Australorps breed Thread

[ronott1]

The BAs imported were the Utility line not the show line. Ours have more of a utility look to them.

 

[hellbender]

The BAs imported were the Utility line not the show line. Ours have more of a utility look to them.

Does this translate to just a teeny-tiny touch of White Leghorn was added to the American birds?

 

[ronott1]

Does this translate to just a teeny-tiny touch of White Leghorn was added to the American birds?

oops!

 

[Birdrain92]

Though the American Poultry Association for the Black Australorp is an upright tail. I'm sure it's just different standards and other things.

 

[hellbender]

Though the American Poultry Association for the Black Australorp is an upright tail. I'm sure it's just different standards and other things.

I totally concur...just a few other things.

 

[bruceha2000]

@Birdrain92 Our Australorps have more of a bun tail than yours.
Here is an example from the Australorps Australia website of what a to standard bird should look like
http://www.australorps.com/18.html?frm_data1=3&frm_data1_type=large#

This is who I got mine from btw
The breed originated in Australia so it's probably more a matter of you guys not quite getting yours right yet ;-)

I'm sure someone here in the "we are the greatest" USA decided the Aussie birds were VERY nice, just needed a "little tweak" to make them perfect. Isn't that always the way? From wikipedia (Yeah I know, not exactly the perfect trusted source):

"The original stock used in the development of the Australorp was imported to Australia from England out of the Black Orpington yards of William Cook and Joseph Partington in the period from 1890 to the early 1900s with Rhode Island Red. Local breeders used this stock together with judicious out-crossings of Minorca, White Leghorn and Langshan blood to improve the utility features of the imported Orpingtons. There is even a report of some Plymouth Rock blood also being used. The emphasis of the early breeders was on utility features. At this time, the resulting birds were known as Australian Black Orpingtons (Austral-orp)."

Having seen some pictures of real Australorps (the Aussie ones) vs the USA ones, the Aussies have a flatter run along the back and tail though astarra's look to be more "bunny tail" or tailless, like Araucanas. But maybe that is just their age?

As far as different places having different standards. Yep. In Australia and England there are two "classes" of Ameraucana. Tailed and tailless, in the USA there is ONLY tailed.

 

[appps]

Having seen some pictures of real Australorps (the Aussie ones) vs the USA ones, the Aussies have a flatter run along the back and tail though astarra's look to be more "bunny tail" or tailless, like Araucanas. But maybe that is just their age?

.

THis is mine at around 10 weeks ish I think and then how she ended up. I think that is fairly similar to what astarras had and Im pretty sure mine are close to our standard.

some seem to have a slightly shorter bun perhaps?

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Do not attempt to compare US Australorps and the Original Australorp from Australia. They had two strains, show and utility. We got the utility strain needless to say! About the only things we have in common with the original Australorps from Australia are black feathers, red comb, red wattles, slate gray legs feet, and pinkish white soles, not yellow. The sticking up tail refered to earlier is supposed to be no greater than 40 degrees above horizontal. Before comparing any chickens between different countries I suggest you attempt to know what their standard of perfection calls for. The US APA book that you can purchase for about $60 tells you what and American Australorp is suppose to look like and all the other features of the breed.
Kurt

 

[ronott1]

Do not attempt to compare US Australorps and the Original Australorp from Australia. They had two strains, show and utility. We got the utility strain needless to say! About the only things we have in common with the original Australorps from Australia are black feathers, red comb, red wattles, slate gray legs feet, and pinkish white soles, not yellow. The sticking up tail refered to earlier is supposed to be no greater than 40 degrees above horizontal. Before comparing any chickens between different countries I suggest you attempt to know what their standard of perfection calls for. The US APA book that you can purchase for about $60 tells you what and American Australorp is suppose to look like and all the other features of the breed.
Kurt

Hi Kurt!

How are the chickens?

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Ron,
Doing real good this year. Just about done with the molt, so I am going to let them rest till breeding season meaning no lights! I sold BBS Aussies to NY, MO, IL, OH, TN, MD, VA, and WV. I was so lucky that I even had people drive from over 400 and 500 miles away to buy birds. I broke my rule this year and bred after April right thru the summer. I could not keep up with demand so I guess that says a lot.
Kurt