I've had both breeds and would go with Black Australorps for the following three reasons:
1. While both breeds are hardy, BAs are a little hardier, especially where heat is concerned. I raised them in the northern Sacramento Valley where summer temperatures frequently reached 116-117 F (123 F), and with shade, good coop ventilation, and plenty of fresh water, they did just fine. BRs really suffer in that kind of heat.
2. Black Australorps are a gentler breed than Barred Rocks. BRs are generally docile, but occasionally I did have one that was on the aggressive side. In many years of raising BAs, I've never had an aggressive one. My children, and now my granddaughter, easily made pets of the BAs.
3. Black Australorps are better layers than Barred Rocks. Until it was broken by a caged White leghorn in 1979, a Black Australorp held the world laying record with 364 eggs in 365 days; and while my BAs have never reached that kind of production (and likely never will), I have had a few of them lay over 300 eggs in a year. I've never had a Barred Rock exceed 200 eggs in a year.
Whatever breed you decide to get, good luck with your flock.
1. While both breeds are hardy, BAs are a little hardier, especially where heat is concerned. I raised them in the northern Sacramento Valley where summer temperatures frequently reached 116-117 F (123 F), and with shade, good coop ventilation, and plenty of fresh water, they did just fine. BRs really suffer in that kind of heat.
2. Black Australorps are a gentler breed than Barred Rocks. BRs are generally docile, but occasionally I did have one that was on the aggressive side. In many years of raising BAs, I've never had an aggressive one. My children, and now my granddaughter, easily made pets of the BAs.
3. Black Australorps are better layers than Barred Rocks. Until it was broken by a caged White leghorn in 1979, a Black Australorp held the world laying record with 364 eggs in 365 days; and while my BAs have never reached that kind of production (and likely never will), I have had a few of them lay over 300 eggs in a year. I've never had a Barred Rock exceed 200 eggs in a year.
Whatever breed you decide to get, good luck with your flock.
