Home »Domestic chickens» Cross-breeds and breeds of chickens »Chickens of the Australorp breed
The Australorp is an excellent domestic chicken breed that attracts many breeders and is a great choice for budding poultry breeders. This is a beautiful, unpretentious, hardy and very productive laying hen, which also gives a good meaty carcass.
External signs
Representatives of the Marble Australorp are slightly smaller than the original bird. The black-and-white Australorp has a lush, black plumage with white splashes. The down of the breed is light, the skin is white.
- the crest is erect, leaf-shaped, red;
- earlobes are red;
- the head is small;
- beak is black;
- the body is rounded;
- the back is wide;
- legs are not long, white with pigmentation;
- the tail is small.
Other characteristics:
- Live weight of roosters -2.6 kg, hens-2.2 kg
- Egg production - 220 pieces
- Egg weight - 55 grams.
Productivity
This breed is considered one of the most productive chickens in the world. On average, birds carry 200-300 birds a year.
Many poultry farmers notice a pleasant feature of birds: weather conditions do not affect egg production. The reason for such a high indicator, according to scientists, is the high incubation instinct in females, and the reproductive factor directly depends on the lighting of the housing.
The standard egg weight is 58 grams. The appearance of the egg is no different from the others - it is oval in shape, beige in color. At about six months of age, the female begins to lay eggs. Having reached the 2-year mark, the egg indicators gradually begin to decline. By old age, laying hens of this type of hens have the peculiarity of laying two-yolk eggs. Breeders have gone to great lengths to breed a breed that can reach this weight. The meat is particularly juicy and very common among gourmets.
Features of the breed
The black-and-white australorp is resistant to pullorosis, a bacterial infection in which chickens die and chickens suffer from intestinal disorders.
First of all, the breed is valued as a carrier of the "st" gene - a recessive gene responsible for lightening the color of the coat and improving the presentation of the carcass.
As already mentioned, an important biological feature of a species is the ability to parthenogenesis, that is, the development of eggs into a chick without fertilization by a male.
Black-and-white australorpes are unpretentious to environmental conditions, perfectly adapted to both group and cell content.
Crossing the Black-and-White Australorp with other breeds is not recommended, as the productive qualities will be lower than the parental ones.
Description of the black variety of chickens
Productivity
Black Australorp breed is represented by massive and large farm poultry of meat and egg type. The description of the productivity of these chickens is in egg production and meat-yielding.
Live weight of hens varies from 2.9 to 3.2 kilograms, roosters - from 3.2 to 3.6 kilograms. With enhanced fattening, individual specimens reach 4 kilograms. The birds gain their maximum weight by the eighth month of life.
Sexual maturity of black Australorp hens occurs at 6 months. At this age, the average weight of a rooster reaches 2.9 kilograms, a chicken - 2.6.In this case, the weight of the breast (sirloin - white meat) ranges from 1 to 1.5 kilograms.
The monthly weight of a black australorp is shown in the following table:
Up to 180 brown eggs can be produced from one hen within 356 days. The weight of each does not exceed 62 grams. The first clutch is obtained at 5-6 months.
Appearance
Australorp black has the following description:
- the body is elongated;
- body positioning - horizontal;
- chest - convex;
- the dorsal region is wide;
- the wings fit tightly to the body;
- small head;
- the crest is foliate, divided into five identical teeth;
- the beak is powerful, dark brown;
- the neck is long, with a peculiar mane;
- tail open, long, in relation to the body is located at 45 degrees.
Chickens differ from roosters in smaller body size, small comb and short tail.
Character
Chickens of the Australorp breed have a balanced and calm character. These are phlegmatic, non-conflict birds. Roosters are never the first to fight, and hens do not argue with other inhabitants of the chicken coop or poultry yard.
Australorpes dislike noise and over-activity. They keep themselves apart from noisy and energetic neighbors.
Chickens are considered caring hens.
Advantages and disadvantages
Black australorpes have the following benefits:
- high survival rate of chickens - up to 98%;
- adaptability to various temperature indicators (heat or cold);
- high egg production throughout the year after the start of laying, regardless of climatic conditions;
- large eggs;
- high taste of eggs and meat;
- early maturity of the meat segment;
- quiet and balanced character;
- unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention.
Among the shortcomings, one can single out a lot of competition. This is due to the fact that every year breeders breed more advanced and unpretentious chicken breeds than Australorphe.
It should also be borne in mind that in chickens of the Australorp breed, after the first year of laying, egg production is almost halved. An additional disadvantage can be considered that upon reaching the age of one and a half years, the laying hens begin to give two yolk eggs.
Care and maintenance
Black-and-white Australorp, unpretentious to environmental conditions, they can be kept both for walking and in cages.
When keeping poultry in a chicken coop, it is important to monitor the cleanliness of the litter and equip the chicken coop with ventilation, to protect the chickens from drafts.
Chickens need lighting up to 15 hours a day, with a reduction in daylight hours, it is recommended to extend it artificially.
The temperature in the hen house in winter should not be lower than 0 degrees. In winter, deep bedding is made in the chicken coop. Tanks with ash and sand should always stand, so the bird, bathing in them, gets rid of parasites.
Historical reference
Australorp was bred in Australia (hence its name) in 1890. This breed was bred by William Cook through selection with the participation of White Leghorns, Langshans and English Orpingtons. This genetic combination gave a good early maturity of the new species, excellent weight and egg production.
Until 1922 there was little interest in the breed, australorpes were popular only in the country of origin and the United States. But after the world record for egg production was set by the black australorpe (1857 eggs from 6 layers in just a year), interest in these birds increased sharply.
An important point was that artificial lighting and stimulating compound feed were not used for these six record holders.
The breed was brought to the territory of modern Russia in 1946.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Black-and-White Australorp breed has a strong immunity, is characterized by rapid growth, which is very attractive to both small-scale poultry farmers and large farmers.
- the breed can be kept both outdoors and in cages;
- unpretentious in content;
- has good immunity;
- stress is stable and peaceful;
- year-round egg production;
- good taste.
The black-and-white Australorp breed has no pronounced shortcomings.
Colors of australorp in the standards of different countries
In the parent country of the breed - Australia, only three colors of australorp are recognized: black, white and blue. In South Africa, other colors are adopted: red, wheat, gold and silver. The Soviet Union at one time "decided not to lag behind" and on the basis of a black Australorp and a white Plymouth Rock, bred a new breed - "Black and White Australorp". True, in terms of exterior and productive characteristics, this breed has little in common with the original Australorp. You can even say that they have only a common name.
Breeding
Chickens of this breed are excellent hens and caring mothers, they can easily cope with breeding and subsequent care for the chicks. However, some farmers still prefer to use incubators to raise their chicks. The material is taken from young, healthy chickens with good productivity. The eggs should be regular in shape, medium in size, and free from visible damage. Before placing the eggs in the incubation box, they are wiped with a manganese solution, then for 5-6 days they are stored with the blunt end up in a cool, well-ventilated room. And after that they are laid in an incubator, after 20-21 days, chickens are born.
After hatching, they are carefully examined, already at one day old, the chicks should stand firmly on their feet, be active, eat well, have prominent, clear beady eyes, a small beak, and a soft umbilical cord.
Interesting!
In marbled Australorp, eggs can be fertilized without the participation of a rooster, this phenomenon is called parthenogenesis.
Caring for chicks
The hatched chicks are covered with light and dark shades of fluff. The room where they will be located must be warm and dry. It is also imperative to ventilate it regularly, but drafts are unacceptable. If the chickens are with a quill, they need to equip a separate area in the chicken coop. Chicks hatched in an incubator are placed in a wooden box, which is covered with a net on top. For ten day old chicks, an area of 0.5 m2 is enough; as the young grow, they will need more space. It is better to use paper as bedding, straw for flooring is not suitable, as tiny chicks can get hurt. In addition, some poultry farmers put food on the floor, considering this way of eating more natural.
The optimum temperature for chicks is 30-32 degrees, at room temperature the brood may die. The temperature is reduced gradually, by 2-3 degrees per week, bringing it to 18 degrees by the age of one month. Infrared lamps are perfect for heating. Youngsters need to be accustomed to the regime; for this, fluorescent lamps are attached to the boxes, they are turned on at night. Daylight hours should be at least 14 hours. Already at the age of 3 days, babies are taken out into the street, of course, subject to warm weather. Such a procedure will help strengthen the immune system and will contribute to the proper development of the skeleton.
Young cattle diet
Chicks are fed 6-8 times a day, the main food in the first days is a boiled egg with semolina or corn porridge. Gradually add greens to the diet (green onions, tops from beets or carrots, grass), boiled vegetables, and crushed cereals. From 10 days, root crops, fish and meat and bone meal are introduced.
Useful for young organisms, cottage cheese, as well as other dairy and fermented milk products. From day 5, compound feed is introduced, eggs are gradually excluded.As a vitamin supplement, you can use fish oil, at the rate of 1 gram per day per individual. The water in the drinking bowl should be warm and clean, at first it is changed every 2-3 hours, after that less often.
Keeping chickens
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No special conditions are required for Australorp. Chickens need a spacious, warm home with good air circulation. There must be a window, light and air will flow through it. Also, several feeders and drinkers are installed in the poultry house, taking into account the number of individuals, a bath filled with ash and sand, as well as nests and perches. It is better to use a timber as perches, they are placed at a height of 30-40 cm. The nests are located in secluded places.
Laying on the floor, experienced poultry farmers recommend to lay the first layer of peat, it absorbs an unpleasant odor and retains heat. You can put straw, hay or sawdust on top. In regions with cold climates in winter, it is recommended to use heaters.
The yard for walking should be spacious, it is fenced with a net on all sides. Feeders and drinkers for chickens are placed around the perimeter. It is advisable to sow the plot with greens, so the chickens will be provided with greens for the entire summer period.
Adult diet
Although chickens are unpretentious in food, they still need a balanced diet for maximum productivity. The birds are fed 3 times a day, for their growth they need cereals (barley, millet), vitamins, which are found in greens, vegetables, root crops.
Important!
With a deficiency of nutrients, birds lay soft eggs, the shells on them are absent or very thin.
Also, one should not forget about such additives as: chalk, fine gravel, sand, shells. For full development, chickens need dairy and sour milk products, fish and meat and bone meal. Boiled fish such as capelin can be given to birds. The birds will not give up on compound feed, it already has a balanced composition.
Testimonials
Anna
I liked the australorpes, they brought the eggs from afar, I was very worried that they would not be delivered, but as it turned out in vain. The hatchability of chicks in the incubator is excellent, the chicks are distinguished by high vitality. The only thing is that it is better to feed the birds with compound feed, and once a day give mash with food additives. I want to note that feeding significantly affects egg production.
Vladimir
The birds are very calm, you cannot get through them either with noise or hum, but for me at the moment this is very important, since the house is undergoing major repairs. Content from other chickens does not differ in any way, but the diet must be nutritious and balanced, otherwise the eggs become smaller and become fragile.
