For years , my family and I raised chicken on our farm — a lot of them .
In addition to the transferable pens of Cornish Cross and Freedom Ranger birds we press across our land every summertime , we hold a panoptic variety of put biddy . Though we did n’t embark into some of the fancier breed ( ballock output was always of primary importance to our farm - line model ) , our hired hand - built henhouse housed a wide swath of poulet character .
Our flock was composed of Barred Rocks , Easter Eggers , Rhode Island Reds , Comets , Leghorns , Jersey Giants and more . Our favorite , though , was a runaway success for the top smirch .
In recent years , my folk of five has check a few changes . My parents took over daily stewardship of the ground while we moved closer to the city for employment and school . They keep chickens but have n’t order chick in a few year , and the farm ’s chicken universe has dwindled .
But you could keep crybaby in a lot of urban areas , and this class we made the jump to bring in a backyard spate to give rise eggs for ourselves and our neighbors . And when it hail time to place our chick society , we knew precisely what we desire .
Because our favorite wimp has always been the Black Australorp .
Rodney Wilson
think about raising some urban chickens ? learn up on it here .
Black Australorp Origin Story
So , what is a Black Australorp ?
The strain was first develop in Australia , where it ’s considered the honorary national bird , around the turn of events of the 20th century . Black Orpingtons were imported to the state from England , where the large shuttlecock was mostly regarded for its center .
But Aussie breeders take a fancy to the Orps ’ gravid , brown eggs . They started breeding the chickens for testis production over its board - fowl qualities . They added Rhode Island Red , Minorca , White Leghorn and Langshan into the mix , producing a large - sized laying biddy with stellar egg yield .
Rodney Wilson
The breeders knew they had something special on their men , but when the bird started learn home plate awards in laying competition and setting world records — an Australorp holds the world book for egg production , lay 364 eggs in 365 day — the sleep of the earth took bill .
In the early 1920s , importers brought Australorp volaille to Britain , reversing the trip their Orpington ancestor made decades earlier . They were also imported to America and went by a fistful of name calling , include the uber - descriptive “ Australian Utility Black Orpingtons . ”
finally , everyone make up one’s mind on Australorp , a contraction of “ Australian Orpington . ”
As a inheritance breed , the chicken was once consideredendangered . But surging popularity in late years has largely recovered the stock . Rodney Wilson
About the Black Australorp
So , why do people like myself enjoy the breed so much ?
Well , for starters , Black Australorps turn faster than many other breeds . So while their chick stagecoach is sure as shooting cunning , they do n’t take as much time in the incubator . ( Ours went out at five weeks on the nozzle , though the weather was on our side . )
They also pop lay sooner . Many breeds will start up producing eggs around 6 months of old age , but a Black Australorp can bulge as former as 16 calendar week .
experience chicken - steward give these tips for folks just starting out .
As a large - corporate bird , an adult Black Australorp hen will weigh around 6.5 pounds . ( Roosters can weigh up to 2 pound more . ) Their orchis - laying abilities may be their title to celebrity , but the Orpington in them make a viable heritage stock meat fowl , too .
Despite their large size , though , they make excellent backyard bird , even in urban and suburban areas . They brook labour ( though , like all chickens , they enjoy running around the yard ) , which is a plus for our house . A healthy hawk population in our neighbourhood necessitates a covered discharge .
But , after those ballock ( do n’t expect 364 large chocolate-brown bollock , though , as 250 a year is the official average ) , the Black Australorp ’s most - loved feature is its temperament . Quiet birds with a disposition often name as “ timid , ” a Black Australorp flock is less likely to disturb the neighbour with musing conniption .
An slowly - going bird with a friendly personality and no major health vexation , Black Australorps make great pet poulet . My kids drop hours with our snort , feed them treats and on occasion pulling one onto their laps for cuddles .
And , of course , there ’s nothing like keep an eye on a Black Australorp swagger across the chiliad in a stately posture , sun bring out the dark-green iridescence obliterate in those inglorious plumage .
Whether you ’re just starting out with chickens or look to add some easy - going birds to your flock , you ca n’t go ill-timed with Black Australorps .
