Australorp chicken breed: description and characteristics, varieties, maintenance and care

Australorp is a breed of chickens that is of great interest to poultry farmers. Valued for egg production and tasty meat. The breed achieves high rates of profitability due to the excellent combination of productivity and unpretentious care.

The history of the breed

Australorp was bred by Australian breeders. Back in 1890, experts set a goal to get a breed of chickens that would not only lay well, but also have incredible taste of meat. Crossbreeding took place between several types of chickens.

The result was not long in coming, and the work of breeders has borne fruit.Australorp laying hens produced more than 300 eggs per year. The indicator is impressive, since no combined feed was used for this, and daylight hours remained unchanged. Despite the geographical location of the country, the chicken breed has become popular all over the world.

Description and characteristics of Australorp chickens

As well as other breeds, it has distinctive features by which you can recognize the Australorp.

Appearance and subviews

Roosters and hens are characterized by having a strong body. The chest and abdomen are wide, which indicates a good meat productivity of the bird. The wings are covered with broad feathers and fit snugly to the body.

Legs set wide apart, painted dark gray or black. In the magnificent tail, there are a large number of sickle-shaped feathers. Hens are distinguished from roosters by gender and smaller size.

Blue Australorps have a dark border on the legs and chest. Their eggs tend to be smaller.

Black

Chickens with this color were bred first, therefore they are considered the main type. The plumage of black-and-white birds gives off a green sheen. This subspecies of the breed is the largest, as it gains the most weight.

Marble

It has one distinctive feature, thanks to which it is not confused with other subspecies - the color of the feathers. The combination of colors gives an incredible marble effect. At first, the marble Australorp could not boast of good sexual maturity and egg size. After the work of domestic breeders, these indicators have changed for the better.

Productivity

The breed of chickens is considered meat and egg.

Egg production

Depending on the type, the indicator is somewhat different. The average number per year, which gives one laying hen, reaches 150 pieces. The largest record that has been officially registered is 309 eggs. One Australorp egg weighs an average of 59 g.

Meat

The weight of roosters and hens differs due to size. Females weigh from 2.5 to 3 kg. Roosters reach 3.5-4 kg.

Breed temperament

Australorps have a calm and balanced character. They are non-conflicting and calmly get along with other birds in the bird yard. When contained, they are obedient.

Pros and cons of a bird

List of benefits:

• calm temperament;
• high egg production and palatability;
• pickiness of maintenance and nutrition;
• quick adaptation to the conditions of detention;
• sock eggs throughout the year.

Among the shortcomings, no serious points stand out. Poultry farmers note only one feature - the poor productivity of offspring obtained by mixing Australorp with other breeds.A mix does not always get the same performance characteristics as its parents.

Nuances of content

Australorp care is based on the basic rules for keeping birds.

What should be the chicken coop

The birds were bred on the hot continent, but despite this, they adapted to the cold season in the country. If the temperature in the chicken coop does not drop below +12 degrees, the birds continue to rush.

In the chicken coop where the Australorps overwinter, the walls must be insulated. A thick underlayment is required on the floor. The need for additional heating arises if it is very cold outside.

In a darkened place, a nesting box is placed. It must be protected from drafts. A ball of straw or hay spreads to the bottom. One nesting box holds 4 hens.

Walking area

Dense plumage allows Australorps to take walks in the fresh air even in winter. In strong winds or rainy weather, birds are happy to sit in the chicken coop.

The walking area is surrounded by a 1.5 m high net. This is enough, since chickens do not fly higher. The walking yard is planted with grass in the spring so that the birds can peck at it in the summer.

Feeder and drinker

Since Australorps spend all their time outdoors in the warm season, water and food containers are installed in the yard. As a rule, these are wide bowls so that each bird can approach without interfering with the other. In winter, additional feeders are installed inside the chicken coop. Chickens should have fresh water.

Diet

Rules for Australorps:

1. The main food for birds is grain. Birds are also given vegetables, herbs, dairy products, fish waste and bone meal.
2. A small amount of yeast has a positive effect on egg production.
3. Gravel in feed improves digestion.
4. Australorps use ground eggshells, chalk and shells as minerals.
5. In winter, grass meal, bagasse and silage are included in the diet.
6. In the summer, chickens find themselves different insects that they eat with pleasure.

Proper diet is the key to the he alth of chickens. The quality of the food affects the egg production and palatability of the meat.

Features of breeding

Chickens are he althy and at home. But a large percentage of poultry farmers prefer the hatchery method.

Incubation

Before laying the incubator, the eggs undergo a rigorous inspection. Suitable specimens are disinfected by wiping with a cotton pad dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate.Eggs intended for the incubator are heated for 6 hours. This technique will allow the chicks to be born at the same time

The permissible percentage of humidity inside the incubator is 60-63%. Therefore, the humidity level is strictly controlled. To do this, a special device is installed inside the incubator.

Incubation steps

There are 4 main stages:

1. In the first 7 days, the active maturation of the embryo occurs.
2. From the 8th to the 11th day, it is important to maintain humidity in the incubator. Eggs need dry air.
3. From the 12th day, gas exchange appears in future chicks and metabolic processes begin to work.
4. The last final stage is characterized by the hatching of chicks from the shell.

The incubation process usually takes 22 days.

Chick care

Birds that have just hatched need attention and care. Even before they are born, a person arranges a place for them in advance. It should be in a room with dry air, be warm and without drafts. Mandatory presence of an area for the corral of brood hens and birds.

In the first 3-5 days, the chicks are placed in a box, the bottom of which is covered with thick paper. A mesh is installed on top to protect them from external irritants. The feeder and water are transferred to the box.

Australorp chickens die at the slightest change in temperature. Therefore, in the first 8-12 weeks of life, they need warmth.

In the first week, the temperature in the box should be within 30 degrees. Gradually the level drops to 26 degrees.

It is recommended to reduce the temperature by 3 degrees every week. Chickens at the age of 1 month will feel great at 19 degrees. At night, Australorpam turn on infrared lamps. During the day, the box or box is taken out into the sun.

The latter is recommended when the chicks are at least 3 days old.

Nutrition for chicks

Diet plan used by most poultry farmers:

1. For the first 10-12 days, Australorp chicks are fed boiled eggs mixed with cereals and chopped herbs. The ingredients are mixed and given to the chicks.
2. After this, the eggs are completely removed from the diet. Instead, they give compound feed with a high protein content.
3. With the growth of chickens, grain is mixed into the food, which is the main food element. Fish oil is added to it. It will take 1 g per day for 1 bird
4. The water in the drinkers is changed every day.

If 2 months after hatching, the chicks weigh about 1.5 kg, then the diet is correct.

Possible diseases and their treatment

Australorp is one of the few chicken breeds that has a strong immunity to diseases. The occurrence of diseases is due to violation of the conditions of containment.

In order for the chicks to grow strong and not get sick, it is recommended to adhere to the following preventive measures:

1. Vaccination against common diseases in progress.
2. Installation in the walking yard "baths" for bathing. Small depressions in the ground should be covered with a mixture of sand and ash. This is a good pest control.
3. Regular cleaning of the chicken coop from dirty bedding. If the house is not cleaned, parasites will breed on the dirty floor.
4. Indicators such as the humidity in the house and the temperature should be within normal limits. A properly selected diet plays a big role.

Following the rules of prevention will save you from problems in keeping birds.

Where to buy and approximate cost

You can buy Australorp eggs at farms. Also, eggs are sold from poultry farmers who breed different breeds. The cost of an egg for incubation depends on the type of Australorp. The cost for 1 piece ranges from 20-50 rubles.

Recommended