Def Australorps, but having doubts on sex

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

FYI Black Aussies are winter egg layers. They are know for their winter laying ability without adding extra light and lay almost daily. At least mine do. Nice birds

 

[questions543]

Also take into account that if you get more birds for your roosters then you have a chance to get more roosters

 

[katschicks11]

Are you wanting to wanting to raise chicks? If not you don't need a rooster to get eggs.
I started out with 4 australorp pullets, when they started to lay I was getting 3-4 eggs a day through winter, one hen layed everyday for 3 months before taking a day off. Then I had to cull 1 for injury, then one went broody, record heat wave, down to 0-2 eggs a day. I ordered my broody hatching eggs and out of 15 eggs she hatched 2 (I was happy with that after the 105+ temps we had for two weeks) I'm thinking I have one girl and one boy which is what I wanted at worst. That will give me 4 hens to 1 roo. That is the max I can have in this coop, chicken math is forcing me into planning on a larger coop

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I fell in love with the australorp breed, and it wasn't the breed I wanted to start with, but that is what i could come up with when my first coop was done. Great birds.

 

[Rilig]

Also take into account that if you get more birds for your roosters then you have a chance to get more roosters

I'm able to see the birds first, so I was going to pick ones that look like and are the same age as my hen.
Also, I think I'll get 2 (maybe 3) more hens.
(My coop is about 4x4x4 with one nestbox and roost. Do I have enough room for 2 rooster and 4 hens, or should I stick with 2 roosters and 3 hens? Do note, we have a run and let them free-range the yard almost every day, so they only use the coop at night to sleep in. Also, I will get another nestbox.)

 

[aoxa]

I'm able to see the birds first, so I was going to pick ones that look like and are the same age as my hen.
Also, I think I'll get 2 (maybe 3) more hens.
(My coop is about 4x4x4 with one nestbox and roost. Do I have enough room for 2 rooster and 4 hens, or should I stick with 2 roosters and 3 hens? Do note, we have a run and let them free-range the yard almost every day, so they only use the coop at night to sleep in. Also, I will get another nestbox.)

Don't worry about the nesting box.

Where are you located? It all depends on what your winters are like. 4x4x4 is not big enough for more then what you have now in my opinion. Especially during winter when they seek shelter.

Time for an add on, or rehome those two roosters.

 

[Rilig]

Update!

I just got 3 lovely Wyandotte pullets (2 blue, 1 splash) from the guy I got the Australorps from. They are just adorable! I'll be adding on to the coop sometime soon. Thanks for all the help!

 

[hdowden]

you need at least 6 pullets per cockerel if you keep them in the same pen. if you separate them you might be able to get by with trios or quads like i do (1 cockerel with 2-3 pullets). so for the 2 cockerels you need at least 8 more pullets. if you don't add enough pullets those cockerels could start fighting and one or both could end up dead, i know this for a fact. i had 2 roosters together (they grew up together) in with 4 pullets and one day they decided they didn't want to share anymore and almost killed each other, now they have their own pens with 3 pullets a piece and they will still try and fight (sometimes succeed) through the fencing.

so you know have what 2 cockerels and 4 pullets? build another pen and add at least one more pullet for each pen to be on the safe side is what i would do.

 

[aoxa]

you need at least 6 pullets per cockerel if you keep them in the same pen. if you separate them you might be able to get by with trios or quads like i do (1 cockerel with 2-3 pullets). so for the 2 cockerels you need at least 8 more pullets. if you don't add enough pullets those cockerels could start fighting and one or both could end up dead, i know this for a fact. i had 2 roosters together (they grew up together) in with 4 pullets and one day they decided they didn't want to share anymore and almost killed each other, now they have their own pens with 3 pullets a piece and they will still try and fight (sometimes succeed) through the fencing. 

so you know have what 2 cockerels and 4 pullets? build another pen and add at least one more pullet for each pen to be on the safe side is what i would do.

Definitely build them separate areas. It all depends on the roo with how much they will wear out the hens. I plan to separate all my roosters except one during the off season. All boys will share a coop/run and shouldn't fight without girls to fight for.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Are you wanting to wanting to raise chicks? If not you don't need a rooster to get eggs.
I started out with 4 australorp pullets, when they started to lay I was getting 3-4 eggs a day through winter, one hen layed everyday for 3 months before taking a day off. Then I had to cull 1 for injury, then one went broody, record heat wave, down to 0-2 eggs a day. I ordered my broody hatching eggs and out of 15 eggs she hatched 2 (I was happy with that after the 105+ temps we had for two weeks) I'm thinking I have one girl and one boy which is what I wanted at worst. That will give me 4 hens to 1 roo. That is the max I can have in this coop, chicken math is forcing me into planning on a larger coop

.
I fell in love with the australorp breed, and it wasn't the breed I wanted to start with, but that is what i could come up with when my first coop was done. Great birds.

Me either on the ones I wanted. I actually wanted sex links because I wanted the eggs. Then was told about these and then how much he loved the RIR's so I just got both the black aust. and the rir's. BUT my favorite for right now are the rir's because they're more friendlier right now anyway. My black aust. and sex links just don't want me touching them at all and when I have to pick up one you'd think I was killing it! UGHHH and they are soooo chatty! I've been feeding them all outta my hand but they just will not get used to me for some reason. I have 23 of those and only 15 of the rir's. The black aust. are 2 weeks younger than the rir's. Anyway I would love to know what to do to make them get used to me and be more friendly.

 

[8machines]

I love all this info about ausies! I have two. Hope they are both hens at 8 weeks. If not I have 20 females of different breeds! It's so interesting because they stay so close to each other, and when separated they call to the other. I have 1 red sex link with them, younger, and she also calls when separated or chased by the other girls. I did not noticed this behavior when my other chicks were little. That is why I suspect a roo, but can't tell at 8 weeks yet.