Black Australorp Questions

[BigBlueHen53]

I had BA for a while and really liked them but two eggs a day is Guinness Record material IMO. My chickens are not pets but they did not run from me, came when called (for daily treats), were easy to handle (we do so after they go to roost at night), not flighty or hysterical in any way. They were not broody so the only time they were "off lay" was during molt and the short days of winter, same as any other breed. As for how big they get, check with the hatchery stats. They're commensuate with most dual-purpose breeds, we got both pullets and cockerels and put the males in the freezer at 14-16 weeks IIRC. I think they dressed out right around 3 to 3.5 lbs.

 

[sourland]

It's probably not
I have four and at most we get four eggs from them each day

This is reality.

 

[Insnesnakos]

I have 3 Black Australorps who are now 3 years old. There were very dependable layers, but slowed down this year, as they are... well, 3 years old. They are quiet, and I'm sure they would be friendlier if I had spent more time with them as chicks. They don't run away from me, but they aren't lap chickens either.

Even though I got them at the same time (from TSC), they have very different personalities. One is the "mean girl" to new chicks. One is "the dumb one." The other is the flock leader.

Mine are really talkative and run to me. They also collectively bully the one gold laced wyandotte

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Nope. They double lay in my hand. No mistake and it’s not impossible . My kids also daily chart our laying of eggs and they have the same. Believe me or don’t but I’m not lying

Wow! Two eggs in your hand daily! I'd love to see a video of this! I'll show it to my chickens and tell them what a bunch of slackers they are.

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

4 eggs a day, they can grow to be 7 pounds, they are calm and docile
I have a Black Australorp hen named Cookie

 

[Member 671655]

Wow! Two eggs in your hand daily! I'd love to see a video of this! I'll show it to my chickens and tell them what a bunch of slackers they are.

I can actually see if I can take a video this week. Have a nice day

 

[Insnesnakos]

4 eggs a day, they can grow to be 7 pounds, they are calm and docile
I have a Black Australorp hen named Cookie

Thanks a lot
Seven pounds? That's big for a bird!
I have trouble telling two of mine apart

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You get FOUR eggs a day from EACH of your Australorps? What are you feeding these guys?

4 eggs a day, they can grow to be 7 pounds, they are calm and docile
I have a Black Australorp hen named Cookie

 

[saysfaa]

How often do they lay?
How big can they grow?
Are they friendly?

If anyone could answer these questions that would be greatly appreciated

I have three. Coco and Pepper started laying at 19 weeks and 20 weeks and soon dependably laid an egg a day until the days were too short. They both did so again from about early February until they started molting about the end of September. They laid through their molts, just at a lower rate - gradually down to about every second or third day. They just about got back to a egg almost every day when days got too short again.

The next year (this year), they started a few days later in the spring. They both laid almost every day through most of the summer but not as dependably as before and gradually skipped more days. They haven't started molting yet.

Mocha started a few weeks later, stopped for the winter a week or two sooner, started up in the spring a week or two later, stopped while broody in June, fell off for molting a week or so sooner than Coco and Pepper, stopped for the winter a couple of weeks sooner. This past summer, she didn't go broody. I think she stopped laying already for either molt or winter.

Coco is about twice as heavy as Mocha. Pepper weighs just a little less than Coco but I haven't weighed them.

I think they are friendly but I don't expect to pick them up or pet them. We do quite a lot of murmuring to each other. They like to be close to me even when I don't call them.

They are much less flighty than my brown leghorns.

 

[Insnesnakos]

I have three. Coco and Pepper started laying at 19 weeks and 20 weeks and soon dependably laid an egg a day until the days were too short. They both did so again from about early February until they started molting about the end of September. They laid through their molts, just at a lower rate - gradually down to about every second or third day. They just about got back to a egg almost every day when days got too short again.

The next year (this year), they started a few days later in the spring. They both laid almost every day through most of the summer but not as dependably as before and gradually skipped more days. They haven't started molting yet.

Mocha started a few weeks later, stopped for the winter a week or two sooner, started up in the spring a week or two later, stopped while broody in June, fell off for molting a week or so sooner than Coco and Pepper, stopped for the winter a couple of weeks sooner. This past summer, she didn't go broody. I think she stopped laying already for either molt or winter.

Coco is about twice as heavy as Mocha. Pepper weighs just a little less than Coco but I haven't weighed them.

I think they are friendly but I don't expect to pick them up or pet them. We do quite a lot of murmuring to each other. They like to be close to me even when I don't call them.

They are much less flighty than my brown leghorns.

They might be too heavy to fly