Australorps breed Thread

[bruceha2000]

Seeing as how I am now an Australorp Dad, I'm researching the breed.

I figure they were born on the 18th of June 2012.

They are a week younger than mine. I'm still waiting for eggs. Their combs and wattles aren't getting much size or red yet though so I'm not expecting anything real soon. When I finally catch up to the end of the thread, I'll maybe find out if yours are laying before mine.

So far I've gotten 3 tiny light brown eggs in the last week and a half (last one this morning) presumably from one or both of the Faverolles. Now I have to convince them that the nest box is for laying eggs and the coop is for hanging out. I put both of them in the nest box and they both jumped right back out without even looking around. The Anconas have both fussed about in there a few times making nesting spaces but nothing else. Then they come out singing "I just came out of the nest box, I just came out of the nest box". Sung to the tune of the Egg Song.

Bruce

 

[lildinkem]

Hi Bill,
enjoyed the pics as I've not seen any American show birds 'in action'. It's hard to tell from just pics and the buggers usually save their worst stance for snapping time! The first bird seems to have nice back curve but the tail is still a little 'Langshany/pointy'. The second one seems to have a better tail but a rather flat back that might suit a Sussex more than a 'lorp. Great black legs on both birds. The standout feature for me as the major diff. between these and our show birds is the face. These birds seem to have typical Utility faces and not the smooth, clean faces required here in an exhibition chook. Your "burds" should beat these easily within a generation, I reckon. Once again though, I don't know what your SOP is regarding faces.
Please folks, don't regard any comments I make as comparison, as criticisms of either American birds or purebred Utility 'lorps. I luv 'em!
Cheers Geoff

one more pic of an Aussie shown

 

[groche]

Hi Bill,
thanks for sharing the pic. Who won? Any of these? It's difficult from pics, but I'd have to go with bird 2, even though it could use more back curve.. Can't see the comb though. I presume it's younger than the others. Bird 1 seems a bit too Utility-like, apart from the good curve. Bird 3 may be squatting, but she seems a bit low-slung, short in the leg and low-breasted. Our standard calls for all the shank to be exposed. Obviously my Australian bias is showing, but I just can't get used to hairy faces on exhibition chooks! Over here great emphasis is placed on a round head with prominent eyes that can be seen 'sticking out' when the head is viewed from front or back. Most Utility strains have a much more 'streamlined' head, more like a cycling helmet when viewed from above.
Cheers Geoff

 

[groche]

Does anyone have any news of our east coast friends???

 

[ronott1]

Does anyone have any news of our east coast friends???

Not Australorp owners but the Old Folks Home Thread had posts from Super Chemical Girl(Maine) and Wisher1000(Alabama)

I took a picture tonight. My Pullet Kinra is coming out of her Molt!:

 

[groche]

She is starting to come to her best, Ron. Nice green sheen in the neck. It's good to see the comb points in the 'right' range. The comb and wattles are only worth 5 points, but only a novice here would show a bird with serrations outside the 4 to 6 required by our Standard It just wouldn't be seen as a 'true' 'lorp! Perhaps, your SOP is less prescriptive on this. Ray Connor suggests that "wide serrations ...are greatly preferred over thin spindly serrations." He may be showing his northern Australian bias here, as northern birds, including Ray's, tend to have 3-4 points, wheras down south here most of our birds tend to have around 5 points. Your bird certainly meets the prominent eye requirement of our Standard! It might be just the pic, Ron, but is that a bit of white in the tail? A bit unusual in a bird this age? Ray again, " The Australian Standard lists red, yellow or white feathers as serious defects. ....many have claimed that grey or white tips on the flight feathers are major considerations. It is true that we would prefer all black flights but don't hang your reputation on a few grey tips. Such a minor defect is a very long way down the list of imperfections." I hope it was just the light, mate, but, if not, you might heed the advice of another of our old breeders who suggests culling any chickens with "more than an inch of white in the first feathers." Only offering this 'advice' for your consideration. Certainly not preachin'!
Cheers Geoff

 

[groche]

Sorry, I meant to say that our northern birds, including Ray's, tend to have 4 points, wheras down south here we tend to have 5.
Cheers Geoff

 

[groche]

A bit of culling 'advice' that I'll certainly be following myself. A major problem with my breeding stock is that they all have 'loose, fluffy Orpy' thighs. You can clearly see fluff sticking out when you look at the birds from above. I want this out of my line. Ray again, "....this section of the Standard...describes the soft (silky) feathering on the thighs and abdomen. We really want the absolute minimum here to cover the skin but no bare skin and no feather dusters!" Amongst the around 100 chickens I'll have hatched (some still in the 'bator, had a power blackout, so shouldn't count 'em before they've hatched!), I can already pick up numbers with this fault. Some show it as early as 6 weeks. These'll be my first culls, other than obvious deformities.I'll post some pics. I'm convinced that this problem is the result of too much addition of Partington 'fluffy'Orp. blood into our exhibition strains. This shouldn't be such an issue over there, as in Utility strains tighter feathering has been maintained, as most 'eggsperts' link tight feathering with good laying. It is something to watch for for those of you striving for more 'Australian-looking' birds by adding Orp. blood. Another culling hint from Ray on this. " Look to maintain a reasonable width of feather so that you are able to retain close and compact feathering....The feather should not be too long....because I believe it is that which produces too much underfluff....wing carriage is so important. If the wings sag down two thirds from the top of the saddle it is often that alone which causes thigh feathers to stick out. It does look horrible. I want those feathers to lay back along the thighs and that is achieved by a bird with good wing carriage, having its wings tucked right up under the saddle hackles." I'll be using this, as a starting point at least, in my culling program to rid my strain of fluffy thighs. Thanks, yet again, Ray! Then I have to consider my other main issue, lack of back curve in my girls. Hoping my roo, Derrick with his bit short but tight-curved back, helps a bit here. So much to consider. No wonder it's strongly recommended that you only work on 1 or 2 at the most faults per season!
Cheers Geoff from Aus

 

[lildinkem]

Hi Bill,
thanks for sharing the pic. Who won? Any of these? It's difficult from pics, but I'd have to go with bird 2, even though it could use more back curve.. Can't see the comb though. I presume it's younger than the others. Bird 1 seems a bit too Utility-like, apart from the good curve. Bird 3 may be squatting, but she seems a bit low-slung, short in the leg and low-breasted. Our standard calls for all the shank to be exposed. Obviously my Australian bias is showing, but I just can't get used to hairy faces on exhibition chooks! Over here great emphasis is placed on a round head with prominent eyes that can be seen 'sticking out' when the head is viewed from front or back. Most Utility strains have a much more 'streamlined' head, more like a cycling helmet when viewed from above.
Cheers Geoff

That I do not know. I was there the nite before the show opened.
I have a nice pullet to hope to breed in the spring. Big boned, she is built like a tank.



fairly broad rear on this girl



These are my starter Aussie girls I took to the cock. She is sticking her head up. Nice thick bones,

 

[ChickenCrazy8]

I have a couple of questions about my Australorp. She is 5 and a half months old. The three other chickens I got her with(2 ameraucana's and 1 SLW) are already laying. But she isn't. Do Australorps take longer to lay???
Also, I have seen her mounting one of the SLW she grew up with. But she is not Crowing and she looks like the perfect Australorp hen. What's wrong with her???? I am really disappointed because out of all the breeds I have she would hypothetically be the best layer (if she were laying). And I don't want her to hurt my SLW by mounting her.
Thanks in advance,
Zoë