Australorps breed Thread

[mpcardona]

Here is one of my Australorps. She is almost a year old. She is hanging out with Stevie, my Delaware/light Brahma mix roo.

 

[Indiana Ima]

Does anyone here keep Australorp hens in a place that gets very cold through the winter? In other words, do I need to worry about their combs freezing?

Y'all are being extremely helpful, and I love seeing all the pictures!

 

[happyhensny]

Does anyone here keep Australorp hens in a place that gets very cold through the winter? In other words, do I need to worry about their combs freezing?

Y'all are being extremely helpful, and I love seeing all the pictures!

We get many negative temps here and the Roos comb will freeze. Dosen't seem to effect him at all. Still fertile and the hens never seem to have a problem.

 

[aveca]

Does anyone here keep Australorp hens in a place that gets very cold through the winter? In other words, do I need to worry about their combs freezing?

Y'all are being extremely helpful, and I love seeing all the pictures!

with reasonable care, like a decent shelter that isnt real drafty, they do just fine..we live in NY and we had a spell last year that was way below zero wind chills but they stayed inside for the worst of that weather. i kept them out of the wind..no problems . on cold but sunny days they go out roaming around..we have had australorps for over 25 years.

 

[Indiana Ima]

Thank you aveca and happyhensny! That's very helpful.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

I am in Michigan and it does get plenty cold here usually. It has been a bit milder here this year. My BA roo seems fine so far.

 

[hgre]

thank you for the welcome, my birds seem to be improving there gaining weight now and their faces are getting more colour every day so fingers crossed.

 

[ronott1]

I just replied to a review of Australorps. The reviewer gave Australorps a low review because one they had to cull had a poopy bottom too often. I don't have that problem with mine. Mine are very healthy. Sad to give a breed a bad review because of one hen with digestion problems.

 

[happyhensny]

My Australorps range from 1 - 4 years of age. Out of 9 hens I get 6-7 eggs a day. The eggs are HUGE - XL-Jumbo. Never any problems, just hatched a batch, never a poopy butt. Sometimes feed, heat or stress will cause digestive problems.

 

[Indiana Ima]

I've gotten some really varied estimates on how big to expect a Black Australorp hen to grow. For example, Meyer Hatchery says 5 pounds on their web page and 6 pounds in their catalog!

I've decided I want to get 5 different types of hen so we can tell them apart easily, for the fun of variety, etc. (The law only permits us to have 5 here!) I'd love to have a Black Australorp be one of them because they are pretty and they apparently are marvelously productive layers, but I'm a little concerned by the lower weight estimate.

All the other types of hen that interest me are estimated to hit minimum 6 pounds at maturity. If I have a mix of 6 to 7 pounders and a lone 5 pound hen, will she get horribly bullied? Is that weight estimate nonsense? Are hens actually not that nasty to the one at the bottom of the pecking order as long as they are all well cared for? (Enough space, enough food... maybe other things I don't know about in my ignorance!)

I'd love some solid information from those in the know. Thank you!