Australorps breed Thread

[SuperClucker]

I'll see if I can grab some shots of them tomorrow. BTW, not that I know anything since I'm a first-timer, but I was convinced at about six weeks that one of mine was a roo because her comb and wattle were much bigger than the other two. They've since caught up. Keeping my fingers crossed that you got three pullets.

PS. You can also see them by clicking on the "My Coop" link below my avatar and logging in to one of their webcams (just follow the directions on the screen and ignore any messages about changing your password)

Better to do it during the day on the one labelled sky cam, but if you want to check them out while they are sleeping, you can use the one called 'penthouse cam" It's got infrared for night vision. (Don't ask)

 

[Turk Raphael]

Ok, I watched the video of the person waking the chicken on the leash. I guess I'm missing the point of doing this. How does it benefit the chicken? It seems a bit silly to do this just for the heck of doing it, and the chicken is clearly unhappy. It's like putting an elevator in an outhouse. You can do it, but it just doesn't belong there. However, to each, his own, said the old lady as she kissed the cow.

On another note, my young uns are growing up. The oldest of the pullets combs are turning really red now, and the youngest cockerel tried treading the largest one today. Time to cage him. I was going to put him in with my two red stars, but he's just too big, and I'm afraid he'll crush them. It kind of puts you in the mind of a great dane next to a chihuahua. I will know shortly which of the two cockerels I will keep to use in my breeding program. I personally think the oldest cockerel is the keeper, but I'm not trusting my inexperience. I'm having someone more experienced come advise me on the best way to proceed with my breeding program. I set up a nesting box for the pullets. I may set up another, but it's always been my experience that they line up, and use only one nesting box. Normally, as they begin laying, and I see the eggs, I can always tell who laid what egg.. They're like fingerprints. The red stars are starting to molt now, and I'm seeing a few extra feathers laying around in the coop with the oldest BA's.

If I only has two cockerels, I'd be reticent to eliminate either one. This is a dangerous world and one boy could bite the dust quite easily...I'd not burn the bridge unless I had to.

I have 7 cockerels. They can always be slipped and eaten but once the deed is done, there's no re-feathering the rascals for a second go at the apple!

Turk

 

[David Dickens]

My Australorps they have flecks of brown. They have all

started laying last month sooo excited. Started and incubator thanks for the info. Will show you all some chick pics when they hatch

 

[getaclue]

Turk, I agree, but I also have the rooster (dad), that the pullets should be bred back to, as well. I have a goal in mind, which involves the oldest cockerel, because of his genetics, which is why I would rather keep him if he is up to the standard I think he is.

 

[Turk Raphael]

Turk, I agree, but I also have the rooster (dad), that the pullets should be bred back to, as well. I have a goal in mind, which involves the oldest cockerel, because of his genetics, which is why I would rather keep him if he is up to the standard I think he is.

 

[BethanyS]

our McMurry females look great but the few roo I ordered are NOT going to be their boyfriend.They are way smaller than the girls and not so pretty.Out of the 3the best one I had was killed by a hawk Scrawny Ronny and his brother are probably going to "freezer camp" if they ever get big enough lol let's hope you have all hens

 

[Gramma Chick]

our McMurry females look great but the few roo I ordered are NOT going to be their boyfriend.They are way smaller than the girls and not so pretty.Out of the 3the best one I had was killed by a hawk

Scrawny Ronny and his brother are probably going to "freezer camp" if they ever get big enough lol let's hope you have all hens

I would wait & see as boys usually have more growing to do ..I think they are longer in that gawky stage..The males should grow bigger than the females in the end ..Also check to make sure they are eating enough ..they could be at the bottom of the pecking order at this point in time .

 

[BethanyS]

I would wait & see as boys usually have more growing to do ..I think they are longer in that gawky stage..The males should grow bigger than the females in the end ..Also check to make sure they are eating enough ..they could be at the bottom of the pecking order at this point in time .

Ronny eats like a pig and he is half the size of the females even shorter.The other is pretty small and his crop bulges to one side so bad bare skin is exposed by days end.I don't know if I want to continue their genetics sence we eventually want to hatch our own for layers and meat

 

[ronott1]

Ronny eats like a pig and he is half the size of the females even shorter.The other is pretty small and his crop bulges to one side so bad bare skin is exposed by days end.I don't know if I want to continue their genetics sence we eventually want to hatch our own for layers and meat

let them get to between 16 and 24 weeks old and then Chicken Dinner time!

Of course you can process earlier if they get on your nerves or get mean.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Ronny eats like a pig and he is half the size of the females even shorter.The other is pretty small and his crop bulges to one side so bad bare skin is exposed by days end.I don't know if I want to continue their genetics sence we eventually want to hatch our own for layers and meat

Maybe a silly question... But do you think you could have gotten a Bantam?

MrsB