Australorps breed Thread

[Cockle-Dood]

Crazy nails and good looking chicks, could there be pattern there? Sorry, started drinking early and couldn't help myself!

pop a top for me...and yes she LOVES her nails! the glitter on them help occupy the chicks for photo ops too....wonder if thats in the OT thread!

 

[MeanV2]

OK I am still working on a name for the BA blue splash project for pics, lets wait and see how the hatch goes. You know that old saying about "DON'T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH" is very, very wise!

Dan,
I usually put about 30 to 40 in at once. I have had about 3 hatches in the last two months. Right now I have about 40 peeps and 5 week olds growing out in the garage and another 40 in the incubator. They are a mixed batch with BA's and my wives EE's.
Kurt

How many BA eggs ya got in that bator?

Dan

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

MeanV2,
About 20 BA's. Not counting my blue,splash project BA's.

 

[aveca]

You'll have to show us your splash project birds when they hatch out Rattler..I have a couple of those in.My bator right now too, well few more than a couple..Just set them thurs AM so leaving them alone for a while..I have a bator full of aussies and assortment of big orps..super excited..A freind of mine will be so suprised if I show up at the shows with a blue or splash australorp..Not going to tell them until time nears....Im sure they will generate some attention..

 

[DeesHens]

Hi Everyone. Stopped in to get my BA fix. Excellent & interesting posts and pics everybody. Always learning new things here and admire all your BA's so much.

Kurt, excited to hear that you may share another pic series of your BA chicks growing. So glad to hear the last ones are doing so well. I need to go back and look at the pics as I missed one of the cockerels in your last batch. Thought 2 for sure but not 3.

Also am looking forward to seeing the Splash and Blue Aussies in the future.

Bruce, Zorra's eggs are incredible! Enjoyed your comparisons via pics.

Ron, thanks again for your details in looking for signs of the sex of chicks. 21 days until I go in to test my skills on day old chicks. LOL
I have almost everything ready for them. Just need to pick up starter feed and maybe a vitamin/electrolyte mix.

Here is my question today:
I'll start off by saying that I do not plan to use medicated starter. I do use ACV & water kefir with organic Non GMO no soy & no corn grains. But having said that, I am interested to hear your opinions as to what supplementation to use to fortify newly shipped day old BA chicks. Some say all you need is sugar water others say you need B vitamins and/or electrolytes. What do you say please? TIA

~Dee~

 

[bruceha2000]

Some mug shots of my 3

these guys are only 3 to 4 weeks right now.

If they are 3 to 4 weeks old, they are girls. I was sweating BIG TIME when mine were that age because one was bigger than the other. She had a bigger tail and a bigger comb. Then someone posted pictures of their cockerels at that age. WHOA - red combs and wattles!

Mine - hatched 6/11. Picture taken 7/7

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/493821/black-australorps-genders/10#post_9290654

Theirs:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/493821/black-australorps-genders/10#post_9295495


Bruce

 

[ronott1]

Hi Everyone. Stopped in to get my BA fix. Excellent & interesting posts and pics everybody. Always learning new things here and admire all your BA's so much.

Kurt, excited to hear that you may share another pic series of your BA chicks growing. So glad to hear the last ones are doing so well. I need to go back and look at the pics as I missed one of the cockerels in your last batch. Thought 2 for sure but not 3.

Also am looking forward to seeing the Splash and Blue Aussies in the future.

Bruce, Zorra's eggs are incredible! Enjoyed your comparisons via pics.

Ron, thanks again for your details in looking for signs of the sex of chicks. 21 days until I go in to test my skills on day old chicks. LOL
I have almost everything ready for them. Just need to pick up starter feed and maybe a vitamin/electrolyte mix.

Here is my question today:
I'll start off by saying that I do not plan to use medicated starter. I do use ACV & water kefir with organic Non GMO no soy & no corn grains. But having said that, I am interested to hear your opinions as to what supplementation to use to fortify newly shipped day old BA chicks. Some say all you need is sugar water others say you need B vitamins and/or electrolytes. What do you say please? TIA

~Dee~

If you are using a non soy non corn non medicated starter crumbles feed, you do not need B vitamins or sugar water. Chickens do not digest Kefir or Yogurt so they only need a little bit each day and is good for them. ACV is a good thing to give them too.

Southwest Organics makes a supplement called Big Ole Bird that you can start giving them at 1 week old. It makes a big difference in how they grow and develop. I got a big bottle from Amazon but it does not have directions for gallon water fountains, only for auto water systems.

The dosage is 2 tsp per gallon. The rest of the instructions are on that bottle.

Have fun with the chicks!

 

[Cockle-Dood]

If they are 3 to 4 weeks old, they are girls. I was sweating BIG TIME when mine were that age because one was bigger than the other. She had a bigger tail and a bigger comb. Then someone posted pictures of their cockerels at that age. WHOA - red combs and wattles!

Mine - hatched 6/11. Picture taken 7/7

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/493821/black-australorps-genders/10#post_9290654

Theirs:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/493821/black-australorps-genders/10#post_9295495


Bruce

oh wow, yes! those cockerels have much more comb than mine! i would love to have all pullets but i wouldnt mind a roo. there isnt any restrictions where i live and was hoping for atleast 1 or 2 roos outta my brooder!

not complaining, i can always pick up a roo but if i end up with all pullets ill be amazed...and i typically have the worst luck thats why i call them all HE so i can bank on the fact that ill be wrong, lol!

 

[DeesHens]

Quote:
Thanks! Looks like a good product Ron. On My Pet Chicken they list 5 scientific studies favoring the use of humate/humic acid if anyone is interested. Wondering how you personally use it? For ie., do you alternate it with some ACV in your water? Can you use them together? Think I read somewhere you use BOB 3 days and then off for 2 weeks. Is that your practice?

Presently I am cleaning my feeder & water container with ACV and then leave a drop or two in the water. I add a drop or two to the bowl of water kefir and leftover grain fines on days I don't add water kefir but merely water. You could say it is my idea of FF cause I keep adding to it each day. I do smell it everyday to make sure it doesn't have a bad odor. It is easy to keep everything very clean with one hen I admit. LOL

I want to do my very best to keep my BA chicks healthy and happy so really appreciate very much your help today. Thanks again! ~Dee~

 

[aveca]

Hi Everyone. Stopped in to get my BA fix. Excellent & interesting posts and pics everybody. Always learning new things here and admire all your BA's so much.

Kurt, excited to hear that you may share another pic series of your BA chicks growing. So glad to hear the last ones are doing so well. I need to go back and look at the pics as I missed one of the cockerels in your last batch. Thought 2 for sure but not 3.

Also am looking forward to seeing the Splash and Blue Aussies in the future.

Bruce, Zorra's eggs are incredible! Enjoyed your comparisons via pics.

Ron, thanks again for your details in looking for signs of the sex of chicks. 21 days until I go in to test my skills on day old chicks. LOL
I have almost everything ready for them. Just need to pick up starter feed and maybe a vitamin/electrolyte mix.

Here is my question today:
I'll start off by saying that I do not plan to use medicated starter. I do use ACV & water kefir with organic Non GMO no soy & no corn grains. But having said that, I am interested to hear your opinions as to what supplementation to use to fortify newly shipped day old BA chicks. Some say all you need is sugar water others say you need B vitamins and/or electrolytes. What do you say please? TIA

~Dee~

They are really nice Birds Dee..Great egg layers even in the deep winter months...I have to go back and look at Rons post about clues to Chick sex..

I have some import english orps so I use medicated feed , they have a lower immunity to disease present here, and just as a precaution, , not so for Australorp they are pretty robust right out of the shell..thou past that I dont need anything other than good health , wormings, and pasture..