Chicken Breeds: All About Australorps

Chicken Breeds: All About Australorps

Chicken Breeds: All About Australorps

Have you heard of Australorps? Probably not. Despite the fact that this breed is an excellent all-around chicken, it's not as common as you would think. It's actually considered a fairly rare bird! Read more to find out why they would be a great addition to your home or farm.

The Australorp is considered a large breed chicken, with hens weighing an average of seven pounds and roosters averaging eight to nine pounds. They have black feathers; it is rare to see any white plumage on them anywhere. They are very pretty, and in the sunlight the black can take on a green shimmer. They are often mistaken for Black Jersey Giants. The Australorp, however, is smaller. The best way to tell the difference between the two breeds is to check the bottoms of the feet on the adults. Jersey Giants will have yellow, while the Australorps will have a pink/white color.

This breed got its start in Australia, where it was bred from the English Orpington stock (hence the name Austral-orps). It was bred as a dual purpose, or utility chicken, that would provide both eggs and meat. It was officially recognized as a distinct poultry breed in 1929.

This breed is renowned for its prolific egg laying. Rumor has it that one hen set a record by laying 364 eggs in 365 days. The record is under dispute, but one thing is not: hens of this breed that are happy will typically lay anywhere from 250-300 eggs per year, which means they keep laying in winter! The eggs are a pretty light brown and will be medium to large in size.

As a dual-purpose bird, they are also good for meat. This is great if you plan on having chickens as part of a subsistence farm. These birds are good brooders as well, meaning they will sit on eggs and care for them diligently until they hatch. With them being meat chickens, you can make good use of any old laying hens or extra roosters.

Besides being great meat and egg providers, this breed has a truly wonderful temperament. They are very friendly, a little shy, and so completely docile that they are often kept as pets! If you think they might be too heavy for your kids to pick up, look for the bantam version of the breed.

This really is a great all-around breed! They tolerate confinement extremely well, are winter-hardy, good layers, and good brooding hens. In addition to being calm, they are generally quiet at well. Like their English Orpington cousins, they are also not prone to flying too high, making it easy to keep them in a fenced area.

If you want to get some Australorps, there are many online hatcheries that will be able to send you day-old chicks. They ship them via mail as a perishable item (the chicks do not need food or water the first couple days as they get the nutrition from the egg). Make sure you are able to take them home as soon as they arrive, then just follow whatever directions the hatchery sends with the chicks. Enjoy these truly wonderful chickens!

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