Australorp chickens are in great demand among many poultry farmers. Undemanding care, high productivity and unusual appearance enable breeders to achieve considerable profitability indicators.
Breed history
Homeland - Australia, 1890. The chief breeder is William Cook. The ancestors are the white Leggors, the English Orpingtons and Langshanans. Thanks to the crossbreeding of strong breeds, Australorp boasts high egg production, considerable weight and rapid puberty.
The bred black Australorp was very popular among poultry farmers in the homeland and in America, in other states the interest was much less. The situation changed dramatically in 1922 - the year the world record for egg production was set. 6 laying hens of Australorp breed in 1 year laid 1857 pieces, respectively 1 laying hen - about 309 eggs. Some poultry farmers believe that this indicator was installed without additional lighting devices and special feeds.
Birds of this breed were brought to the territory of the Russian Federation in 1946.
Description of Australorp chickens
The standard is very strict, any even minor violation in appearance classifies individuals as not purebred. Layers are not very large, however, they are well built and are considered excellent hens.
Characteristic signs of a rooster:
- small head;
- straight comb with straight teeth;
- massive chest
- non-convex belly;
- large wings;
- legs of black color, short;
- wide tail;
- black eyes;
- the skin is white.
Based on the characteristic features of birds, the pedigree of young animals can be determined. When the chicks are born on the stomach and wings of chickens, gray spots. This is one of the main indicators of purebred, but not the only one. Birds show their external characteristics over time. Babies should have a white fluff, metatarsos of a light color and an iris of the eyes. Over time, all light shades turn black.
The nature of the Astralorp
Representatives of this breed are peaceful, friendly and quiet. They do not participate in fights, avoid showdowns. Layers Australorp will not "talk" just like that, for no reason. They do not fly anywhere, behave appropriately and do not bully.
The males are calm and phlegmatic, they maintain order, can find contact with each other. When breeding birds of this breed in their own area, the hens will not bring harm, they will obey the breeder and observe silence.
Instinct of incubation
Experienced breeders claim that Australorp hens are the best moms of all other chicken species. For this, nature has awarded birds high egg production. Almost every female in 1 season twice becomes a mother and hatch about 15 chickens.
The hatchability of offspring is more than 95%, but if the percentage drops significantly, then the reason most often lies in the rooster. The “father” of the young should be a male no older than 5 years old, not very large and heavy.
Hatchability is also influenced by indicators of heat and cold. Breeders are confident that birds in the nests need additional heating, due to this survival will be higher, but the offspring will not be the healthiest.
Kinds
At first, breeders worked on the creation of the Australorp breed of black color. Then the scientists decided to increase the number of shades of chickens and other Australorp colors appeared.
The black
The most popular in the world, they prefer to start it, because among all varieties of Australorp black hens are the largest. In addition to excellent productive indicators, chickens are also chosen because of their strong immunity. Subject to all preventive measures, individuals do not get sick at all. For 1 year, a laying hen can bring about 250 eggs, in 6 months the weight of an individual is about 3 kg. Adult males reach 4 kg.
Marble
Breeders love this breed of Australorp breed, but the reason lies not in excellent productive indicators, but in the unusual colors of feathers. Marble hens are distinguished by the presence of light spots on black feathers. The weight of one layer is approximately 2.5 kg. A marble bird cannot boast of strong immunity, and egg laying is much worse than black birds.
At first, the eggs of marble hens were very small, their weight was about 30 g, but the breeders did not stop at work to increase them, and today the weight of the egg is 55 g.
Other colors
At home, poultry farmers recognize only 3 main colors: black, blue and white. In South Africa, the main varieties are considered such colors: wheat, gold, silver and red. On the territory of Russia, they created another coloring - black and white. Although by productive characteristics, this breed has little in common with purebred Australorps.
Productivity
Thoroughbred Australorps are representatives of meat and egg birds. Like other breeds, this one also has its own smaller double - dwarf Australorp. In appearance, they are completely identical; they differ only in the productivity and size of the eggs obtained.
Egg production
The main feature of the Australorp hens is that no external factor (lighting, bad weather, etc.) reduces the productivity of the hens. Some poultry farmers claim that with quality care you can get more than 300 eggs from 1 laying hen per year. But all the same, real facts prove that the hen brings about 200-240 pieces.
The eggshell is light brown, the mass of one reaches about 60 g. Laying hens are characterized by rapid puberty - at 4 months the birds already bring eggs. The level of egg production decreases after 2 years. For this reason, poultry farmers recommend regularly updating the stock.
The survival rate of young animals is more than 95%, in the future about 10% of chickens die of them.
Meat Australorp
The breed was created in particular in order to get laying hens, which at the age of 6 months will already gain their greatest weight. The male sometimes reaches 4.5 kg, but often - 4 kg, the hens are 1 kg less. With full and proper nutrition of birds, meat is tender and juicy.
Poultry farmers claim that due to molting, black pads remain on the feathered skin, so it’s better to hammer the hen right after this phenomenon.
Features of care and maintenance
Even a beginner poultry breeder can cope with such a breed. The birds do not need special care, nor do they require huge expenses. Ideal for growing chickens on an industrial scale. Feathered are not demanding, friendly and quiet. Australorps always coexist in the places provided to them. But still simple recommendations have to adhere.
Chicken coop
There is no need to specifically build a house for Australorp; they can live anywhere. The main requirement is a warm house, therefore, if necessary, the walls are insulated. In winter, the temperature in the room should not fall below +12 degrees Celsius.
Of course, even if the temperature is lower, the birds will not die, but productivity will decrease significantly. If there is no opportunity to warm the room, then install infrared lamps in it.
Inside the house, nests, perches, containers for food and water must be installed. It’s better to have it all made of wood. As for its size, then 1 square. m place 4 layers. If there will be more birds, then the birds will become uncomfortable, respectively, this will affect productivity.
The floor is covered with straw, peat or hay. You can also use dried grass, the main thing is that the coating is warm. In winter, it is better to use peat with shredded chips - such a mixture is considered an excellent insulation.
In the video, the breeder shows how he contains Australorp chickens:
Walking place
Walking in the fresh air is the key to good bird health. Representatives of Australorp are not particularly active and curious, but they can get out of the walking yard, so it should be fenced with a grid from all sides. A canopy is installed on top, which protects the birds from heavy rain, burning sunlight and birds of prey.
The size of the courtyard is calculated in such a way that the birds feel comfortable and are not constrained in their movements.
It is better to set up a walking yard on open ground so that birds can find grass and pinch it. In advance, plants should be sown on the ground: clover, lawn, barley or knotweed.
Birds need a bath area. For cleaning, birds can mix wood ash, sand and granotsev. Bathing in a similar mixture, individuals clean their feathers from insects and pests.
The plumage of birds is dense, so they normally respond to frost and snow. In winter, laying hens love to go out into the fresh air, so for a couple of hours they can be released from the chicken coop. Naturally, this does not apply to days when the temperature is very low.
If possible, it is better to install a chicken coop and a walking patio on a small hill, otherwise it will be constantly flooded by rainwater.
If you need advice on how to build a chicken coop with your own hands, then this article is here.
Nutrition
The Australorp chicken breed needs a small amount of food. However, it cannot be said that this is an obvious advantage, since if the birds lack a sufficient amount of nutrients, then the eggshell will be absent. Without proper nutrition, egg production will decrease significantly. The diet of birds should be treated responsibly.
Key recommendations for feeding chickens:
- Main dishes: grains, dairy products, meat and bone and bone meal, bran, boiled vegetables. They can be given separately from each other, can be combined.
- Add yeast to food, they will help increase egg production.
- Use shells, shells, chalk, etc. as top dressing. They help to improve the digestive tract.
- In the summer, the main course is fresh herbs and vegetables. In winter - add dried grass to the diet.
Breed breeding
You can lay eggs under a hen or use a special incubator. In both cases, healthy and strong chickens are born.
Incubation
You can’t put any eggs in the incubator, they must be selected and the most reliable ones selected. For example, specimens with cracks, dents, spots are not suitable. From them there will appear not so healthy and not calm baby bird. Selected eggs should be processed. You can use a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Experienced poultry farmers recommend checking the temperature in the incubator. Too high - chicks will be born early and will be small. It is also important to observe the humidity (60-63%). Be sure to warm them up before sending eggs to the device. Thanks to this procedure, offspring will appear simultaneously.
You can not manipulate various indicators in an incubator, chicks should be born healthy without additional intervention.
Incubation steps
Incubation of young animals consists of 4 periods:
- Active ripening - the first 7 days.
- The need for dry air is 8-11 days.
- The first squeak of the chick is from 12 noon. In young animals, metabolic processes start in the body.
- Birth of chickens - until 22 days all chicks must be born.
We recommend that you additionally read an article about the features of incubation of chicken eggs at home.
Chick Care
The first 10 days, the chicks need special attention. You should think about the place of their residence, feeding and care. The chicken coop for young animals should be light and ventilated. It is necessary to establish a small area for walking young animals with a brood hen.
For 1 square. m - 20 chickens.
The first few days you need to keep the kids in a box of wood, a grate is installed on top, and paper on the bottom. You can also pour millet, young animals will be happy to delve into it, playing.
The first 60-90 days, babies need warmth, so you can not do without special heaters. In the first days after birth, chickens live at a temperature of +32 degrees Celsius, and every 7 days thereafter, the indicator is reduced by 2 degrees. Babies aged 1 month feel good at +19 degrees Celsius.
Turn on the lamps at night, and in the daytime - take out the box with the chicks to the street.
Baby food
Representatives of the breed of chickens Australorp daily become stronger and stronger, grow very quickly. If the food menu is correctly selected, then by the 45th day they will weigh about 1.5 kg. The first 10 days of young growth are fed with boiled egg, grain and herbs. These ingredients are mixed and given to chickens. Then the eggs are excluded from the menu, as they have too much protein.
At the stages of growing up, the main dish of young animals is cereals. They mix fish oil. Daily clean clean water is poured into the drinker.
Advantages and disadvantages
Representatives of the breed Australorp, like other birds, have both pros and cons.
Advantages of the breed:
- undemanding care;
- strong immunity;
- the ability to adapt to any conditions;
- high egg production;
- tender and tasty meat;
- calm disposition.
Many poultry farmers holding chickens are sure that they have no shortcomings, but some sources indicate the opposite.
The disadvantages of the breed:
- young animals born by crossing Australorp with other breeds are not very productive;
- after molting, individuals need to be killed;
- breeders breed better than Australorp, not only in appearance, but also in productive characteristics.
Shedding and susceptibility to disease
Australorp chickens are one of the few breeds on which molt affects extremely negatively, although it is not considered to be some unnatural phenomenon. Birds bring eggs during molting, and their productivity does not change. However, the remains of feathers after molting significantly spoil the appearance of a laying hen. After this phenomenon, the birds are slaughtered for meat.
As for illnesses, birds calmly respond to any sources of illnesses; they are considered ideal among birds in the persistence of their immunity.
Reviews
Olga, 44 years old, entrepreneur, Yekaterinburg.I acquired 40 eggs at the poultry farm, of which 5 roosters and 35 laying hens hatched, I did not expect such survival. Hens rush now even at a temperature of -30 degrees and below. In winter, the chicken coop does not additionally heat.
The birds started to hike at 6 months, some later, some earlier. About 20-25 eggs are brought per day. He is peaceful and good-natured. This is the only breed of chickens to which I can raise chickens at the age of 3-4 weeks, they do not offend them, but rather take care of the babies.
Dmitry, 29 years old, seller, Nizhny Novgorod.Layers can boast excellent rates of egg production, for a year I collect about 250 from one, and more often happened. I observe the following system for my individuals: 2 days rush, 1 day rest. I like the fact that they have strong immunity and can be carried in a cold house.
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The Australorp chicken breed helps many poultry farmers make good profits from the sale of eggs and poultry meat. Chickens do not need too scrupulous care, can rush at sub-zero temperatures and calmly behave with all other birds in the yard.