Australorps breed Thread

[ronott1]

Quote:

There's no way... That bird would only be three months old and no where near mature enough to lay an egg. I've got a flock of hatchery 'Lorps, and they are all four months old. No one has laid yet... I expect in the next month or so that will change. I've always known Australorps to be point of lay at five months.

I would be a little worried if a three month old pullet started laying eggs. :/

MrsB

leghorns and some sexlinks will lay at 15 to 20 weeks old. If an "australorp" started laying before 22 weeks, I would suspect someone was sold a black sexlink instead. It is common for any black chicken to be called an Australorp.

 

[appps]

So are australorps prone to flights over fences? Our little 9 week old decided to fly up onto our cubby steps this morning which is how only one of our other chickens (a faverolles) escapes when she thinks I'm late letting them out into the yard. I'm hoping it's not a sign of things to come!

 

[maddogdodge]

My girl is so heavy I don't think she could fly very high even if she tried. She seems to not enjoy attempting to jump up onto the perches at night... she's a very big girl!!

 

[appps]

That's a good point. Think this excursion may have been prompted by being chased by our resident bully. Just hoping she hasn't worked out its a good way to get some attention . At the rate she is growing , and eating!, hopefully she will end up too heavy to fly up after a bit too.

 

[ronott1]

So are australorps prone to flights over fences? Our little 9 week old decided to fly up onto our cubby steps this morning which is how only one of our other chickens (a faverolles) escapes when she thinks I'm late letting them out into the yard. I'm hoping it's not a sign of things to come!

It has to do with the age. They will fly when little but not so much when they get big and heavy.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: They also need a reason to..
Like my 2nd in line roo flew over our deck fence to get away from #1
Or for a treat ? or to be let out ...

 

[MrsBrooke]

leghorns and some sexlinks will lay at 15 to 20 weeks old. If an "australorp" started laying before 22 weeks, I would suspect someone was sold a black sexlink instead. It is common for any black chicken to be called an Australorp.

I could see a Leghorn laying ~4 months. Shame that people try and pawn off a "lesser" breed as a glorious Australorp!

A good Australorp takes time to turn into the egg-laying machine that she is!

MrsB

 

[hellbender]

I could see a Leghorn laying ~4 months. Shame that people try and pawn off a "lesser" breed as a glorious Australorp!

A good Australorp takes time to turn into the egg-laying machine that she is!

MrsB

More often than not, those selling the chicks really don't know what they have. If it's black, it's an Australorp, as far as the clerks at farm stores are concerned. Many of them don't have chickens and perhaps never had them. They say what ever comes to mind...It's just a chicken...should lay eggs so the buyer should have no complaints.

That really does seem to be the prevailing thought process.

 

[ronott1]

More often than not, those selling the chicks really don't know what they have. If it's black, it's an Australorp, as far as the clerks at farm stores are concerned. Many of them don't have chickens and perhaps never had them. They say what ever comes to mind...It's just a chicken...should lay eggs so the buyer should have no complaints.

That really does seem to be the prevailing thought process.

Over the years that has happened to a lot on this thread. You can often tell by the color bleed - red- at the neck feathers and the color of the legs.

Black sex links are good chickens but they are not australorps.

 

[hellbender]

Over the years that has happened to a lot on this thread. You can often tell by the color bleed - red- at the neck feathers and the color of the legs.

Black sex links are good chickens but they are not australorps.

Ron, I don't think either you or I would have too much trouble distinguishing between the sex-link and the Australorp chick but those folks who work at the stores likely aren't given any information or instruction about them. They generally seem to plop all the breeds in the same stock tank (saves on electricity) and it's pretty much a crap-shoot from there.

I can't figure out why people continue to buy from the stores....If they are going to get hatchery birds, they might as well order from a hatchery. At least they generally (but not always) send the correct birds that are ordered.

EDIT: Generally the customers have no clue and have some misplaced faith that the store clerks know more than they about what's what....

It's not funny for the buyers but you'd think they would figure out that the clerks don't know either.