Australorps breed Thread

[aveca]

Yes Matilda is a heritage hen. A breeders hen I bought 3 years ago.
She will be in breeding pen next spring with bennie, if you look in poultry press you will often see robert whitney east coast champion australorps , he also has langshans..photos in this months issue at a show for championships won, this is one of his roosters. Bennie seen below was bred by Bob and Denise Whitney of Bath NY

 

[tigercreek]

Anyone kow where a person could get any decent breeders to start with? Eggs to hatch even?? If not, which hatchery would be the best stock to start from? This is begining to look impossible!!

. .....stan

 

[cubalaya]

i need to take some pics because my roo looks like benny and at least one of my hens looks like mathilda. i really want to see how their chicks turn out.

 

[aveca]

There are a few breeders working on it right now but have such low stock nos. that it will be next year or later this summer befor I would have anything ..You might try Hupp farms..and there is another top breeder who has won some really big shows but hes got nothin this year. I want to make sure what Im producing befor I let any out.
Its still a work in progress for a few dedicated people..heritage australorps are still on endangered list , so try to keep in touch with breeders of your choice and get you name known to them.numbers dwindled so low that there is no longer an australorp club.

if you can be patient and get your self introduced to a couple breeders and let them know what you are looking for..and remind them, they will help you get some.

 

[tigercreek]

I should have said that I'm not espically interested in show quality at this point. I'm just looking for decent, true to type birds for a backyard flock. If I can build them up , so much the better. Do you think there would be any future in buying hatchery pullets and trying to get a breeders cull rooster? Shipping would be a problem I guess. .....thanks . ......stan

 

[cubalaya]

i think i should improve the ones that i have before selling any. although i am pretty impressed with some that i have.

 

[aveca]

Quote:
I have a freind that got some hens and roosters from cackles hatchery.He didnt want to show, he just wanted backyard but nice looking egg layers...I have to say they are pretty nice birds,, excellent egg quaity , some of the best well formed eggs in hatchery stock..the birds are big too. The thing about australorps is the first year thier eggs will not be that big, but every year they seem to get bigger and bigger. thier eggs range from medium to large occasional jumbos. they are egg laying machines too. its jan in NY. The numbers dropped down to 4 eggs out of 10 hens for about a month but once the days started getting little longer they are up to 6 out of 10 a day, the other day I picked up 10 out of 10.. So they dont dissapoint in that department, unless they are really uncomfortable they will lay tons of eggs. Shipping might be a problem on show culls I would suggest going to local poultry shows and talk to the owners of australorps at the shows. I know I would have some culls next year but shipping would be a problem.

 

[aveca]

Quote:
Cant wait to see some pics..Great breed of chicken to own for sure. We are all working to improve thats for sure. they keep telling me the perfect chicken hasnt been born, Ive seen a few little bantams that challenge that thought, but the australorps in america fell so far behind that we are playing catch up now and will be for a while.

I have some freinds breeding delawares and that is another breed coming back from the brink...they are doing a nice job and know they have a lot of work to do as well..there are a few creative breeders that add foundation breeds with great results. Its a lot od work but worth it. I saw a delaware hen last summer only in pictures and couldnt beleive how these breeders take it to that level, that hen won at nationals.

 

[blaundee]

As for my 2 cents on the "pure" breeding of chickens- I think chickens are more "Types" than actual "breeds"... we don't keep pedigrees, and why not cross some breeds into others in order to improve the breed you are working with, as long as your aim is to follow TYPE according to SOP? I see nothing wrong with using another breed to improve your breed's color, vigor, egg production, etc.

 

[blaundee]

Quote:
No reason not to. The hatchery stock that I've had are good enough Australorps, and I plan to buy many more.