Black Australorps are a chicken worth having. They are excellent farm and family birds. Australorps are extremely prolific layers of large brown eggs. They have beautiful true black feathers with a lovely blue sheen, which is extremely attractive. I found them too be excellent foragers, and good candidates for free range settings. The males grow to excellent large dressing weight, and are very flavorful.
If your sure you must have chickens, consider Australorps first. You will be hard pressed to find a more attractive and amiable chicken. They are somewhat clever, and will dependably put themselves to bed at night. One rooster and 4 hens will keep you in about 16 eggs per week, once they are laying at 5.5-6 months. Their eggs are a lovely rose brown, and quite large at maturity. No need to color Easter eggs, with the lovely shades even a few hens will offer you, from pinkish tan to dark brown. Once, an Australorp hen laid all but one day in a year.
If you need a dual purpose chicken, Australorps are a good choice overall. The roosters grow up to 8 lbs in about 5 or 6 months. If you purchase strait run, you'll have great eggs and good eating. Just feed the roosters and hens together, until the girl start laying, then separate out the extra bachelors, and fill that freezer with good size birds. It is important to note that the Australorps have dark feathers, which can lead to more dark pin feathers, and not a perfect white skinned dressed bird.
If your hens are back yard pets, you'll be delighted. No rooster required to enjoy a few years of fine eggs from any of the ladies. And, they can be helpful in controlling garden pests, if it is safe for them to free run. They are excellent at controlling spiders, hoppers, and other small pests that cruise from house to house in the city. Black Australorp hens also tend to be quiet birds, which is a real bonus for the city dwelling BYCer.
I like my Australorps, and will always think on my experiences with them in a very positive light. Its hard to go wrong with such a fine bird.
If your sure you must have chickens, consider Australorps first. You will be hard pressed to find a more attractive and amiable chicken. They are somewhat clever, and will dependably put themselves to bed at night. One rooster and 4 hens will keep you in about 16 eggs per week, once they are laying at 5.5-6 months. Their eggs are a lovely rose brown, and quite large at maturity. No need to color Easter eggs, with the lovely shades even a few hens will offer you, from pinkish tan to dark brown. Once, an Australorp hen laid all but one day in a year.
If you need a dual purpose chicken, Australorps are a good choice overall. The roosters grow up to 8 lbs in about 5 or 6 months. If you purchase strait run, you'll have great eggs and good eating. Just feed the roosters and hens together, until the girl start laying, then separate out the extra bachelors, and fill that freezer with good size birds. It is important to note that the Australorps have dark feathers, which can lead to more dark pin feathers, and not a perfect white skinned dressed bird.
If your hens are back yard pets, you'll be delighted. No rooster required to enjoy a few years of fine eggs from any of the ladies. And, they can be helpful in controlling garden pests, if it is safe for them to free run. They are excellent at controlling spiders, hoppers, and other small pests that cruise from house to house in the city. Black Australorp hens also tend to be quiet birds, which is a real bonus for the city dwelling BYCer.
I like my Australorps, and will always think on my experiences with them in a very positive light. Its hard to go wrong with such a fine bird.
