Australorps breed Thread

[aveca]

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I really like this little hen, from what I can see of her, she has a nice comb, very nice eye and head good feather coloring looks very healthy, should have a sole on her foot that is white , or light grey, or pinkish... You can see that she has a nice gentle curve to her beak, and follow that along her topline to her tail and see how the top feathers on her tail want to take a turn downward, that is good. She would make a fine show bird, they would consider she looks like a production BA. but she looks good and has good points over all. I wish I had about 3 just like her. With the right rooster you should get some very nice babies.I think you would do well with her. There is no reason not to show her around. the fairs a good place to start. and smaller APA shows.

 

[aveca]

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I would say over 1/2 of mine never went broody thou they did appear to go broody at one point after a cold snap, everyone went into a serious molt and its stressful for some and they lay around for a bit till they start to shed and grow new feahters then off they go back to bussiness as usual. I thought at the time it was an all for one broody spell but looking back on it, the cold snap threw them into molt and they will sit around in the boxes if the molt is big.

 

[BarredBuff]

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I really like this little hen, from what I can see of her, she has a nice comb, very nice eye and head good feather coloring looks very healthy, should have a sole on her foot that is white , or light grey, or pinkish... You can see that she has a nice gentle curve to her beak, and follow that along her topline to her tail and see how the top feathers on her tail want to take a turn downward, that is good. She would make a fine show bird, they would consider she looks like a production BA. but she looks good and has good points over all. I wish I had about 3 just like her. With the right rooster you should get some very nice babies.I think you would do well with her. There is no reason not to show her around. the fairs a good place to start. and smaller APA shows.

She is the prettiest of my 3. Im not into showing but I thought I'd ask the experts....

 

[Eglyntine]

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I have heard from some ppl over the years about one or two of their BA's being broody but growing up we never had them do that. Our Orpingtons and a few Wyandottes here and there were super broody but not our BA's. They were just egg machines. But that is not to say it does not happen. Like ppl, every chicken is different.

I would not worry about having 20 hens sitting around waiting for an egg to pop a chick though.

 

[aveca]

I know, my freind has RIRs and he had 3 out of 16 go broody last year. RIRs arnt known for being broody . sometimes people confuse a hard molt with broody. I had that happen last year with several. we had 100 degree heat then it dropped right down to 40, it sent them all into uncomfortable molt they sat in the boxes and sure enough . 2 actually were broody patuttutis.
rest were molting.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

New to the Australorp thread but have been interested in them for a while. I'm hoping for advice from BA owners, I have the opportunity to get 3 BA hens. I have been thinking of adding 2-3 to the flock for awhile as our winter production was slack and I had to buy eggs several times. I had planned to buy pullets at POL later in the summer maybe. Was thinking BA, BR, Delaware... good winter layers that can go for many years.

Now here is the situation. A friend of mine is having to leave his land and has to liquidate his entire flock of 50+ birds. All are heading to freezer camp within a few days. Most are sexlinks, some hatchery Aracauna type birds and 3 Australorps that are 18 mos. I am thinking of taking these 3 or the best 2 of 3. I would prefer 2 but concerned about integration so willing to go to 3. I'll then be at max for my setup. I currently have 7 birds (listed in my signature line).

I have heard that Australorps can lay for many years. I'm wondering if I get them through molt (which I figure should be any minute, and will probably come right after I move them

) will they have the laying longevity to be kept around for a few more years? How do BA's lay after molt? I am also interested in having a staggered molt cycle, these were hatched in the fall, and my current flock are all spring birds.

These birds have not had the best conditions lately, flooding and such. Which is why they are getting removed. I haven't seen them but I imagine they're ragged. I'm sure they'll require some TLC and of course quarantine from my flock.

So the question is should I get them do you think? Or get younger birds later on? How long do Australorps really lay well? - 3 years or more? I thought maybe these tough older girls will hold their own with mine. But, maybe they'll be hard on mine, seeing as they've ben stressed and in a large flock?

Thanks for any advice on these girls. It would be fun to save them from the axe.

 

[peepacheep]

2 of my 3 BA's have finished their winter molt and are right back to laying again. The 3rd hen started her molt later and is still growing out feathers. She is my best layer, went over 100 days straight without a break this summer. These hens will be 2 years old in April. I have only introduced birds into my flock of 12 one time. It was with 3 Speckled Sussex pullets in July. After quarantine they spent 8 weeks in an adjoining pen. I was surprised how well introductions went after that. I think adding 3 at one time helped disperse pecking order issues.

 

[Davaroo]

"For talking about the Australorp breed and it's colour's including White,Blue, And Splash"


Hey wait a minute - White, Blue and Splash aren't Austrolorp anything. Those are mutts!

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

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Thanks!

 

[tigercreek]

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OP is from Canada and refering to Australian birds. They are accepted in blue, and splash, not sure about white, but possibly that color too. Could be the same SOP in Canada??.....stan