Australorps breed Thread

[ronott1]

Fortunately, the birds we found are show-quality. They are HUGE. They are already a year old or so and we really want a single-bird flock... We're going to start a breeding line and accidental crosses would be a waste of resources to feed and grow.

Thanks for the input! I feel better already.

Post pictures when you get them!

You will love them for sure.

 

[getaclue]

Way to go MrsB!

 

[adam73]

Mrs.B....Leghorn chickens are the industry leader for egg production. ..if you're interested in a duel purpose (eggs &meat) bird go with black Australorp or road island red

 

[MrsBrooke]

Quote:

Mrs.B....Leghorn chickens are the industry leader for egg production. ..if you're interested in a duel purpose (eggs &meat) bird go with black Australorp or road island red

Adam, while I do understand the utility behind Leghorns, they didn't fit what we wanted. When we first started researching the breed we were going to raise, Leghorns were right at the top for their sheer production value... along with Barred Rocks and RIR. I read reviews of Leghorns (from all over the web), and, quite frankly, it scared me off.

It seems they are aggressive, ornery, skittish, and prone to flightiness from everything I read.

We almost went with Barred Rocks and RIRs, but they are smaller birds... And when we saw the size and laying capability of the Australorp, we were hooked. It fit exactly what we wanted - a large, heritage breed (in need of a good PR campaign) that serves well as both delicious meaties and large, brown eggers. Also, they go broody, which is excellent for our breeding purposes. I have no desire to have a brooder in the garage or the house. A natural mother hen is a much better chicken-mom than I could be.

Plus, they are docile, curious, alert, and aren't flighty... even if they are a little shy. And again, the broodiness was a major consideration.

So while I appreciate the suggestion of Leghorns for egg production, all that stark white turns me off.

Post pictures when you get them!

You will love them for sure.

Y'all are going to get sick of all the pictures I post! Haha. We haven't even finished building the coop/run yet, much less gotten our birds, and Hubby and I are already talking about building a SECOND coop and expanding the run!

This chicken obsession really IS a thing!

- MrsB

 

[ronott1]

Quote:

Adam, while I do understand the utility behind Leghorns, they didn't fit what we wanted. When we first started researching the breed we were going to raise, Leghorns were right at the top for their sheer production value... along with Barred Rocks and RIR. I read reviews of Leghorns (from all over the web), and, quite frankly, it scared me off.

It seems they are aggressive, ornery, skittish, and prone to flightiness from everything I read.

We almost went with Barred Rocks and RIRs, but they are smaller birds... And when we saw the size and laying capability of the Australorp, we were hooked. It fit exactly what we wanted - a large, heritage breed (in need of a good PR campaign) that serves well as both delicious meaties and large, brown eggers. Also, they go broody, which is excellent for our breeding purposes. I have no desire to have a brooder in the garage or the house. A natural mother hen is a much better chicken-mom than I could be.

Plus, they are docile, curious, alert, and aren't flighty... even if they are a little shy. And again, the broodiness was a major consideration.

So while I appreciate the suggestion of Leghorns for egg production, all that stark white turns me off.


Y'all are going to get sick of all the pictures I post! Haha. We haven't even finished building the coop/run yet, much less gotten our birds, and Hubby and I are already talking about building a SECOND coop and expanding the run!

This chicken obsession really IS a thing!

- MrsB

You will need pens and coops for line breeding. It is good to plan ahead that way.

Do you plan on showing them?

 

[MrsBrooke]

You will need pens and coops for line breeding. It is good to plan ahead that way.

Do you plan on showing them?

Unsure if we want to show or not. In order to show, we have to be NPIP certified, as I understand it, and hubby and I simply cannot stand the government poking their noses around where it doesn't belong. It may be that we just have a lot of beautiful, SOP birds.

 

[ronott1]

Unsure if we want to show or not. In order to show, we have to be NPIP certified, as I understand it, and hubby and I simply cannot stand the government poking their noses around where it doesn't belong. It may be that we just have a lot of beautiful, SOP birds.

It depends on where you are showing.

It is not a requirement in California to be NPIP for showing.

 

[MrsBrooke]

It depends on where you are showing.

It is not a requirement in California to be NPIP for showing.

Gotta have it in Texas. So unless we stick to local, non-regulated, "fun" shows at farmer's markets and the like, we've got to invite the government into our homestead... something we're really against doing.

http://tvmdl.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Poultry-programs1.pdf

I'm reading up on flock management and keeping your birds free from parasites and disease, and I can totally understand WHY they would require people to have it, but a piece of paper and a check you send in to the state doesn't necessarily guarantee a disease-free flock any more than a restraining order protects you from a criminal.

Just my $.02 on it.

- MrsB

 

[ronott1]

Gotta have it in Texas. So unless we stick to local, non-regulated, "fun" shows at farmer's markets and the like, we've got to invite the government into our homestead... something we're really against doing.

http://tvmdl.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Poultry-programs1.pdf

I'm reading up on flock management and keeping your birds free from parasites and disease, and I can totally understand WHY they would require people to have it, but a piece of paper and a check you send in to the state doesn't necessarily guarantee a disease-free flock any more than a restraining order protects you from a criminal.

Just my $.02 on it.

- MrsB

Yes!

The test is for certain poultry diseases too so it would not protect against parasites.

 

[getaclue]

MrsB, call your department of ag and check on what they do in your area. Here in Florida, the testing is free. The vet comes and takes quick little blood sample only from the birds you intend to show and/or breed, not the whole flock. They don't really inspect, take soil samples, or anything like that. They just take the blood sample from the birds you present to them, and that's it. They don't test for everything, just for some of the worst, most communicable diseases, then they send you a number that is good for a year. I would hate to go to a show with all those birds there, and some of them be contaminated with something awful, that can not be treated, or is not easily treated, and my birds catch it, then be ruined or die so I couldn't sell their eggs, and offspring as having come from SOP showbird lines. You would hate that too.