Australorps breed Thread

[getaclue]

bonnylass, we are going to have to do lunch one day so I will know who you are when I go to the shows.

 

[getaclue]

Don't worry, the rooster is not going to permanently stay with the girls. He has a bachelor pad.

 

[Gramma Chick]

a Rooster Tantrum " What ? I cant Stay with my Ladies ! "

I was going to ask was that sand ? They are nice ..I like this pic
Why arent you leaving the Roo in with them ?

 

[bonnylass79]

bonnylass, we are going to have to do lunch one day so I will know who you are when I go to the shows.

Sounds good. Where are you located?

 

[getaclue]

bonnylass, just outside of Tampa, in Brandon.

 

[getaclue]

Gramma Chick, I had originally intended to leave him in with the girls, however, he seems a bit rough on the girls' feathers. He's a year old, and right now is in hormonal overdrive, and I'm not really sure how experienced he is at breeding. It may improve with a little time, and experience. I won't let him get the girls too raggedy looking though. I can easily arrange a nice bachelor pad, and give the girls a break, if and when I need to. I'll wait and see what happens. I'm not rushing into anything. I am new to Australorps, so I want to get to know the breed, the individual characteristics of each of the chickens, and their dynamics as a flock much better than I do now. I also have to develop an "eye" for this breed, so I will better recognize the SOP for my breeding program. I may not be saying these thing just right, but I think you get the jist of what I'm trying to convey.

 

[Matt1616]

Getaclue, nice to see you again and I hope you enjoy the birds.

Bonnylass79, nice to meet you and let me know how the hatch goes.

Matt

 

[getaclue]

Hello Matt1616. THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! Any tips, suggestions, or information that you wish to pass along to me will be welcome, and appreciated. For the next couple days, I'm going to work on nesting boxes for them. I have been using milk crates filled with fresh hay, which is changed out every couple weeks, or if it gets soiled for my current flock. These sit on a good sized sheet of plywood on the ground. I did the same thing for these hens, but used larger crates. The hens have looked at them, but seem a bit confused. I am considering using small plastic totes, with one side cut down a little, and securing them to the plywood sheet for stability. That should be more adequate in size for them. I am not sure whether to elevate it some, or not. When I got them to my house, I gave them water, and some feed. They were very thirsty. Then I bathed them, let them dry, dusted them, and doctored the rooster's foot. They all stayed on the roost for awhile, then the rooster hopped down, and began exploring, making himself at home. The hens got down a couple times, but returned quickly to the roost. The next day, they all seemed much more comfortable in their new surroundings. On March 1st, I will purchase a new incubator, and get it, and my brooder set up. It has begun!!!

 

[waynec1955]

Getaclue, nice to see you again and I hope you enjoy the birds.

Bonnylass79, nice to meet you and let me know how the hatch goes.

Matt

Hello Matt, I see where you are well respected in the BA community. How could I go about purchasing some hatching eggs from you?

 

[8isenuff]

Question:

I have one little Black Australorp pullet/hen that is about 7 months old and just started laying a few weeks ago. She is a very sweet little girl and normally doesn't make a peep. But for about the last week or so she has been sqwaking like crazy when she lays...then she hangs out in the hen house for a good while after....even after I removed her egg, she went and sat back in the laying box for quite a while...I thought she might be going broody so I set her egg back....nope....still sqwaks though...louder than my roo crows!

Is this normal for Australorps or a sign of something? I think it's quite cute. Just wondering...