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All About Chickens: The Australorps
Author : kor rassad
Submitted : 2011-02-21 16:52:00 Word Count : 555 Popularity: 23
Tags: Australorps chicken, chicken, Australorps, breed, chicken breed
Even many chicken enthusiasts have not heard about Australorps. This is somewhat of a surprise and shame, because it's a wonderful breed of chicken with many great qualities. Here is a little bit about it, and why it would be a good addition to any home or farm.
This large breed is black, with black legs and black eyes. They are known for their beautiful, shiny feathers, which can look green in the sunlight. Often people confuse them with the Black Jersey Giant, but there are two noticeable differences. For one, the Australorp is smaller, weighing between 6 to 9 pounds, depending on if it's a hen or a rooster. They also differ from Black Jersey Giants in the color of the bottoms of their feet. Jerseys have yellow on their feet, whereas Australorps have a pinkish-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.
One of the best things about these Australorps is not in their use for meat or eggs. They have an exceptional temperament. They are so friendly and docile that many people keep them as pets! Some chickens can be dangerous around children, but this breed is perfect for the little ones. There is a bantam version of this breed that would be ideal for a pet.
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!
Author's Resource Box
To continue reading more about the Australorp Chicken, and other
Chicken, visit ChickenCoopAdvice.com
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