Help me decide! Americauna or Australorp?

[billmac]

I have Buff Orpingtons and RIRs. The reds will probably be culled soon, and the buffs are getting older. We love the buffs but they aren't great layers. I'd like some good layers that can go broody. I'm looking at Americaunas or Black Australorps.

Any thoughts? Wyandottes and Barred Rocks are also available.

 

[Odelia]

I have both and like them both. I think my Black Australorp is more likely to go broody than my Ameraucana's. Personally I love getting the pretty green eggs. I do have a friend who's Ameraucana has disappeared before and shown back up with a several chicks following her so I know it happens. Any reason no to get both breeds? For broodiness I got myself two bantam cochins. One is very, very broody and the other not so much. So with any breed it is always go to be luck of the draw.

 

[TheEggCollecter]

Ameracuanas!!!

 

[billmac]

Odelia,
Which one is the better layer?

 

[billmac]

I've had chickens for years, but never hatched any out. Buffs are broody, aren't they? Could I use them to hatch out more eggs than just their own?

 

[Odelia]

I've had chickens for years, but never hatched any out. Buffs are broody, aren't they? Could I use them to hatch out more eggs than just their own?

Buff can go broody and yes you can always give her different eggs to hatch.

Odelia,
Which one is the better layer?

For me they a have been about the same. Most weeks they lay 5 eggs sometimes 6. I have a good friend with Ameraucana's that are on their 4th year. They didn't hardly lay this winter, but now that it is spring they are laying up a storm again. It is a bit of luck of the draw again. Some strains are breed more for production. Hers were just from the local feed store that buys from the local hatchery Dunlap.