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 Australian poultry breeders of the 1920s wanted a
good utility bird with the emphasis on lots of eggs and secondary, meat
production.
To this end Cook’s Orpingtons were crossed with Rhode Island Reds,
Minorcas, white Leghorn, Langshan and possibly some Plymouth Rocks.
The result was a bird that was a phenomenal layer – probably the
combination of Orpington, Leghorn and Rhode Island Red genes made this bird a
laying superstar!
In 1922 - 23 six Australorp hens laid 1,857 eggs, averaging 309.5
eggs per bird over a 365 day period.
Regular egg laying contests were held all over Australia and the
following year a hen laid 347 eggs in 365 days. The current record stands as
364 eggs in 365 days – an amazing achievement, especially when you consider
this was done without extra lighting for the hens.
The poultry industry soon became interested in the Australorp
because of its’ prolific egg laying ability – it was a breed they didn’t have
to coerce into laying.
The interest waned in the 1930 - 1940s as the Australorp was crossed
with the white Leghorn creating the Austra White, an even more productive hen.
The Australorp went into a decline which has been reversed
over the last few years. It is listed as a recovering breed. The
Australorp remains a top layer to this day and is well suited for the smaller
backyard environment.
Backyard chicken folk love them for the same reason – and a few more
besides.
Australorps also go by the names Black Australorp (there are white and blue also), Australian Orpington or Australs.
Breed Standard
The American
Poultry Association recognizes the Australorp in its’
original colour only – black.
However, The Australian
Poultry Society recognizes the black, blue and white
varieties.
South Africa has also buff, splash, wheaten laced and golden in addition to the
other colours.
The Australorp is a large, heavy bird with close fitting, soft
feathers. It is classified as a heavy, soft feathered English bird.
It should have a very upright stance, carrying the tail high. The
breast is full and well-rounded with a deep, solid body. Wattles, earlobes and
comb should all be red in colour. The comb should be upright and have no more
than seven points.
The legs should be clean of feathers, black or slate blue in colour.
There are four toes to each foot and the skin on the bottom of the foot should
be white as is the skin of the body. Eyes are a shiny jet black and the beak is
dark in colour.
The standard sized birds are heavy, with a male weighing between 8½ -
10lb and a hen between 6½ - 8lb.
Bantams weigh in at 2 - 2.7lb for males and 1.7 - 2.2lb for hens.
Australorp Temperament and Appearance
The feathers of the black Australorp have a beetle-green sheen in the
sunlight giving a stunning iridescence to the feathers.
The Australorp is somewhat ‘stately’ in walking – a trait it
got from the Orpington which sort of glides across the barnyard much like a
Duchess at a tea party.
They will tolerate confinement well, but like most of the heavier,
larger breeds will also enjoy free ranging and searching for bugs and morsels
in the yard as they really do like to be active.
The exercise aspect of free-ranging is good
for them since they can be slightly prone to obesity if kept solely in
confinement.
They are a fast growing breed with a slightly shy demeanour
initially, but once they settle in, they are likely to follow you around the
yard in case you have any treats in your pockets!
Egg Laying
As we have noted above, the Australorp is an egg laying machine. Although not as prolific as
their forebears, the current Australorp hens will give you an average of 250
eggs/year. Individuals may lay more or less, depending on the hen.
This equates to around five light brown, medium sized eggs/week –
not too shabby!
In an industrial setting they do produce more eggs since their
lighting and feed is strictly controlled for maximum output.
Depending on the line of Australorps you have, they are generally
known to be average to good nest sitters and good mothers to their chicks. Some articles say
they aren’t good sitters, but other folks have said they are good sitters and
mothers, the ‘yeas’ seem to outnumber
the ‘naes’.
They are average in broodiness, unlike their parent bird the
Orpington.
Health Issues and Special Needs
This is a robust and healthy heritage breed. There are no special
considerations for this easy going hen. The average life expectancy is between 6 - 10
years.
The usual attention to parasites and other minor issues of chickens is all you need to be diligent about.
Is the Australorp Right for You?
If you are looking for a hen that’s easy to care for, will lay an
abundance of eggs and fit in well with your current flock, the Australorp may
be your hen.
Although they can initially be a bit on the shy side, they will warm
up to you and will be a friendly and loveable barnyard companion. They have a
gentle and sweet disposition, not a mean bone in their little bodies, including
the roosters.
They are a calm and quiet breed, not pushy. They will likely be in
the middle
of the pecking order. They can get bullied by more aggressive
breeds so keep an eye on the more ‘pushy’ birds in your flock.
They are a breed that is very easy to handle and this makes them a
perfect candidate for farm programs such as the 4H here in the US.
Once they get used to the noise and fuss they also make good
exhibition birds, frequently winning ribbons for their owners.
They are tolerant of a wide range of temperatures and types of
weather – from hot climates such as Australia to cooler places such as the
American mid-West. This bird really is an all-rounder as far as the weather
goes.
Summary
The Australorp is a delightful bird to have in your flock.
They are easy going and friendly, a great bird for beginners since
they require little in the way of ‘special
care’ and are easy to deal with as they acclimate to being handled very
quickly.
The Australorp is a delightful, quiet bird to have in your flock.
They aren’t flighty or noisy, are cold hardy, make good flock-mates and lay an
abundance of delicious eggs.
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