Australorp chicken
The Australorp is a black Australian development of the Orpington, famous for record-breaking laying.
The Australorp is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Soft Feather Heavy class. Its origin is given as Australia (from British Orpingtons). It appears on the RBST Watchlist as a priority breed, so keepers of pure stock help conserve it.
It is kept in large and bantam forms. Recognised colours: Black, Blue, White. Typical adult weights: cock about 3.85–4.55 kg, hen about 2.95–3.6 kg, bantam cock about 1.02 kg max and bantam hen about 2.95–3.6 kg.
Expect roughly 200–250 eggs a year, with light brown/tinted shells. It is mainly kept as a dual-purpose bird, for eggs and for the table.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, rbst.org.uk, poultrykeeper.com, en.wikipedia.org. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Soft Feather Heavy
- Origin
- Australia (from British Orpingtons)
- Kept for
- Dual purpose, Eggs, Table
History
Developed in Australia in the early 1900s from British Black Orpingtons selected for laying; its name combines 'Australian' and 'Orpington'. A hen set a world record of 364 eggs in 365 days in the 1920s.
Appearance
Medium-heavy, black with a green sheen, single comb, dark legs; blue and white also standardised.
Recognised colours
Black, Blue, White
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large, Bantam
- Cock
- 3.85–4.55 kg
- Hen
- 2.95–3.6 kg
- Bantam cock
- 1.02 kg max
- Bantam hen
- 2.95–3.6 kg
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 200–250
- Egg colour
- Light brown/tinted
- Notes
- Lays around 200–250 tinted or brown eggs a year.
Temperament
- In short
- Docile, friendly
- Keeping notes
- Docile and friendly; good around children.
Hardiness
Hardy
Broodiness
Will go broody
Flying
Poor flyer
Suitability
- Beginners
- Suitable for beginners
- Children
- Good with children
- Good to know
- Bantam size available.
Conservation status (RBST)
A priority breed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist.
Breed club
- Australorp Club Great Britain, breed-specific
Sources
This page is compiled from:
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