Raising Australorps: The Record-Setting Layer
A guide to Australorps - an Australian breed developed for laying, a glossy black, hardy, calm hen ranking among the most prolific brown-egg layers in the world while staying easy to keep.
Australorps were bred in Australia for one thing above all - laying - and they excel at it, holding historic egg-production records and remaining among the most prolific brown-egg layers you can keep. Beyond the numbers, they are glossy black beauties with a green sheen, calm, hardy and beginner-friendly. For maximum eggs from an easy, good-natured hen, they are hard to beat.
At a glance
| Trait | Details |
|---|---|
| Use | Eggs, meat |
| Eggs | Tinted to light brown, medium to large |
| Weight | Roosters 8.5 lb (3.9 kg), hens 6.5 lb (2.9 kg) |
| Temperament | Active, yet gentle |
| Laying record | A hen laid 364 eggs in 365 days |
Figures from The Livestock Conservancy.
Is it right for you?
Australorps suit anyone who wants maximum eggs from a calm, hardy, easy hen. They are as productive as the best layers while being far more docile than high-strung production hybrids.
Space & Housing
A standard coop and run suits them; they forage well and tolerate confinement. Give a few square feet of coop and several of run per bird, and predator-proof it.
Feeding & Daily Care
Feed a quality layer ration plus scraps and forage, with grit and constant water; heavy layers need good nutrition. Daily care is food, water and egg collection.
Getting Started
Start with a few pullets, provide a secure coop, and expect a heavy flow of eggs by around five to six months.
Health & Common Problems
Hardy and cold-tolerant; heavy laying draws on their reserves, so good nutrition and calcium matter. Watch for the usual mites, worms and standard ailments.
What You Get
A heavy, dependable supply of large brown eggs - among the most of any breed - from a calm, handleable hen.
Costs & Effort
Low relative to their output - excellent feed-to-egg efficiency and a docile nature make them one of the most rewarding layers.
Mistakes in the First Year
Skimping on nutrition and calcium for such heavy layers, and weak predator-proofing, are the usual mistakes.
FAQ
How big is an Australorp rooster, and how well do the hens lay? Roosters weigh about 8.5 lb (3.9 kg) and hens 6.5 lb (2.9 kg). The laying records are real: in 1922-23 a pen of six hens at Geelong, Victoria laid 1,857 eggs in 365 days, an average of 309.5 each, and one hen later laid 364 eggs in 365 days (The Livestock Conservancy).
Best layer? Among the very best brown-egg layers, with historic records to prove it.
Calm? Yes - docile and beginner-friendly, unlike some high-output hybrids.
Kit for keeping poultry
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