Australorps breed Thread

[chickisoup]

Quote: Thank you Ron. Never had a problem here with worms till I bought my Aussie as a pullet (actually a cockerel) and found out too late how sick he was. Round worm isn't normally a problem in this area. Too far north??? Mites have been a real problem here too tho. Knocked em down last fall and all was good till my girls started shaking their heads, Just checked and found the nasties again. Weather is supposed to get up near 32o Sunday and sunny which will warm things up enough to let the girls go play in the snow while I tear the coop apart and make the greenhouse nice and toasty for treating the birds. At least 2 need the full spa treatment.

 

[tnmommy]

I'm a rookie and I will be reading up on this thread for all of your advice. I plan to do line breeding and currently have one rooster and 3 hens (all my husband wanted to see if I "got bored" with the chickens. Nope, not bored). I have 2 more Australorps in the brooder from my flock, and 9 BBS Orpingtons to introduce the blue gene into the line with subsequent breeding back to only Black Australorps and keeping the original BBS Orps separated after that. Would I be better off to get more Aussie roosters from another line and cull down to 3 unrelated roosters? Arrange rooster trades with another breeder? My brain is trying to picture how to avoid mating siblings....

 

[WindStep]

Love this breed! Had two, but... one died. R.I.P. Cristol.

 

[ronott1]

Love this breed! Had two, but... one died. R.I.P. Cristol.

I am sorry!

Do you have pictures?

 

[bonnylass79]

I'm a rookie and I will be reading up on this thread for all of your advice.  I plan to do line breeding and currently have one rooster and 3 hens (all my husband wanted to see if I "got bored" with the chickens.  Nope, not bored).  I have 2 more Australorps in the brooder from my flock, and 9 BBS Orpingtons to introduce the blue gene into the line with subsequent breeding back to only Black Australorps and keeping the original BBS Orps separated after that.  Would I be better off to get more Aussie roosters from another line and cull down to 3 unrelated roosters?  Arrange rooster trades with another breeder?  My brain is trying to picture how to avoid mating siblings....

Use leg bands and keep records. Daughters can be bred back to their father and sons can be bred back to their mother. If you're trying to introduce blue, you're better off staying with the same line, rather than introducing more unrelated birds. Reduce your unknown variables.

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Rattlesnake Ridge BBS Australorps have arrived, pics as promised will follow. 13 blacks, eight are gone already. 5 blues, and 4 splashes. They are 3 days old. This is my second generation thanks to Chet at Hupp Farm, AZ. I have 2 pens set up to breed blues and 1 pen for pure blacks. Born 3-7-14

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

A couple more RSR BBS's


That's all folks!!!!!

 

[MeanV2]

Great pics Kurt! How long do you collect eggs before incubating them, and how do you store them?

Dan

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Dan,
7 to 10 days max. I store them in an automatic turner in a room around 55 to 60 degrees. I am very happy with this hatch, I only lost one. I have another 36 that went in on Thursday. Let the toe punching begin.
Kurt

 

[MeanV2]

Kurt, Thanks! Do you do any feather trimming/plucking to increase fertility? Look forward to pics in the coming weeks.

Dan