Australorps breed Thread

[nanawendy]

Just got my first Australorps on Thurs. They are probably6 to 7 days old. I noticed their legs are getting dark from the thigh to the foot. So I know they will get dark... But what about the beak? They are not all the way dark and don't curve downward like your pictures show. Will that happen in time?
BTW your thread is informative as I don't have much info on the breed.

 

[tigercreek]

Mine are now 4 weeks old and still have a lot of color in the beaks. I have been told that they will turn black. The beaks have a donward curve from day one on mine, don't kow if yours will change or not. I have had older birds, but this is the first time I have raised chicks. ....stan

 

[Eglyntine]

Quote:
I know I just bought this but out of all of the literature I have read out there on BA's this book is amazing, has pictures and goes into every single detail of what makes the perfect BA, etc. The Australorp by Ray Connor is the book. You have to order it from Australia but it is way worth it. I ordered it thinking it would take several weeks to get here because of shipping and all but it was here in less than a week with no extra money paid for expedited shipping. Just google it and it will take you right to the site to get the book.

Stan: Thanks for the link to Hupp but that is an almost 18 hour drive from me. heh They have some pretty birds though. I do have family in Tucson and Phoenix and I have lived down there off and on my entire life so I could probably find some justification for making the trip. *LOL*

 

[tigercreek]

Thanks for the tip on the book Eglyntine, I'll see about ordering one. I haven't even seen the SOP for Aussies yet. After I posted about Hupp, I used Google mpas and saw that you two were just about as far away from each other as you could be in neighboring states. Glad you replied too, I thought maybe I had killed the thread!! ........stan

 

[MTopPA_18707]

The kids and I just got 9 BA chicks . . . they seem to have done well the first night in their new brooder.

All of them are eating, drinking and exploring. [ Plus we're having a great time watching them ! ]

They are evenly dispersed, which I read means the temp feels right to them.

Under the heat lamp the temp varies from 96F to 100F

I figure if that's a little too hot, they can go to cooler areas away from the lamp.

Anyway, we're having a great time and just wanted to share.

-X

PS:> Any day now, I be picking up 4 Buff Orp chicks - that will complete our flock.

 

[tigercreek]

Congrats on the new babies!! They are fun, It's called 'chicken T.V., and is better than anything that is on. Sounds like you will be having an egg surplus in about 6 months?? . ............stan

 

[aveca]

Hey Kevin, I still had this picture of you babies in the camera so thought I would post them here for people to enjoy..They will love thier new home in Mt top Pa. by the way the last one just hatched out and is pooped and sleeping..look at that baby on the left hand side LOL..Just the way it is sitting..lord they are cute. Hoping the kids are having a great time with them.

here they were hatching

and one proud papa

 

[aveca]

It is perfectly normal and a common trait for baby australorps to be born with white beaks and have white tips on thier wing tips..they shed those and the beaks turn black in a couple months..very bad traits are red webbing and soles on feet, an adult with a white beak . ect...
I also have that book by Ray conner...great stuff..we dont much have red webbing in this country but they see it in australia.

The numbers of australorps dwindled to near extinction after the industrial revolution in America along with many other breeds and slowly making a comeback.. a few dedicated breeders kept them going..they lost vigor egg size got smaller but they never lost the large number of eggs laid per year..its just up to breeders to work on them and improve over time what they need.. its a careful long process but I think we can do it..We are americans and we tend to like every thing instant, instant coffee, instant soup and instant success, but breeding better chickens from a nearly extinct breed will take time and patience. They are still listed on the endangered list..They only count the old strains not hatchery stock.

 

[aveca]

Quote:
I think we can catch up , would be nice to just be able to import some stock wouldnt it? If we could get somone to fly a large no of eggs right on a plane to us would be perfect.. Putting good quality orpingtons (coopers black orps) really works but as you read in that book..you cant dwell on it..the breed has to keep a tight feather so breed in and back out ..I just got some blk orps from an outstanding breeder..But I know I have to be careful and dont over do it..the really good judges will be placing the bird with the tighter feather.

this rooster is out of old australorp stock, a show line that origionated in mass.

 

[MTopPA_18707]

Lynne & Group,

The BA chics are doing great.
I'm happy to say there isn't much pecking going on . . . but the dominate ones seem to walk over the top of the less dominate rather than go around.


Last night I added 4 Buff Orp chicks to the mix. The BO are a little smaller - born about 1 day later.
But they are fitting in nicely - no pecking, etc.


Yes the kids are having a great time watching them.

-Kevin & Kids