Even if you are fond of chickens, you may not have heard about Australorps. It's a somewhat rare breed, but one worth learning about! Here is a brief look at this chicken, and why you might want to include them in your coop.
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.
Australorps have become famous for their egg-laying abilities. There is one claim that a hen laid 364 eggs in 365 days. This may or may not be true, but one this is for sure; these chickens are good layers. Reliable claims say that if well taken care of, they can average between 250-300 eggs per year. This means you'll most likely get eggs all winter, a feat other breeds cannot boast! The eggs are a light brown in color, and medium to large size.
Being a dual-purpose bird also means it's good for meat. Because the hens are outstanding brooding hens (brooding hens sit on eggs and take good care of the chicks), the fact that they can be used for meat is good news. You can make use of excess roosters or laying hens to put dinner on the table.
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!
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.natureezine.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
