Australorps breed Thread

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Thank y'all for your comments. Every picture I took of the birds was when they were on the move so I agree that it is hard to make good calls without hands on. He is young, only 8 months old so I am not worried about him filling out. His legs are well spread even though the pics don't show it. The hen next to him in the 2nd pic is his grandmother and in person she is a winner. He will be bred to her eventually. My main concern is his tail angle and width. On that I totally agree. SOP calls for 40 degree and when I look at the colored pic in the 2010 SOP I see higher than 40 degree so that is where I am confused. His grandfather Dundee had a much better tail and so did most of his fathers and brothers that I ate or sold, so kick me now! I also do not like his comb with the split point. It will be interesting to see what he throws in the future. I really miss his grandfather Dundee, and wonder if I will ever get back to that awesome type. I am starting a second flock of BA's from a different line thanks to Stan at Tigercreek. I will continue with my Duane Urch line using Mick and see how they fair. I have to weigh the pros and cons of both different lines to see if it will be worth crossing a few years down the road. Time and alot of breeding and culling will tell. Some breeders say never cross lines, but I personally know people who have and got good results. So lets lay in on that one and that should keep this thread going.

 

[bruceha2000]

Some breeders say never cross lines, but I personally know people who have and got good results.

My genetics and breeding knowledge is all book from decades ago at college and I've never bred chickens (or anything else) but:

I thought one key to a genetically healthy population was to limit inbreeding. Why WOULDN'T one want to bring in a really good quality bird from another line? Maybe you end up with the "Rattlesnake Ridge" line which can be crossed into others, including back to the Tigercreek and Urch lines?

Seems like that would make for good Australorps and a be lot "cleaner" than bringing in other breeds to "fix" issues with whatever line you have.

Bruce

 

[ronott1]

Quote:

Some breeders say never cross lines, but I personally know people who have and got good results.

My genetics and breeding knowledge is all book from decades ago at college and I've never bred chickens (or anything else) but:

I thought one key to a genetically healthy population was to limit inbreeding. Why WOULDN'T one want to bring in a really good quality bird from another line? Maybe you end up with the "Rattlesnake Ridge" line which can be crossed into others, including back to the Tigercreek and Urch lines?

Seems like that would make for good Australorps and a be lot "cleaner" than bringing in other breeds to "fix" issues with whatever line you have.

Bruce

I have read a lot of threads about this on OT and Heritage threads. If the Australorps had remained pure from the time they were first introduced that would work well. The problem is hidden genes from out crossings to other breeds. Those Out crossings will cause odd things to pop up in the offspring. With BAs that would include feathered feet, white tails and shape problems. Some claim it can take 20 years to then breed those back out.

What seems to work well is to find someone that has the same line you have and then swap with them periodically. Also, mixing lines may work fine but you would have to really watch them and hope odd genes did not pop up in a couple of generations.

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Ronott1,
That is my biggest fear of crossing lines. You get the good and the bad genes of every line, it is a gamble. We are not talking outbreeding of different breeds just crossing lines can sometime be a problem. Case in point, some lines have crappy combs and sometimes it can be fixed but not right away. That IMO is the easiest to fix. Now when you get into tails, breasts, heads etc. that takes alot of work and chicks on the ground. Apparently people think that show birds beget show birds and it just does not work that way. The offspring are always a work in progress.

 

[WVDan44]

As I was saying yesterday, some people can see the good and bad in a bird from a photo, and some can recite the genetic code of a feather pattern. I do not have the benefit of enough experience to do either at the moment. My background is in dogs. Now, outcrosses in dogs can make very good sense, but a lot of people line breed which is what it's called when it works, and when it doesn't it's called inbreeding LOL. Apparently poultry is an entirely different approach, and while I was applying my experience with mammals at first, today my entire belief system is being re-worked. So my decision is to keep two lines separately, linebreed for the same good charactoristics in both, and one day perhaps introduce some hybrid vigor into each line by outcrossing them. Sounds so idealistic, doesn't it. As I learn more, I may look back at this post and want to have it stricken from the thread, but right now, I can't judge a bird by a photo, and I can't recite a genetic code. I'll just keep shoveling shavings and "s____" chicken poop until I learn more about what it is I'm doing. And I have a feeling I'll learn a great deal of it here from you guys.

 

[bonnylass79]

I have a question for all of you experienced Australorp folks. I have a flock of what I think are really nice Australorps. I have no idea what their bloodlines are. Most of them are either craigslist finds or descendants of such. I'd like to start breeding and showing them. Do you think it's worth the effort, not knowing their bloodlines? I can post pictures later. I'm just curious to get your thoughts.

 

[lildinkem]

I have a question for all of you experienced Australorp folks. I have a flock of what I think are really nice Australorps. I have no idea what their bloodlines are. Most of them are either craigslist finds or descendants of such. I'd like to start breeding and showing them. Do you think it's worth the effort, not knowing their bloodlines? I can post pictures later. I'm just curious to get your thoughts.

Depends what you want out of your flock. IF your breeding to show, and want to be competative, you will have to hatch out a bunch to get the few to continue to bettering your flock. IF you are looking for vigor, aka high egg production, you will do just fine with what you have. Pics would help far as getting an idea of what would be the best breeders for what you like to do.

 

[AlienChick]

I bought 6 BA chicks from TSC two years ago and I'm in love with them.
I bought them for egg laying but was surprised to learn how friendly they are and what good broody moms they can be.
I wish more people bred these birds!
Here's a pic of one of my hens (the smallest hen) raising about 12 guinea babies.

 

[Lobzi]

That is adorable. The BA hen are great mamas.

 

[CowgirlHC]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum and am hoping you can help me. I bought our first australorps back in.....I'm thinking September. I was told the older 3-4 were ready to start laying, with the other close behind. We got 5, 1 hatched in April, 3 in May, 1 in June. Since then, we've lost our April and one of our May australorps (long story but we're good now). Anyway, here it is January and we STILL haven't gotten a single egg. When you look at them, they still look like they're young and growing. They're combs are still very small and pale, as is their waddles, but that's how they came to us. It seems like they're body has grown, but not their comb and no maturation to the point of laying. Are they stunted? When we got them, they looked seriously at point of lay age (minus their comb ordeal) but as far as size, their feathers....definitely weren't just out of fuzz or anything. Being a larger breed, is it common for them to take a little longer to mature? Especially given the time frame they're maturing and the days being shorter and such? We do have artificial, supplemental lighting we use when necessary hoping that would help. Any help would be great! Thanks!