Lifespan of australorps and they're laying life?

[spish]

does anybody here keep australorps? and do they have some 'older' examples of these?
ive been offered a large flock (1 roo and 10 hens) for a nice price...but they are already 5 years old.
the owner assures me from the 10 hens he gets 7-9 eggs per day still.

do australorps lay so well..even as they start to get a little older?? or is he trying to pull a fast one on me?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Something doesn't quite add up for me, just me.

This depends on what your goals are in getting birds. Personally, regardless of the testimony of how well they may still be laying, 5 year old birds are so far down the road that their best laying is out of sight in the rear view mirror.

I don't know what the "nice price" would be, but in this area, 5 year old stock being sold usually means the broth pot or cat food and price is no more than a $1 a head. I dunno.

 

[spish]

he told me australorps live till the ripe old age of 10+ yeard and are known for their long life of laying.... young birds go for €15-€20 per bird here..he's offering the whole flock for €50

i was wondering if it was worth the risk, especially if i got a load of eggs to hatch out and sell the younger birds or chick on...

 

[chikinfarmr]

We have 5 black australorp hens now. Have had others in the past. Good personality. Good layers. Big chickens. Big as our RIRs. But 5 years old. I wouldn't want them. I agree with Fred.

 

[chikinfarmr]

Wow. A year or two old laying hens go for 5 to 8 dollars here. That's like 20 or 25 dollars apiece if my conversion is correct.