The Australorp is a fairly recent arrival on the chicken scene, but in its relatively short history, it has made a huge impression on chicken keepers and the poultry industry the world over. The name is a contraction of Australian black Orpington. The breed was called by several different names before Australorp was settled upon. Since the major development of this breed was done in Australia, the Australorp is the honorary National bird of Australia. In this article we will look at their temperament, egg laying ability and breed standard, before addressing how to properly care for them and common health issues. History of Australorps In the early 1900s, William Cook’s Orpingtons were imported to Australia with the intention of creating a good dual purpose bird suitable for the Australian climate. They were crossed with Rhode Island Reds to improve the egg laying ability. In England, the Orpington was being refined to produce good quality meat, but the ever practical Aus
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