Curious About Australorps?

[hinkjc]

You need the blue gene to make blue. I'm not sure how they introduced it to australorps. The only way white would work is if it has the blue gene. Someone mentioned buff orps being used to make australorp, however it was black orps. The blues for australorp breeding would produce blue, black and splash depending on what is used in the breeding. Blue to black, make blue and black. Blue to blue makes splash.

 

[aveca]

I found an article at cambrige site something about 2 blacks to 1 white but wasnt a member so couldnt get in darn it It was black and white for blue I also found a site where someone had a golden brown coloerd australorps and a blue that looked little more like a spash see below link

there was a detailed article at cambrige U. I couldnt get at in this article..you have to be a member but it was black and white = blue but there is a formula. so sorry I couldnt retreive it

from another forum'
I think the blue in australorps may be an example of incomplete dominance. This means that neither colour is completely dominant over the other so it is expressed as a dilution of black and white (appearing blue). I am interested in andalusians and in their case they are not true to incomplete dominance. Apparently if you breed two blue andalusians you get some black, some light splash (I haven't seen one but I assume they are white with black flecking) and some blue.
Back to australorps I think you should be able to select for blues that breed true.
Ancient Australorp would be able to put us all straight on this in one post but it's fun trying to work it out.

There was a book review in the Australasian Poultry mag (Jun/Jul 09, Vol 20 No 2.) on Genetics of Chicken Colours by S van Hort, D Hancox and Friends. It sounds fairly comprehensive and technical but is said to be written for the amateur breeder. RRP $85 posted from David Hancox, 29 Gundagai road, Cootamundra 2590. Ph (02) 6942 2152.

APF is a bit addictive but only because I am learning so much from you guys.
Buff Orp over Black Australorp gives you mottled offspring. Quite sellable as backyard layers or meat chooks, but not Buff Australorps. But....time and persistence pays off. These things take time.
[Gee, I hope I have enough time]



http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGA/Lorps/BRKLorps.html

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks. It just seemed strange to a newbie that birds as all-around excellent as Australorps would have only one variety. Do production-oriented chickens generally have fewer varieties?

It strikes me that there are quite a few kind of Plymouth rocks, but only one kind of RIR. ???

You've lost me in the genetics, but please continue to discuss it if you like and I'll try to follow.

 

[aveca]

I am just curious also. Im wondering where you would get the whites? There none to my knowlege here.

Maybe it would be worth a try to cross black australorps back onto white buff orps.
Would be really interesting to see what came out of it. Those people are doers, they get an Idea and just do it and ask questions later otherwise they might get discouraged.

Im starting to get the picture here. I think somewhere back when the australians added more buff orp.. Or something to get the whites and keep the steel legs white feet ect...at least it appears to be orps, doest look like too much leghorn but I could be wrong.

Wondering how they got the golden brown?

 

[Jenski]

Quote:
Hey now, your girl has that sweet Australorp face that I adore. My Australorp hen is worth 5 of most of the other breeds. I just love 'em! She looks fine to me.

 

[aveca]

Thanks Jenski. They really are the best. Our neighbor who has RIRs came up to see them yesterday. He cant get over the roosters and how down right sweet they are. I said yep they just poke around the yard and dont bother anybody.

How many australorps do you have.? Nice always to meet someone with the australorps.

 

[DawnSuiter]

I will be casually working on Blue & Splash Australorps as I have a lovely mixed blue male here, he is the product of a Blue Orpington Rooster and a Black Australorp Hen. He will be crossed back to Black Australorp hens of the production type in the late fall/winter of this year. I expect to hatch quite a few offspring, keep only blue & a few splash and go from there.

It seems, compared to my Gold Lace Orpington project to be significantly easier to do.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Blues are becoming a popular bird.

I love my Australorps. They are a Freindly, quiet bird.

They tend to stay with thier own and they are great moms.

 

[NashChic]

Quote:
There are Rhode Island Whites, but they are rose combed. I think if you breed RI Reds and Whites, you get sexlinks... Isa Browns.

Edited to add... I have 10 Australorp eggs in the bator, so I'm excited to read this thread. I've wanted australorps from the beginning, but haven't been able to find any. Hopefully I will have some after Sept 5! I've recently become obsessed with blue chickens. I just added Blue Ameraucanas and Blue Andalusians... a blue australorp would be a dream chicken

GORGEOUS!

 

[aveca]

Quote:
I will be really excited to see how they come out. It seems like that is what the australians did at least by the looks of it. I think they will be some outstanding birds. I am colored bird illiterate. Only simple things like keeping the beetle green and loosing the purple. but even something that simple, I lost some nice combs over that and am trying to recover them. They are not bad and a few are as standard but thats part of it I suppose.sometimes it seems you have to take a step back to take a step forward. Some people take these project to an art form. And I really admire them. I hope you post some progress pics for us. I would also love to see the gold lace project.