Australorps breed Thread

[ronott1]

Hi.. I hatched some australorp eggs from a breeder under my silkie and hand raised them theyre about 18 wks old now only two no crowing or yet but theyre very green.. any opinions on sex ? One has smaller pinker comb but longer tail.. Ive never had Australorps before so no idea..

If others are crowing and these two are not, they are likely pullets. The comb on the one on the right is bigger but does not go back too far. I also do not see hackle or saddle feathers.

With the way they look and at 18 months, no crow is very good!

 

[mjs87]

I haven't got any others just those two now.. but friends with younger ones are attempting crowing.. so im hopeful! Thankyou..

 

[Greg88]

Two people have pointed out that I need to see an eye doctor. It would seem I got an extra Australorp in my bunch! Wheeeee! Chicken math!

Congrats!!
Chick day is always a GREAT day!!

 

[bruceha2000]

Hi.. I hatched some australorp eggs from a breeder under my silkie and hand raised them theyre about 18 wks old now only two no crowing yet but theyre very green.. any opinions on sex ? One has smaller pinker comb but longer tail.. Ive never had Australorps before so no idea

..

I suspect that at 18 weeks the boys would already be working on that crow. Of course my BA that crows didn't start until she was over 2 years old

She hasn't done it lately though and she never got farther than Err ERRR. She also bugles, whistles and squeals. Shut up Echo, go lay another egg!

 

[holm25]

Seatrout I see 3 Aussies, 3 Barred Rocks and 2 Speckled Sussex!!

 

[Gramma Chick]

this pic shows 9 ...so one is hiding in the other pics
the one with its head down could be a aussie or a barred rock

 

[jbkirk]

Hi.. I hatched some australorp eggs from a breeder under my silkie and hand raised them theyre about 18 wks old now only two no crowing or yet but theyre very green.. any opinions on sex ? One has smaller pinker comb but longer tail.. Ive never had Australorps before so no idea..

The one on the left is a Boy and I'm 60% sure.(feathers suggest girl, comb says boy) The one on the right is a girl and I'm 100% sure.

 

[informative]

So what would you estimate is the downside of simply throwing all the BA Australorps and BJG Jersey Giants into one pen and letting them cross breed? Aside from the obvious loss of purity it should help the BJG egg production and help the overall size and beast leg strength of the Australorps. Seems like an obviously likely beneficial cross. Any thoughts?

 

[ronott1]

So what would you estimate is the downside of simply throwing all the BA Australorps and BJG Jersey Giants into one pen and letting them cross breed? Aside from the obvious loss of purity it should help the BJG egg production and help the overall size and beast leg strength of the Australorps. Seems like an obviously likely beneficial cross. Any thoughts?

Jersey Giants do not grow fast so they have never been good for meat. They would not make a new breed-just not a good idea.

If you want to make hybrids, you could maintain two flocks--one dorking and the other australorp. If you cross dorking x australorp you get nice meat and fairly fast growth. The hens are fairly good at laying eggs too. It would be a one time cross--you would not cross the offspring back and you would process most of them, including the pullets.

 

[informative]

Jersey Giants do not grow fast so they have never been good for meat. They would not make a new breed-just not a good idea.

If you want to make hybrids, you could maintain two flocks--one dorking and the other australorp. If you cross dorking x australorp you get nice meat and fairly fast growth. The hens are fairly good at laying eggs too. It would be a one time cross--you would not cross the offspring back and you would process most of them, including the pullets.

Well I have tasted them (BJG) and after over a year they get a lot of dark meat with a real "steak-like" flavor and texture. If you aren't locked in to the expectation that it is going to taste like store white meat chicken it's actually quite good and makes a wonderful soup. Eggs have always been my primary use so late development doesn't really pose an issue for me. I do love how they seem very predator resistant (BJG and B Langshans) whereas my SLWyandottes and Buff Orps and B Australorps tend to disappear unless they stay inside the pens versus free range which the BL and BJG free range outside all the time and never go missing.

Keep expecting to see the Langshans picking over the remains of some low level predators like a bobcat or something they are very feisty and often wicked - Pet house cats and dogs have learned to so not mess with them at all. BJG are the only birds that have ever left permanent marks on me from nips when I pick them up when they don't want to be. Some folks might hate this feral brute side but I think adding it to my BA line might be a good thing. Not so docile and able to make use of extra acres without fencing. just thinking out loud now