Australorps breed Thread

[MrsBrooke]

I've never noticed my Australorps to be flighty or escape-y. They don't even like to get higher than my 12" roost I've got for them... I added a ladder, and they line up to climb in the evening. So lazy!

They wander around scratching happily at their little mini-pasture. When I *first* got my APA birds, ONE hen was a little stressed and has continued to be a persnickety mama. She would walk up to the 6' privacy fence we have around our property and try and fly over it. Being such a heavy thing, she got about 4' then sorta crash landed. Very gracefully, I might add.

She only did that once or twice the first week we got her. Since then, she's exhibited no attempts to escape and keeps us supplied with beautiful eggs. She's still moody, though.

If you don't give them reasons to fly the coop (ie: always have oyster shells, grit, fresh water, and food available for them), then they should happily stay put.

Where did you get them?

MrsB

 

[DesertChic]

Question for you all - do you find your Aussies to be big jumpers/escape artists? I have a coop built and now it's time to build a run for my 3 girls and I'm trying to plan the best way for it. I'd like for it to be open topped so I can walk in there, clean, visit the girls, etc so I was thinking 3-4ft tall garden fencing and making a big pen out of it but I worry they'll just jump right over and either tear up my garden or, worse, try to hop the 5' fence into the neighbors yard. If I have to put a top on it, I'm thinking bird netting like one would put over a garden or fish pond, something I can remove to go in and clean then re-attach when they're roaming. Any thoughts? I know clipping wings is an option but I don't know how much that would curb jumping height

Half of my 6' high run is currently open on top. One of my Aussies flew up on top of the coop one time when something really freaked her out, but it was when she was younger and more lean and she was as distressed about being that high up as she'd been over what scared her in the first place. None have done anything like that since, and the bigger they get the less they seem to want to fly. I think the bird netting would be perfectly fine. We have a tarp over one end of the run (it's roughly 24' long and 8' wide), and are considering camo netting for the other end once the temperatures start to climb. (We live in AZ. Shade is very important.) Like you I'd rather not clip their wings.

 

[JennysHens]

Thanks for the tips, guys! I think I'll try it out and keep an eye when I'm home. I have almost 4 months of maternity leave and nice weather ahead! If they become fence hoppers I'll get the netting. Don't want anything too big or permanent, we'll only be living here 3-5 more years and will have to take everything out with us when we go. I don't mind clipping, if I must, just would be one more thing to maintain - I already care for a mini zoo with all the pets and don't want to stress the girls! Haha

I've never noticed my Australorps to be flighty or escape-y. They don't even like to get higher than my 12" roost I've got for them... I added a ladder, and they line up to climb in the evening. So lazy!

They wander around scratching happily at their little mini-pasture. When I *first* got my APA birds, ONE hen was a little stressed and has continued to be a persnickety mama. She would walk up to the 6' privacy fence we have around our property and try and fly over it. Being such a heavy thing, she got about 4' then sorta crash landed. Very gracefully, I might add.

She only did that once or twice the first week we got her. Since then, she's exhibited no attempts to escape and keeps us supplied with beautiful eggs. She's still moody, though.

If you don't give them reasons to fly the coop (ie: always have oyster shells, grit, fresh water, and food available for them), then they should happily stay put.

Where did you get them?

MrsB

I got them at the local feed store, didn't think to ask which hatchery they sourced from. It was somewhat of an impulse buy, I've wanted and researched chickens for a few years and the feed store happened to get a small batch of Aussies in and I had to nab em!

Glad to hear they're lazy bones! That was part of the appeal, mellow easy going gals that are good layers. They're already quite hoppy, trying to hop out of their brooder on me to explore the bathroom (I might build a mini-door so they learn to go through a door rather than up and over to get out) and always hopping up to try and peck my glasses when I sit with them haha little stinkers.

I just worry about them getting hurt! I only have two neighbors, one has a dog that's always outside and I'd hate for them to end up in that yard and have something bad happen they are going to be housed on the far side away from that fence, around the side of the house so fingers crossed they won't get that far!

DesertChick - we just moved here from AZ, actually. Thankfully, shade won't be an issue since we're in WA now. Mostly they need to stay dry! But their coop has a small covered run built in to it "made to house 3 chickens" but no way will that be enough space for them, though some grassy space when the weather stinks will be nice.

 

[getaclue]

Question for you all - do you find your Aussies to be big jumpers/escape artists? I have a coop built and now it's time to build a run for my 3 girls and I'm trying to plan the best way for it. I'd like for it to be open topped so I can walk in there, clean, visit the girls, etc so I was thinking 3-4ft tall garden fencing and making a big pen out of it but I worry they'll just jump right over and either tear up my garden or, worse, try to hop the 5' fence into the neighbors yard. If I have to put a top on it, I'm thinking bird netting like one would put over a garden or fish pond, something I can remove to go in and clean then re-attach when they're roaming. Any thoughts? I know clipping wings is an option but I don't know how much that would curb jumping height.

That sounds like a lovely plan. Yes, put the top on it for the reason you mentioned, and it will deter airborne predators too. Don't forget a pen skirt.

 

[ThatFarmerChick]

Are there any breeders on the Eastern Shore of MD or near?

 

[MrsBrooke]

Big Papa sidled up to the Rainwater Saloon just as soon as the sun came out to have a drink and forget his troubles.

It's been a long, muddy couple of days.

MrsB

 

[orumpoultry]

I just added another bag of shavings to my coops and another layer of hay to the pens. My Aussies are brown from the mud.

 

[MrsBrooke]

I just added another bag of shavings to my coops and another layer of hay to the pens. My Aussies are brown from the mud.

I hear that. -_- Have you noticed this type of weather affects laying?

MrsB

 

[orumpoultry]

I've got three hens laying out of all of my adults.

 

[appps]

I've never noticed my Australorps to be flighty or escape-y. They don't even like to get higher than my 12" roost I've got for them... I added a ladder, and they line up to climb in the evening. So lazy!

They wander around scratching happily at their little mini-pasture. When I *first* got my APA birds, ONE hen was a little stressed and has continued to be a persnickety mama. She would walk up to the 6' privacy fence we have around our property and try and fly over it. Being such a heavy thing, she got about 4' then sorta crash landed. Very gracefully, I might add.

She only did that once or twice the first week we got her. Since then, she's exhibited no attempts to escape and keeps us supplied with beautiful eggs. She's still moody, though.

If you don't give them reasons to fly the coop (ie: always have oyster shells, grit, fresh water, and food available for them), then they should happily stay put.

Where did you get them?

MrsB

I would love to see how you incorporated the ladder. I've got a silkie that can't make it to the top roost so has to sleep alone on the bottom one every night. I went to a lot of trouble to renovate so I could make the roost longer so she could fit up with the others so that is a bit of disappointment lol. With winter coming I've been wondering how I could get her up with the others.

As for flying our australorp years ago was a real escape artist, and we ended up with a 8' fence to keep it in. It only ever escaped into the re back yard from their run though. Wasn't interested in jumping the 6' fence the other direction.