Australorps breed Thread

[Rochelesmit]

Question for all of you seasoned Australorp owners... This year is my first year ordering Australorps and I'm a bit concerned at how slow they are feathering out. All of my other chicks except for my lone Iowa Blue have full wings and little tails. These two have only gotten bigger since I got them, with no feather growth. Is this typical of this breed? I only ordered 2 pullets since I want to try the breed out and I'm going to be really bummed if both turn out to be Roos.

They will be exactly 2 weeks old Tuesday.

Here is my same age EE for comparison, big wings and a tail...

 

[MrsBrooke]

They're so cute! Can you tell them apart? 

Working on it! So far, I've got Callaway, Ping, Big Bertha, Bunny, Miss Fancy, and I'm working out which of the "twin" roos will be my Mr. Darcy.

Question for all of you seasoned Australorp owners... This year is my first year ordering Australorps and I'm a bit concerned at how slow they are feathering out. All of my other chicks except for my lone Iowa Blue have full wings and little tails. These two have only gotten bigger since I got them, with no feather growth. Is this typical of this breed? I only ordered 2 pullets since I want to try the breed out and I'm going to be really bummed if both turn out to be Roos.

They will be exactly 2 weeks old Tuesday.

Here is my same age EE for comparison, big wings and a tail...

Here is Callaway at two weeks. I had him on 24% game bird starter, though, so he sprouted quickly. What feed are yours on?

Also, Aussies are known to be docile and find themselves on the bottom of the pecking order often... It's possible they are being bullied away from the food.

MrsB

 

[MrsBrooke]

This Thursday I will have them for 3weeks. I was told it was a BR. This is my first time and I love to research and learn new things. So after the first day I knew it wasn't a BR but have no idea what It could be? I don't see a comb on it at all yet. I bought 11 babys at a feed store. I was told I have 1 dominate 2 barred rock and 8 white leg horn, all girls. I watched him feather sex. At the time I had no idea what he was look at i think 3 are boys but I am not really positive. I am just going by things I have read. Thank you so much for your help I really need it

Looks like a BR pullet.

MrsB

 

[Rochelesmit]

Hmm, I don't think they are getting bullied, in fact, they are little pigs compared to the rest and are getting very fat! They've grown in size faster than the other chicks as well. They are on purina start and grow as that's all our feed store had in stock. I think it's 18%. Also they get greek yogurt twice a day mixed with some feed and water, and a splash of ACV in their drinking water.
I'm just worried bc in the past, with other breeds, I have been fairly accurate in telling Roos from the rest because of the slow feathering.

 

[ronott1]

Hmm, I don't think they are getting bullied, in fact, they are little pigs compared to the rest and are getting very fat! They've grown in size faster than the other chicks as well. They are on purina start and grow as that's all our feed store had in stock. I think it's 18%. Also they get greek yogurt twice a day mixed with some feed and water, and a splash of ACV in their drinking water.
I'm just worried bc in the past, with other breeds, I have been fairly accurate in telling Roos from the rest because of the slow feathering.

feathering does not work for telling gender for australorps. combs and wattles are what you look at up to 6 weeks old.

They both look like pullets so far.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Hmm, I don't think they are getting bullied, in fact, they are little pigs compared to the rest and are getting very fat! They've grown in size faster than the other chicks as well. They are on purina start and grow as that's all our feed store had in stock. I think it's 18%. Also they get greek yogurt twice a day mixed with some feed and water, and a splash of ACV in their drinking water.
I'm just worried bc in the past, with other breeds, I have been fairly accurate in telling Roos from the rest because of the slow feathering.

I might add a little more protein to their diets, but that's me. I understand we are at the mercy of our feed stores!!!

On an unrelated note, I'd skip the Greek yogurt. Mammals are better suited for digesting dairy products... A bird has no need for milk and lacks certain enzymes to break it down. A little yogurt now and again is okay-ish, but I'd switch to fermenting their feed or offering chick pro-biotics in their water if you want that good gut flora.

Also, x2 on looking like pullets.

MrsB

 

[Rochelesmit]

Well, we will just have to wait a month or so and revisit Fingers crossed as these two are very sweet and I've been looking forward to adding some australorps for a while!
I do ferment the big girls feed, just been too lazy to start a separate little bucket for the 10 chicks. Guess I will stop procrastinating!
Thank you for your answers! I'll be sure to keep you all updated on their progress!

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

@ ronott1 What are the birds in your avatar ???? they're pretty

 

[ronott1]

@ ronott1 What are the birds in your avatar ???? they're pretty

They are Pita Pinta cockerels. They are more black with white mottling now.

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

They are Pita Pinta cockerels. They are more black with white mottling now.

Very nice ! I'll have to look them up, I've never heard of them.