Australorp

sweet birds with good poduction but struggled with 100+ degree temps and high humidity.

*Oh* if I'd only thought to take pictures when I started keeping chickens, I would have been much more happy. Years ago when I got my first chicks I had started with four, with one being an australorp. I only hold a few memories though being so long.

What I do remember about Dorito (the australorp) was that she was very fat and did not lay well at all, we got maybe 2 eggs a week from her...all of the other hens layed white eggs you knew how poor of a layer she was. She hated being a small flock too, even when in the coop you could just watch the body language. She wasn't even happy when we brought in a polish pair or when I caught a roaming rooster.

Though - I had even attempted to make her brood chicks (I was ignorant of animals until I relized what it was like not have something you love - then my passion was founded two years later...chickens try #2) by locking her in with Charley the Buff Jersey Giant for a week.

When the hens would have turned three - 2 years after I sold them - I tried to find the family I had sold them to, hoping I could track them down and treat them the way they needed or should have been treated. I had no luck but the first thing that came to mind was how I didn't "really care" after they weren't chicks and how a short amount of time can change a mind so easily and that was a part of my life and growing up.


Funny how we comprehend animals when our lives really start, when we actually understand.
I'll always miss my first flock - including Dorito the fat, bad layer australorp hen

I love my australorps they are the sweetest things! They are great pets and great layers. I have two, my favorite is named Nugget, she is my favorite hen out of 44 chickens! I show my australorp, and they are great show birds. We won first in showmanship. I recommend australorps for beginners or expierenced poultry raisers!

I have some of these and I have been happy with them. I actually had the perfect flock; 1 was broody, the others were not. The rooster beautiful and protective. Light brown eggs, winter hearty. I'd recommend if you purchase for a confined space, buy all the same breed, I've heard there is less picking on other breeds by doing this. Don't know if true, only what I have read, and they did pick on my Welsummers a lot when confined & unable to get away. Good luck

I had 3 black australorp hens in a mixed flock of 12. All of them seemed more skittish and aloof than the other breeds (orpington, plymouth rock, wyandotte). Contrary to what I had read, they were not low on the pecking order, as they did assert themselves. So far, they have been reliable layers. UPDATE - birds stopped laying eggs around 26 months; for the few months before this the shells were very rough. Based on their reputation, I was expecting them to lay well for much longer than this! Unfortunate to have to cull heritage breeds at 2 years of age due to non-productivity. (purchased from Healthy Chicks and More)

I bought my first 5 Australorp hens back in November from a friend who moved away. They were hatched in the Spring and started laying for her the following September. Considering the cold time of year and the transition they had to go through with moving to another place, they seemed to handle it quite well. I would say this breed is very easy going and adaptable. They have been quite friendly and sweet and lay nice large brown eggs. Having 5 hens that lay me 4-5 eggs a day through the Winter time consistently is, I hear a great thing. I decided to add to my flock and purchased 3 chicks of this same breed. Although this is the only chicken breed I have had so far, since the experience with them has been so positive, I've decided to stick with this breed only, at least for the time being. I love my Aussie girls!

I have 22 austrolorp hens 5 plymoth rocks and and 6 RIR and the austrolorps are my favorite they r all very friendly and lay very large light brown eggs. 3 of them have gone broody and 1 of them hatched 13 out of 16 eggs yesterday and is taking care of all of them very well. I do recommend this breed

I bought 8 hen chicks from MPC, 1 was DOA and 1 died within a day. I now have 6 beautiful strong and healthy chicks who are 1 week old. My 2 Lorps are the largest of the bunch. They seem to be more laid back than the rest. From the moment they were unpacked, they were the strongest, most vigorous chicks yet curious and relatively fearless. They are already eating out of my hand and feeling comfortable being held (for short periods of time!)


They get along well with their sisters hatched the same day; 2 Salmon Faverolles, 1 Barred Plymouth Rock and 1 Blue Andalusian. The Andalusian is the smallest by the way but she holds her own by being the fastest and hardest to catch!

We got one Australorp, and I claimed it as mine because it was black. We had 3 blk sex links, but these were speckled. This was different. This was mine. She's a friendly hen(we hope) and is the first to do everything. First trip outside.First one to find the utilities. First, first, first, FIRST.
Really cool birdies.

I introduced one adult and one 10wk old to my flock and was surprised how well they adjusted without any noticeable fighting. The adult hen quickly made friends with my buff brahma, and settled nicely. I will keep you updated on their progress.

very vocal but a very laid back faithful layer and great with kids

I started with four pullets last summer (an Australorp, an ISA Brown, a Silver Laced Wyandotte, and a Barred Rock), in July, right around the age they should have started to lay. The Australorp is bright eyed, inquisitive, friendly, and best of all, is an awesome layer. She was the first to start laying (I thought that the ISA would start first, but she was actually a few WEEKS behind the Australorp!), and has layed nearly every single day since. The only time she stopped was for about three weeks around Christmas, when a neighbor dog bypassed three fences, two gates, and a barn door (he was determined) and ate my Barred Rock, right out of the barn, in front of the Australorp (and incidentally, my ten year old daughter, who was out gathering eggs). Within a few weeks she had started again, though, and hasn't stopped since!

A this point my australorps are just small chicks cant wait to see what they grow up to be

Very good egg layers hardy weather birds. Full of personality.

My DH bought me chickens for my 60th b'day; 2 Australorps, 2 Lt Brahmas and 1 Easter Egger (turned out to be a bantam). The Australorps are by far the friendliest and IMHO prettiest girls I have. They are always the first to run see if it is me or DH when the back door opens. If me, they run up to me naturally expecting treats. If it is DH, they just go back to what they were doing. At night when it is time to go into the coop, they are right there and go in willingly and always get between the EE and one Brahma who tends to pick on the EE. They lay big beautiful brown eggs nearly every day and will gladly help the other hens sing their egg song - so funny. I love the beautiful green sheen to their shiny black feathers. I will definitely continue to have Australorps in my flock, possibly to the exclusion of other breeds.

Good eggs, but won't let anyone touch them.

An amazing layer who doesn't care what the weather might be. Tends to be shy when young, but calms significantly approaching POL. Very smart, wily bird that can and will get into everything (or puzzle out how to in short order).

Just got my Australorp chicks. They are very friendly and adorable. Very curious birds.

These are my professional layers. They lay pretty much an egg a day, although they're not particularly cuddly. My rooster, Gregory Peck, takes his job seriously. He is alert and notices everything--especially hawks. He takes good care of the girls and finds them tasty things to eat. He also crows beautifully. Gregory actually takes cuddles better than the Aussie hens.

Thumbs up for the Australorps!

(Not sure on the purchase date, so I put in the shipping date.)