Australorp chickens are one of our favorite breeds for the homestead. Learn all about one of the best dual-purpose breeds for any homestead or backyard chicken flock.
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Australorp Chickens
Australorp chickens have a great feed-to-meat and feed-to-egg ratio. They are great foragers, and the roosters are one of the most alert to predators.
Allowing them to forage is a great way to help cut the cost of your chicken feed bill. Also, providing mealworms for them will help as long as it’s the right balanced diet.
We also love the fact that the hens are great mothers. She will hatch out a large number of chicks when you let them sit on a clutch of eggs.
We had a Speckled Sussex die from a snake bite while she was setting a nest at the same time as our Black Australorp was setting. They each had 12 eggs.
We gave the Australorp hen the Sussex hen’s eggs, and she hatched them all. 24 chicks! She was amazing!
They have great personalities, which makes them fun to raise, especially if you have children.
As a heritage breed, they’re hardy and adaptable to most climates. They’re easy to raise in confinement with just a chicken run or yard and excel when free-ranging around the farm.
History of Australorp Chickens
| Class | English |
| Type | Standard |
| Size | Medium (six to eight pounds dressed weight) |
| Rarity | Recovering |
| Purpose | Meat and Eggs (Dual Purpose) |
| Recognized Varieties | Black is the only variety recognized by the ALBC in the U.S. In other countries, Black, Buff, and Golden are recognized as well. |
The name is a combination of Australian Black Orpington. Prior to settling on Australorp, the breed was given many different names.
Due to the great progress of the breed in Australia, they are the national bird of Australia. How cool is that to have a chicken breed as your national bird!
In the early 20th century, the Orpington chicken breed, developed by William Cook, was imported into Australia. The goal was to produce a dual-purpose bird that was compatible with Australia’s climate.
People crossed the Orpington with Rhode Island Reds to improve their ability to generate massive amounts of eggs.
In England, Orpingtons were already bred to create a good meat bird.
The Australians wanted to try and breed a bird that not only has great meat but is also a prolific layer.
The English Orpington was crossed with some notable layers, including the Rhode Island Reds, Minorcas, White Leghorns, Langshans, and Plymouth Rocks.
The result was a wonderful dual-purpose bird for the homestead known to us as the Australorp breed.
In the U.S., only the Black Australorp is recognized by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC). Other countries recognize several other colors, including Buff and Golden.
Australorp Chicken Egg Facts
| Egg Laying | Excellent | |
| Egg Color | Brown | |
| Egg Size | Large |
Farmers regularly organized egg-laying contests in Australia. In the 1920s, Australorp chickens won with a whopping 347 eggs in 365 days!
The Australorp went on to set a record of 364 eggs laid in 365 days. This was done without modern setups, such as timed lighting, to help encourage chickens to lay more eggs during the winter.
The Australorp is a great egg-laying bird. My best hens lay an average of 5 eggs a week throughout the year. If healthy, you can expect these girls to continue laying right through the cold and darker days of winter.
The Australorp chickens’ egg color is brown, and they are large in size once the hen is mature. They will lay a medium-large egg for about the first 6 months of laying.
My line of Black Australorps came from McMurray Hatchery. They have been great setters and only get really broody when their nest gets to around 10 eggs.
They are excellent mothers, being very attentive to their brood and tend not to trample any young chicks. They are excellent teachers while raising them and are extremely protective until the chicks can fend for themselves.
Features of the Black Australorp Chickens
Black Australorps have black feathers with a beautiful iridescent green sheen that flashes in the sunlight.
The Australian Poultry Society recognizes the black, blue, and white Australorp.
The American Poultry Association only recognizes the Australorp in its original color – black.
| Comb Type | Single, roosters have a large comb and wattles | ||
| Crested | No | ||
| Feathered Legs | No | ||
| Number of Toes | 4 on each foot |
Australorp Breed Standards of ALBC
- It should have a very upright stance, carrying the tail high.
- The breast is full and well-rounded with a deep, solid body.
- Wattles, earlobes, and comb should all be red in color.
- The comb should be upright and have no more than seven points.
- The legs should be clean of feathers, black or slate blue in color.
- There are four toes to each foot, and the skin on the bottom of the foot should be white, as is the body’s skin.
- Eyes are shiny jet black, and the beak is dark in color.
Australorp Chickens Characteristics
This is a hardy and healthy heritage breed. The average life expectancy is between 8 and 10 years.
Australorps possess great genetic diversity, which enables them to be the well-rounded, hardy breed that we love.
Roosters do have large combs and wattles, so if you live in an area that gets below freezing, you can coat them with some petroleum jelly to prevent frostbite.
The Australorp rooster is one of the best at protecting the flock, and he can tend to the aggressive side. If your rooster becomes aggressive, you can learn how to break an attacking rooster.
The hens are large, so they will need at least 4 square feet each inside the coop.
It is better to have too much space than not enough, especially if they are confined.
The standard perch area of 8 inches may be too tight for these large birds.
You will need to provide standard-sized nesting boxes that are at least 12×12 inches.
You want your nesting boxes to have room for only one. If there is too much space, they will try to double up in the same box, which will result in damaged eggs and additional stress on the hens. They may try, regardless of the box size.
| Cold Hardiness | Yes |
| Heat Tolerance | Yes |
| Bears Confinement | Yes, but the rooster is protective |
| Especially Docile | Quiet and gentle, but do not like being held |
| Setter/Broody | Yes |
| Personality | Quiet and gentle but do not like being held |
Summary
If you are interested in a dual-purpose bird that lays a large number of eggs year-round, has a great disposition, and has a nice feed-to-meat ratio, this could be the chicken breed you’re looking for.
Hardy, easy to care for, great foragers, and even take confinement better than some breeds. What can you say about this black chicken breed that pulls its own weight on the homestead? It’s one of our top two favorites!
As always, we’re here to help.
When do australorps start laying?
Australorp hens typically start laying eggs between 5 to 6 months of age (around 20 to 24 weeks). This can vary slightly based on: diet, what season it is, and their living environment (stress can delay laying!)
What is the Australorp chicken egg color?
The Australorp chickens’ egg color is brown, and they are large in size once the hen is mature. They will lay a medium-large egg for about the first 6 months of laying.
How long do Australorp chickens live?
Australorp chickens typically live between 6 to 10 years, depending on their living conditions, diet, and overall care. With good nutrition, predator protection, and healthy living conditions, some have been known to live even longer—especially if they’re not kept primarily as production hens.
Where to buy Australorp chickens?
McMurray Hatchery is where we started our flock from and we’ve had good luck ordering from them.
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