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Australorps: Why They’re the Ultimate Flock Game-Changer!

Well, yet another Monday has come, and it is time for us, the typesofchicken.com team, to present our readers with an article about the pros and cons of keeping a particular chicken breed.

Until now, we have presented you with articles with pros and cons about keeping Buff Orpington chickens, Silkies, and Rhode Island Red chickens.

As much as some of us want to, we cannot keep our focus off those types of breeds that are usually kept in the backyards of their respected keepers or that have the capacity to be one of those types of breeds.

This is why today`s article will be about the Australorp chicken breed.

Advantages of keeping Australorp chickens:

1. Egg-laying persistence

Australorp Chicken Picture
via Flickr

Since I got my Black Australorp, I have been constantly amazed at what kind of weather conditions this breed can lay eggs in.

This breed is very persistent in its egg-laying; they can lay eggs for more than 250 days a year if kept properly.

What Colour eggs do Australorps lay? Australorp chickens lay light brown eggs that are typically medium-sized. Occasionally, these eggs may exhibit a faint pinkish tint due to the natural coating produced by hens upon laying. However, their predominant color is light brown.

What age do Australorps stop laying? Australorps typically start to decrease their egg production at around 4 years of age, and some may stop laying altogether as they get older. Their average life expectancy is approximately 8 years. It’s important to note that, like all hens, they will temporarily stop laying during the molting process.

Although this does not mean that you shouldn’t take proper care of them. If you want to know more about how to keep the quality of the eggs your chicken provides high, make sure you check out our previous article on what to feed your chickens to get the best eggs.

2. Size and Looks

Although available bantam, in this article we will focus on the regular-sized Australorp chickens.

What Colours do Australorps come in?

Australorps are recognized in three colors according to the Australian Poultry Standard: black, white, and blue. While black Australorps have been acknowledged for a long time, white Australorps were officially recognized in the second edition of the Australian Poultry Standards in 2011.

These attributes combined with their soft feathers and large size make this breed perfect for any backyard flock.

3. Attitude

Friendly towards humans and animals alike, the Australorps can be very well one of the best multipurpose chickens breed you can get.

As we mentioned above they are very persistent in laying eggs in difficult weather conditions – and that – combined with their friendliness is what makes this breed almost the perfect pet.

The almost in the previous sentence stands because some chicken keepers complain that the Australorps can get too heavy for children to lift and pet.

Disadvantages of keeping Australorp Chickens

Honestly, except for the fact that there can be issues with the color availability of this breed in the US, we at typesofchicken.com couldn’t find any more serious issues about the Australorps that can get into this list.

Some might say that the roosters can be aggressive towards children and problematic with their arrogance we at the typesofchicken.com team agree that these can be attributes of roosters from any breed so this couldn’t be included in the list also.

Keeping Australorp Chickens
via Flickr

If you want fresh eggs daily and a pet friend for your children make sure you get one or more of the Australorp chicken breed for your backyard flock.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article as we enjoyed writing it for you, until next time- the typesofchicken.com team.

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5 thoughts on “Australorps: Why They’re the Ultimate Flock Game-Changer!”

  1. I really enjoy reading the articles. I always learn so much. I grew up around chickens but want to learn so I can take good care of them.

    Reply
  2. In my experience this breed is prone to broodiness. That can be a pro if you want a Hen that will hatch and raise chicks, or a con if you don’t.

    Reply
  3. Is there a certain kind of rooster that needs to be used for these? For instance, does the breed need to be the same? Thanks for the good article.

    Reply
  4. I have two Buff Orpingtons and two black Australorpes and just find the buffs much friendlier and inquisitive as well as as good as or better egg layers. I won’t replace the Australorpes with the same breed or add more. They are beautiful and nice birds but not like my buffs.

    Reply
    • Hey Dave!
      Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s fascinating to see how different breeds can have distinct personalities and characteristics. While many love Australorps for their qualities, it’s understandable that you have a preference for Buff Orpingtons based on your personal experiences. Every chicken keeper has their favorites, and it’s great to hear that your buffs have made such a positive impression on you. Happy chicken keeping!

      Reply

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