearance to the American strain of them.

This is the roo I had for a while... he's 16 weeks in this pic, and even seems to have less long tail feathers that the bird we've been discussing... interesting how the different strains differ.

 

[fowlman01]

I see a Roo Tail forming

It's a female, but it doesn't look like an Australorp. That is more of a Sumatra/Leghorn tail.

Walt

 

[ronott1]

Yes i've noticed the Aussie birds seem to have quite a different appearance to the American strain of them.

This is the roo I had for a while... he's 16 weeks in this pic, and even seems to have less long tail feathers that the bird we've been discussing... interesting how the different strains differ.

The last import from Australia was a long time ago. Animals that are separated that much become genetically diverse even without the Hatcheries adding leghorn.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

My peeps just hit the 24 week mark. They're not laying yet, but they sure are a joy to have around. (don't know why the pictures always lighten up when I transfer from my camera so just imagine it's darker haha)


Omelet and Scramble; Best Buds



Miss Omelet waiting for snacks



Miss Scramble waits for Omelet to find food before she ventures out

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
No Im not Certain ...Im not a expert either ..it just looks more like a Roo to me

 

[Turk Raphael]

No Im not Certain ...Im not a expert either ..it just looks more like a Roo to me