There is a good reason why the Australorp
chicken breed is the honourary National Bird
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Academ
Agriculture
Gu ide to the
History
The name Australorp is a contraction of
‘Australian Black Orpington’. In Australia during the early 1900’s,
the
Australorp was developed through crossings between
Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds, and to a lesser extent other
breeds like White Leghorns.
The result was a robust chicken with fantastic egg laying abilities.
The current egg laying record for the breed is 364 eggs laid in
365 days. Given this, it is no surprise that the Australorp is still a
favourite amongst hobbyists and free-range growers alike.
Appearance
The Australorp is easily identifiable due to its
black feathers, which have an emerald tint and
gleam in the sun. There are other varieties that
have white and blue feathers too, although the
latter is quite rare.
These large chickens can weigh between 3
and 4.5kgs, depending on the sex and age of the
bird. Hens generally do not exceed 3.5kgs while
the roosters weigh about 1kg heavier.
There are also miniature bantam varieties, where
the roosters seldom exceed 1kg in weight and the
hens barely reach 800g. Given this, you should
always confirm whether or not the variety you are
purchasing is indeed a large or bantam Australorp,
as each will be suited to different situations.
These birds stand upright and proud. They
have red wattles and combs with dark beaks and
eyes.
Special Considerations
While the Australorp hens are docile and on the whole rather quiet, the
roosters are vocal and will make themselves known wherever they might
be. So, if you live in the city or have neighbours in close
proximity, you may wish to choose another breed.
Australorp hens are not very broody, so if you are looking
to hatch your own chicks you may wish to choose another
breed. With this being said, they do however make
attentive mothers when the chicks hatch.
These chickens have a lifespan of around 8 years. So, take
this into account when buying your chickens. If you want to
keep them as pets, you will need to be committed to 8
years of caring for your
chickens.
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of Australia. In spite of being a
relatively new breed, these chickens are one of
the best you can choose for
your homestead. In this infographic, we are
going to show you why these birds may be
ideal for you, but also clue you in to some of the
lesser known drawbacks that
you may need to consider.
Purpose
It has already been made clear that these prolific layers are suited for
egg production.
You can expect to receive around 250 eggs per year from a single
chicken in a backyard operation, but in a commercial set up can expect
around 300 eggs per hen per year with additional inputs.
It must also be mentioned that they do not require supplemental
lighting in order to lay such high quantities and are therefore perfect for
small-scale growers and novice chicken rearers.
The eggs are medium sized and light brown in colour.
Due to their size, Australorp chickens can also be used for meat
production, making them a great dual-purpose breed.
Temperament
The Australorp is an extremely tame breed.
The hens even like to be picked up and held, making them a
perfect pet. This characteristic also makes these chickens great
for households with kids and other pets.
Due to their peaceful nature, they also accept other chicken
breeds. Unfortunately, this does make them vulnerable to bullying
from more dominant chickens.
Care
A great option for beginners, the Australorps do not require any specialised
intervention for them to remain healthy and productive.
While they can tolerate confinement, they prefer to roam free. These
chickens benefit from exercise and, because of their large bodies, require it
to maintain healthy weights. They are therefore perfect for free-range
conditions. As with any chicken breed, parasites such as mites and worms
can be controlled through regular treatment.
Australorp chickens can survive most environments, from
the scorching hot to the bitingly cold. Just make sure they
have enough shade, water, feed and shelter and they will
take care of themselves. In especially cold areas, you may
need to cover the cock’s combs with petroleum jelly to
keep the frostbite at bay.
When it comes to feeding, Australorps are not fussy. Just
be sure to supplement their feed with a protein source
when they moult.
Each hen should be provided with their own laying box.
These should be around 30cm by 30cm large.