Australorps breed Thread

[littlelune810]

I just wanted to stop by and say Hi!! I just ordered my first flock which I will be picking up March 11... 2 Buckeyes and 2 Australorps. I am so, so excited to get our chicks. I have been researching since October or November and learning as much as I can about raising chickens. I decided to go with Buckeyes and Australorps becuase I wanted to raise heritage, dual purpose breeds. Our main goal is eggs but I am not opposed to chicken stew later on. I chose the Australorps specifically because of their egg production capabilities and their reputation for a docile and calm demeanor, as I have 5 year old and 2 year old sons, and also because I have heard they do well in our rainy climate in Washington state. My birds won't be fancy they are just hatchery birds but I can't wait anyway.

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

Okay, here are the pics. I did my best. BFM doesn't like being still or facing me, apparently.

If these aren't right, I'll try again.









Best "Top shot" I could get, but he's kinda turning to the side. :/




After reviewing the standard it looks like that one tail feather is a bit high. Personally, I love the way he looks, but I'm probably biased.

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

Welcome, littlelune. We love our australorps. We've had Marans, Wyandottes, Welsummers, Rhode Island Reds, Rhodebars, Orpingtons, and Aussies and the aussies are my absolute favorite. They smoke other breeds in terms of looks, temperament, and noise. They are only second to our Rhodebars in terms of egg production(Reds aren't mature yet). Haven't been able to bring myself to process any yet, though I do plan on it. I think you made a good choice.
Welcome to the fancy!

 

[Gramma Chick]

I just wanted to stop by and say Hi!! My birds won't be fancy they are just hatchery birds but I can't wait anyway.

Welcome !
Sounds like you are all set ..
aussies may be plain ...but they are beautiful ..wait till you see the green sheen

 

[bruceha2000]

I just wanted to stop by and say Hi!! I just ordered my first flock which I will be picking up March 11... 2 Buckeyes and 2 Australorps. I am so, so excited to get our chicks. I have been researching since October or November and learning as much as I can about raising chickens. I decided to go with Buckeyes and Australorps becuase I wanted to raise heritage, dual purpose breeds. Our main goal is eggs but I am not opposed to chicken stew later on. I chose the Australorps specifically because of their egg production capabilities and their reputation for a docile and calm demeanor, as I have 5 year old and 2 year old sons, and also because I have heard they do well in our rainy climate in Washington state. My birds won't be fancy they are just hatchery birds but I can't wait anyway.

My Echo doesn't mind rain unless it is pretty hard:

Welcome, littlelune. We love our australorps. We've had Marans, Wyandottes, Welsummers, Rhode Island Reds, Rhodebars, Orpingtons, and Aussies and the aussies are my absolute favorite. They smoke other breeds in terms of looks, temperament, and noise. They are only second to our Rhodebars in terms of egg production(Reds aren't mature yet). Haven't been able to bring myself to process any yet, though I do plan on it. I think you made a good choice.
Welcome to the fancy!

You don't have Echo

She makes the most amazing array of very un chicken like noises. Those bugles and whistles can be pretty annoying. She is still my favorite hen (don't tell the other girls).

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

My Echo doesn't mind rain unless it is pretty hard:




You don't have Echo

She makes the most amazing array of very un chicken like noises. Those bugles and whistles can be pretty annoying. She is still my favorite hen (don't tell the other girls).

That's funny. Love the name!

 

[bruceha2000]

My daughter named all the hens. Some are based on mythology. My girls are named:

• Anconas: Yue (Chinese for moon), Zia
• BAs: Echo, Zorra, Mellori (little raven), Nuit (night in French) The latter 2 look like they have some Black Jersey Giant in them - black legs, yellow foot bottoms.
• The Partridge Chanteclers were named Laura and Dee after my SIL and MIL, their last name is Partridge
• Cubalayas: Fae (wood fairy) and Peep (because she peeped as a chick. Now she "sqwarks").
• EEs: Andromeda (became fox food), Persephone, Athena, Eos, Penelope
• Faverolles: Anais and Clemence. Named after the girls my daughter stayed with in France while there for Theatre on Ice competitions.
• White Rocks: Angel, Yuki (Japanese for snow) Angels are white too, right?

 

[BlackwoodHollow]

Creative kid! I thought about the myth of echo. Hopefully one day you can have a Cockerel named Narcissus.

 

[Diannastarr]

MY Aussies had started popping out eggs at around 4 months old, now they are 5 months old & after going through the winter they started laying such large eggs it worries me ,since they have been laying almost goose size eggs & since a wile back we had a year old NHR that prolapsed from laying such large eggs , but no worries she is doing great now, so it worries me to see our 5 month old Aussies producing such large almost gooses size eggs every day now since spring is here & they being at such a young age..? so thats what i have to report about our experience with our Aussie Girls so far , but still they are the best ever breed of chicken ..!! fun & friendly , such happy beautiful hens with shiny feathers that shimmer green blue & purple & they are the best pets, so if any one was thinking about getting a few australorps, i say get them you wont be sorry HA...!!!!

& they sure can lay the eggs, so what else could any one ask for..????

& here is a pic of theses giant Aussie eggs from 5 month old Aussies..!! i put them next to regular size hen eggs ,so the 2 eggs on top are Aussie eggs , the other 2 at bottom are not. & We got several more giant Aussie eggs today , plus the Aussie eggs are very big around to .

& next pic is a few of my 5month old Aussies , all piled on top of our hay after the wind blew the tarp off HA just a bunch of fun girls ...lol....

 

[Birdrain92]

MY Aussies had started popping out eggs at around 4 months old, now they are 5 months old & after going through the winter they started laying such large eggs it worries me ,since they have been laying almost goose size eggs & since a wile back we had a year old NHR that prolapsed from laying such large eggs , but no worries she is doing great now, so it worries me to see our 5 month old Aussies producing such large almost gooses size eggs & at such a young age..??? so thats what i have to report about our experience with our Aussie Girls so far , but still they are the best ever breed of chicken ..!! fun & friendly , such happy beautiful hens with shiny feathers that shimmer green blue & purple & they sure can lay the eggs, so what else could any one ask for..????

& here is a pic of theses giant Aussie eggs from 5 month old Aussies..!! i put them next to regular size hen eggs ,so the 2 eggs on top are Aussie eggs , the other 2 at bottom are not...lol... we got several more giant Aussie eggs this morning, plus the Aussie eggs are very big around to .

& next a few of my 5month old Aussies , all piled on top of our hay after the wind blew the tarp off HA

Most of my Australorp eggs seem that big. My duck eggs out size my chicken eggs and my peafowl eggs outsize them both.
Peafowl egg. 4 inches all the way around.

Duck egg on the left chicken egg on the right.