What's a henway?

[Nonny]

But seriously.... what DOES a hen weigh? I don't have scales here other than tiny kitchen ones, and need to know roughly what my girls weigh (for the treadle feeder I'm building). Is there an "average" weight for Black Australorps? I can't see any of them standing still long enough for me to use the old fashioned "see saw" scales method.

 

[TigerLilly]

Look here for the info you need:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/breeds/chicken-breeds

 

[ChicKat]

Hi Nonny in Qld,

That is such an interesting question.

I got this from an internet site:
Product Facts

Black Australorp Chicken Info
Adult Weight - Male: 8.5 pounds ; Female: 7.5 pounds
Color - Black with greenish purple sheen, Large red comb
Purpose - Dual Purpose - Egg Laying and Meat Production
Egg Production - Prolific: 250+ per year
Egg Color - Brown
Country of Origin -Australia

Here is the link:http://www.efowl.com/Black_Australorp_Chickens_p/1053.htm
Never have I purchased from this company, but I really appreciate the thorough description that they provide of the breeds that the sell. Now, I guess a coversion to kg, and will they weigh the same in the southern hemisphere? :O)

I am going to take one of those platform scales out, and tell each of mine to stand on it to get their monthly weighing. Mine (not Australorps)weigh in at about 4 to 4.5 pounds. I'm just so sure that they will cooperate if I just hold a meal worm just out of reach. Now seriously, the first time I weighed them I weighed a towel, then wrapped each one in the towel, Put each on a scale, took the weight and subtracted the towel, but I know it was not too accurate.

 

[Nonny]

Hmmm.... one site says 5lb, the other says 7.5lb.... I guess I should go with the lightest, as long as it's still heavier than a wild bird. I'd hate for the girls not to be able to activate the feeder.

Loosely converted I might estimate a bare minimum of 2kg per bird, which should mean I can use a 2 litre water bottle as a counterweight to test the treadle with.

Thanks for the info both of you!

Edit: Actually, maybe they weigh less in Oz due to lesser fat stores and/or greater water loss in our warmer climate? Just a random thought.