Australorp-Hybrid or purebred?

[vortec]

I read last night that most commercial brown egg layers are hybrids and thus will not lay babies that look like the hen and roo of that hybrid mix. Is this true with the Australorp? If you breed a roo and hen will the babies be Australorps or not? Thanks a lot

vortec

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, they are pure. Almost every breed, perhaps every breed, is a created breed. Australorps breed true so they are not considered a hybrid.

 

[vortec]

Quote:
Thanks, I read this in the storey's guide to raising chickens and they are not real elaborate on each specific breed so when they characterized hybrids as breeds sold by hatcheries for brown eggs, it got me wondering. Thanks for the quick answers once again guys

vortec

 

[Year of the Rooster]

What your book was talking about was most likely Sex-links. Sex-links are brown egglayers that are crosses. Ex: A RIR rooster over a Barred Rock hen gives you black sex-links where the hens are all black and the males have white dots on their heads. If you were to cross a black sex-link rooster with a hen, they would not be black sex-links or pure breeds. Same thing basically goes with red sex-links. Lot's of hatcheries sell them.

 

[blackdotte]

Australorps are a breed,have been for about 80 years. They come in Black,Blue & White, Splash is not recognised. They do not lay brown eggs, their eggs are cream.
David

 

[Opa]

The eggs that I get from my australorps would definitely be considered a brown egg not cream. The australorps my son in Missouri has also lay brown eggs. Perhaps yours are a unique strain.

 

[bigzio]

The book I would recommend is " How To Raise Chickens " by Christine Heinrichs.

This book not only has the FFA seal of Agricultural/Education approval, but the Author is also the SPPA Publicity Director.

More than a how to raise book, and well worth the $20.00 bucks!

I have quite a poultry library...this one is worth reading.

bigzio

 

[klf73]

Quote:
hmm, mine are australorp x's and they lay cream, the roo was a white layer.....

eta-they look like pure australorp, had I not seen the parent birds I would not know...

 

[cgmccary]

The book I would recommend is " How To Raise Chickens " by Christine Heinrichs.

This book not only has the FFA seal of Agricultural/Education approval, but the Author is also the SPPA Publicity Director.

More than a how to raise book, and well worth the $20.00 bucks!

I have quite a poultry library...this one is worth reading.

bigzio

I agree. I have this book and it is excellent-- it has a lot of things not found in other books.

I had Australorps before and mine laid brown eggs.​

 

[vortec]

Quote:
Blue and White? Where do you find those, the only places I've seen only offer black. Storey's guide only lists one variety-black.

Thanks for all of the insight to all of you and I will definitely get that book for no more then $20. I knocked out a chapter of Storey's guide last night...wish I could make myself read the required reading from school like that But as always the info is appreciated and I can't thank you all enough as within the week or so I have been up here I am starting to gain confidense enough to start up my chicken project. Look forward to hearing more from everybody in the future

vortec