Opinions on cochins and australorps

[lowry075]

Hi, I have a BO and a Wyandotte now. they are both 9 months old. I would like two more hens, and am considering raising a cochin and an australorp to add to my tiny flock. Anyone want to tell me what their experiences are with either breed? I got the breed suggestions from another chicken website. They are stricltly pets.They are confined most of the day, I let them free range when i get home from work. I live in Southern california, so the weather is decent. Thanks in advance for any insights into their behaviors.

 

[Pinky]

Australorps are like big black orpingtons. Most are just as mellow and easygoing as the BOs. I love my australorp hens, and they lay nice size brown eggs

I don't have a picture, but I have a short video of them:

 

[Avalon1984]

I have an Australorp rooster and cannot say anything bad. He is very attentive to his flock and very kind. I can easily pick him up and carry him around without him getting angry. They are also very beautiful. Today is hatch day for his first chicks and they are so pretty. 4 out of 5 are black, number 5 is yellow. Not sure how he did that

 

[Snegurochka]

I've only had one Australorp hen but she is a sweetie. When she was younger she was very clingy and followed me like a puppy. She's gentler than my BO, and lower on the pecking order; and yes they are beautiful--their black eyes are pretty special. Her daughter is half EE and is such a doormat, she prefers human company to the other chickens. She is so timid it was awful introducing her to the others, but she gets along fine now. If you want a more "fun" and exciting chicken (one who won't get pushed around by your Wyandotte) you might also consider a Barred Rock, or a Sussex if you can find one--in my limited experience they seem to be the geniuses of the chicken world.

 

[jenni22776rn]

I have one Australorp named Bella..I simply love the breed..enough that I bought 3 black Australorp chicks last week. My Bella is so docile and sweet, good layer and great personality!! I have never had a cochin..so I can't say anything about them..other then they are such a pretty looking breed and someday I will have one! Good luck!

 

[azygous]

I have a Black Cochin hen and rooster. They're the sweetest, gentlest, quietest, most easy-going chickens imaginable! Sort of like big, soft, fluffy stuffed animals. They're great pets, but my Cochin hen really, really wants to keep going broody!

 

[bgelber]

I have 3 black Australorps, Black Betty ( DD named her after some song ), Black Betty Jr, and Betsy. Out of all Jr. is the sweetest. I love their coloring in the sun light. Good egg layers, they slack a bit in the winter but heck I probably would too.

 

[gryeyes]

I must always have at least one BA, I love them so much. I was heartbroken when my first BA, Matilda, died. My second, Molly, is just as attentive, affectionate, talkative, interesting, and beautiful.

I also have some Cochins, both large fowl and bantam. They're adorable. Their feathered feet get a bit mucky in nasty weather and mud... but in Southern California you won't have to worry about that too many days out of the year. They look so adorable running around in their bedroom slippers!

Australorps are related to Orpingtons, by the way, as their base breed was Orpington when the breed was created. I do think they are more people-oriented than the Orps, though. (That may just be my flock.)

 

[BarbG]

I've only had my Australorps for a few weeks but I love them. My brother had Australorps and they were much calmer than the other hens he had.

 

[Desert Peep]

I have 2 australorps and they are my favorites, just behind the easter eggers. Chamique and Blackjack are great chickens. They are chatty, gentle, friendly, and have curious personalities. I just love them. Plus they're absolutely beautiful. They do make a lot of noise screeching and talking; letting me know what went on in the flock while I was at work. And they're the first ones in the morning to start squawking that they want out of the coop I will always have australorps in my flock.