When will these chickens eggs regulate and start being a consistent size?

[Floridaboy1084]

Black Australorps are definitely cold-tolerant. They'll handle below 32 just fine. Then can even handle below 0 degrees. I don't know your setup, but the only cold-related things you should be concerned about are (a) giving them a way to get away from snow/rain, particularly when they are sleeping and (b) avoiding drafts directly blowing on them when they are sleeping while maintaining good ventilation.

As for heat, the keys are to provide open water so they can drink deeply and good shade.
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I've had mixed-breed flocks and the Australorps are some of the more likely to become broody, so if you have any roosters, you can certainly get them to raise future generations for you. You might want to invest in leg bands (size 11/16mm) to help identify them by year born.

3rd year chickens still have plenty of laying in them, but not enough to be commercially competitive. I've seen shady people selling them as new layers, but if you are honest about their age, you will still be able to get rid of some cheap or free and lower your costs.

Just to be clear about the "tough" birds. 18 month-olds will be tough. Commercial producers will generally sell them for pet food or other uses. The more tender broilers that you buy in a store (either cooked or raw) are generally from 2-3 month old meat-bird hybrids (Cornish Cross) that are super-growers and haven't had time to toughen up.

Edit: If you do decide to let your girls raise chicks, then you will obviously get ~50% roosters. You'll be able to harvest the majority of them young for food while keeping the layers.

10/4, I know that's right. People are definitely shady. Being that these just started laying, when would be a genuine rule of thumb on when to cull? Sounds like that's a lose, lose situation kinda ( anything past 3 months is tough ). The leg band idea was definitely a misstep on my part, never thought about it, and boy does it make sense... Always wondered what those were for. That'll help with all the other breeds as well, sure am glad you responded to my post. They definitely have roofs, and I say roofs because I've added on twice so far they have stuff put up to block wind, no heat or anything though, and they seem just happy and content. I have 12 roosters because I read that it's suppose to be 10:1. Only problem I have is this crazy little bb red bantam rooster, he's wild, and tries to fight the Beilfelder roo, the Speckled Sussex roo, and one of the Black Copper Maran rooster. Never seen anything like it. And I really do appreciate the help. Leg bands are fixing to be bought

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

In my experience, they take 2-4 months to level out on egg shape/double yolks, but the eggs still continue to grow as the hen matures.
My Barred Rock, ISA Browns, New Hampshire Reds, and Jersey Giants took almost 9 months to get to full grocery store sized eggs.

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

I don’t supplement any light, as I see my chickens more as petstock, and not for production only. If the girlies need a break, they need a break!

I do let them out at dawn, though.

 

[TooCheep]

I have 12 roosters because I read that it's suppose to be 10:1. Only problem I have is this crazy little bb red bantam rooster, he's wild, and tries to fight the Beilfelder roo, the Speckled Sussex roo, and one of the Black Copper Maran rooster. Never seen anything like it. And I really do appreciate the help. Leg bands are fixing to be bought

Sounds like you are on the right path. The ratio of hens:roosters is about right. Roosters serve three functions for us: fertilize eggs, protecting hens and food. The general rule on roosters is that you can be picky with which ones you keep since they are "disposable". If one is being to aggressive to the hens or humans, then get rid of it.

As for when to cull, that is entirely up to you. Commercial operations cull hens at first molt rather than feed them for 3 months with no eggs followed by declining production. Many backyard chicken owners keep them for life as pets (they do have other benefits besides eggs). Some of us pick a date and cull at that point.

I cull after the 3rd year as they still have good production that year, but I don't want to feed them in winter and get half production in the 4th year. I'm adding in new chicks every 2 years to keep my egg production up and get at least some fresh eggs during winter.

As for roosters, I'd cull the majority of them for meat when they are young, but old enough to be clearly identified as male. I don't know how tender/tough they will be at 4-6 months old, but you are in a better position to determine that.

I don't know that 3 months is the limit for tougher meat. Cornish Cross chickens are genetic freaks. They grow so big/fast that they have to cull them by 3 months or they will break their leg bones. Good for meat production, but not a breed you keep for eggs/pets.

 

[Floridaboy1084]

I don’t supplement any light, as I see my chickens more as petstock, and not for production only. If the girlies need a break, they need a break!

I do let them out at dawn, though.

I get that, some people do that. I need the eggs... I'm not sure if I'd call it only for production though. I spend pretty much most of my time feeding, giving treats, cleaning, petting, holding... The eggs are the plus

 

[Floridaboy1084]

Sounds like you are on the right path. The ratio of hens:roosters is about right. Roosters serve three functions for us: fertilize eggs, protecting hens and food. The general rule on roosters is that you can be picky with which ones you keep since they are "disposable". If one is being to aggressive to the hens or humans, then get rid of it.

As for when to cull, that is entirely up to you. Commercial operations cull hens at first molt rather than feed them for 3 months with no eggs followed by declining production. Many backyard chicken owners keep them for life as pets (they do have other benefits besides eggs). Some of us pick a date and cull at that point.

I cull after the 3rd year as they still have good production that year, but I don't want to feed them in winter and get half production in the 4th year. I'm adding in new chicks every 2 years to keep my egg production up and get at least some fresh eggs during winter.

As for roosters, I'd cull the majority of them for meat when they are young, but old enough to be clearly identified as male. I don't know how tender/tough they will be at 4-6 months old, but you are in a better position to determine that.

I don't know that 3 months is the limit for tougher meat. Cornish Cross chickens are genetic freaks. They grow so big/fast that they have to cull them by 3 months or they will break their leg bones. Good for meat production, but not a breed you keep for eggs/pets.

Ok, so the rooster thing makes sense and so does the culling in 3 years. Basically they'll still lay in the 3rd year but not as much. So if I were to cull a lot of them right before the 3rd winter I'd still have new ones starting to lay. And possibly the meat may be still tender... Also I purchased 200 leg bands, hopefully they're not cheap and they'll stay on... I can hope. I bought 4 chicks from tractor supply and 2 were getting gigantic in like 3 weeks triple the size of the other 2, after 2 months they were like full grown looking chickens... Both were roosters,8 didn't know what they were. I took them to the feed store and he said, "Yeah I'll take those, they're meat birds, they'll be ready in about 3 weeks" needles to say, I don't trust tractor supply anymore

 

[TooCheep]

I'm glad they took those birds back. If you weren't ready to cull them at the proper time, it would have been unintentionally cruel.

Here is a picture that makes clear about the freakish growth of Cornish Cross hybrids. They are good for producing meat quickly and comparatively cheaply, but you have to be able to cull them on time or they will be harmed by their growth.