Australorps breed Thread

[cracrzy4chicks]

Ok, here are some shots of my boys' girls. They did not want to cooperate at all, it was getting close to bed time !! There's 3 girls, all are about 16 weeks. All the eggs came from the same person







This pullet has a light brown eye and is destined for my layer flock.




I also have 2 hens that I purchased in June. They are a bit over 1 yr old. I'll try to get pics of them this week.

Thank you again Juanita

 

[groche]

Tomorrow is the first early cull on Australorps. There are about 80 to sort through, but we'll maybe only look at the older birds. That should bring numbers into a slightly more manageable state. I've got 500 other chickens and need to space everything out to start choosing my keepers for next year, not to mention school starting in two days. Unfortunately my breeds all mature late and first culls are for head structure and eye color and for any obvious defects. Aussies till be culled on narrow bodies, narrow tail set, and obvious conformation problems, like tails that are above 60 or below horizontal. Sometimes flat backs change so I let low angles above horizontal stay. I try to avoid lazy birds that droop their tails, especially females. If it doesn't change by 6months they are culled. Already culled a cockerel and pullet for white legs an brown eyes. And off to a good season of Australorp showing from what it seems.

Zach

G'day Zach,
agree that it's unwise to cull too early for 'flattish backs' as it is an aspect that can improve with full feathering. Just my observation, but it seems to be related to slow hackle development which creates a sharpish angle between neck and saddle in some younger birds. Hope you can get white legs out of your line, mate. Matt, you could be right about 4 points rather than 5. Depends on whether you consider the back point as part of the blade. As long as there're between 4 and 6, it's not a major issue anyway.

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

Here are some head shots, though not very good.




Again the light eye, will go to the layer flock

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

Good question and something I've found confusing at times. 5 would be my count, with reservations. My understanding is that you don't count the very back point. If you enlarge my avatar you'll pick up 4 clear points. Rear comb faults are quite common and even this bird has a minor issue. In good birds we try to avoid spindly points and the more you have the more likely this is. Note the broad bases to the points in my avatar. A major issue is deformities, including 'sort of' points. Your boy seems a little reluctant to give up his antecedents' multiple points. Note his frilled front compared with my avatar. Important that you put him with a girl with least number. I'd prefer that these obs. were verified by others more expert than I, though.

I'd say the same for points. I don't count them when they are part of the blade... As I know that many of my birds have a split blade. Also only count the little front ones if they have that noticable dip right behind them. But like mine also the little nubs at the front are a pain to get rid of. His comb will continue to grow, so I won't comment yet on the flow of the comb near the head. As he ages I think his blade will follow the contour of his head, as it should, without touching. He has growing to do but I think his head may be a little shallow, from top to bottom. Not crow headed but not deep enough in my opinion. Pictures of your females would be nice too. Good luck with your breeding.

The bird pictured appears to have a 4 point comb. He does have a point on the blade but that doesn't count.
The problem I have in my Orpingtons is to few of points, 80% of my birds have 3-4 points. The other 20% have 5. I have not had a Orpington with more than 5 points.
I have 90% 5 point combs in my Australorps.

Matt

Thank you All. Counting points really had me baffled

Is anyone on this thread a Judge ?? Maybe they could lend their thoughts on the blade question.

 

[ronott1]

Thank you All. Counting points really had me baffled

Is anyone on this thread a Judge ?? Maybe they could lend their thoughts on the blade question.

Send a picture by pm to fowlman01. He is a Poultry Judge on BYC.

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

Send a picture by pm to fowlman01. He is a Poultry Judge on BYC.

Thanks will do

 

[ocap]

Thanks will do

let us know what he said

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

let us know what he said

Just sent him a pm !

 

[Jordi15]

...

Che

I am interested in ordering BA's. I want to buY FROm a breeder not a hatchery if possible. I am in AZ and I have already posted in my states thread. Does anyone here know of a breeder near me? If not in my state maybe close and I could order live chicks or hatching eggs. I'm trying hard to find a good breeder in my state so I can drive and get them...but I must be looking in all the wrong places. I need to be pointed in the right direction. Can anyone help me?[/quote
Check out "hatchbacks.com". I purchased my chicks from them in April and I am very happy with my BAs, RIR, SLW and amueracanas. I don't know if they are breeders, but they produce healthy chicks and are willing to work with you if you end up with a rooster or are I satisfied with your chicks. Good luck!

thank you very much I actually got lucky and someone pointed me toward the byc member huppfarm, and got THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BA's (IMO) in AZ. I am now on a search for a Welsummer breeder. (Sometimes posting from mobile is a pain in the butt!! Drives me crazy!)

 

[groche]

Hi Juanita,
a quick view on your girls. Firstly, they never cooperate with cameras, so we can only comment on what we see in the pics You seem on the right track so far. Am I right in that some have rounder heads than others. An Exhibition BA has a round head compared with the more aquiline type more common in Utilities. A factor to consider in selecting your breeders. Some are showing nice curve, but they're young so wait a while. Only my opinion, but I'd be more inclined to choose for conformation before eye color, just don't breed 2 brown eyes together and be prepared to cull hard for it down the line.