Australorps

[KellyGwen]

I always say... um... excuse me... "ass-tro-lorp" (just think donkeys!!) I have no idea if that's right!

 

[MissPrissy]

Australorp = Australian Orpington

Super simple FYI for those who may not know -

Black orps from the UK were exported to Australia. When they fnished developing the breed their way they were exported to UK and US and other places under the brand name "Australorp" which has become a breed name.

 

[mylilchix]

We have 3 Australorp, and they're awesome! They're very sweet and huge. At 11 weeks they're the largest of our chickens.

Sonja

 

[blueskylen]

our 3 austrolorps are 21 weeks, and are 2nd on the pecking order to our 4 BO's - they are first in line for treats and are quite nosy, but friendly and lovely in the sunlight with their black and shiny green feathers. nobody is laying yet, but are squatting and like to be petted.

 

[punkin]

My 2 astrolorpes seem to hang together, too. When I catch crickets or other bugs to drop in the run, they are the ones to catch them 9 out of 10 times. They are also second from the bottom in pecking order, right above the buff orps. Sometimes they "puff up" at each other as if to establish who is going to be the boss between them that day.

 

[BayCityBabe]

I have 3 Australorp pullets - 14 weeks old. Two are "lap chickens" - jump right up on my lap if I sit down. Will hang out, just to have their backs patted.
The 3rd one hates people...

 

[Chirpy]

I have four Australorp hens that are a year and a half old. They are the largest of my flock of standard chickens (thus far, I have new chicks that may end up larger = brahmas) and very, very sweet and friendly. My children pick them up and pet them every day and they lay eggs very consistently. They did great through both our cold winter and out hot summer this year. (Our hot summers aren't like those in the East though.. we have almost no humidity and that makes a huge difference on how hot it really feels, that also works on how cold it feels in the winter.)

I had an Australorp Roo last year, he was raised with this flock and at about five months old he became very aggressive to my children. He was a perfect protector of his flock! If I didn't have children I would have kept him as I was able to show him that I was boss but my children weren't able to. After he drew blood on my 8 yr. old daughter... I found a new home for him with a lady that has no children but needed a Rooster to protect her flock. He's doing great there.

I highly recommend them.

 

[Carolyn]

I have one Australorp( I say OZ tra lorp since my friends in Australia call their country OZ). This hen is the sweetest one I have. She is not nearly as large as my rocks more the size of my EE. She just minds her own business. She is always the first to check out anything new I add to the run and leads the game of chase when she finds a special treat. I wish I had some more.

 

[crtrlovr]

I have 7 'Lorpie girls and they all stick together. They will either be inside the run or free ranging, but they won't be in separate groups for more than a very few minutes at a time. As far as the pecking order, among the RIR pullets & 1 giant RIR roo, 5 BO pullets & 1 roo, a barred rock pair, an SLW pair, and 2 female guineas, the "lorpies" seem to be at the bottom, and I'm guessing it's mainly because they're the youngest. The dynamics may change somewhat when they're all completely grown. They're very shy natured, even though I held them as much if not more than the others when they were babies. They may come close to the chair I sit in out in the run, but they're not lap babies like some of the others.

I keep hoping they're going to figure out I'm not going to hurt them, but so far they prefer to love the treat-bringer from a distance....

They're no trouble at all, and are beautiful. They're getting that glossy, blue-green sheen to their black feathers now. (not to mention as soft as a cloud, when I can get my hands on one who's 90% asleep!)

 

[Jenlyn9483]

Quote:
Wow! you mean my little austrolorp chicks are really austi-a-fied Black orps in discuise?! what a great idea! i was going to put them in my egg production assorted breed pen (since a austrolorp hen is currently holding the world record for egg production)....but now I think I will put them in my Buff orp pen just for fun...see what kind of great layin hen mutts i get out of those! My layin pullet customers will love me Cant go wrong there, gotta be a quality chick opportunity...