Australorp chickens are nice (2)

Australorp Chickens: Care and Egg-Laying Abilities

Are Australop Chickens Good Egg Layers?

Astralorp Chickens are increasingly popular due to their superior genetic traits. They are well suited for breeding both meat and egg production. Australorp chickens can an average of 250-300 medium light brown colored eggs annually and are one of only a few chicken breeds that can lay many eggs annually.

Their reputation as top performers was cemented in a famous egg-laying contest at an Australian college in 1902. They managed to lay an astonishing record of up to 364 eggs within one year without any artificial lighting support!
Due to some changes in the breed, not all Australorps continue to lay record eggs, but they still average up to 300 eggs a year.

History of the Autralorp Chicken

Australorps make good mothers with average broodiness. Cocks can weigh up to 3.85-4.5 kg (8-10 lbs) and hens up to almost 2 kg (6-8 lbs). Even though they are a larger bird, they take confinement well.

Australorps hail from Australia. They were originally called the Australian Black Orpington. They are a cross between Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds. They also had crosses of Minorca, Lanshan, and White Leghorn.

Even though the parent birds have much of the same lineage as the Orpingtons, the breed doesn’t resemble Orpingtons. For many years, the breed was called numerous names. These names included Australian Laying Orpingtons, Australian Utility Orpingtons, and Australs.

Australorp chickens are usually black with fluorescent blue-green feathers DLX2 PS

Features of Australorp Chickens

Australorp Chickens are usually black with fluorescent blue-green feathers, but they can be white or blue also. But, only black Australorps are recognized by the Australian Poultry Society.

A true Australorp doesn’t have speckled or splashed coloring. Their comb has five distinct points. They stand upright.  

Australorps were admitted into the American Poultry Association in 1929 in the black variety. They live 6-10 years naturally. They are considered a heritage breed.

Australorps were a declining breed, but have recently started to make a comeback. They are listed as recovering by the Livestock Conservancy.

Australorp chickens were originally called the Australian Black Orpington DLX2 PS

Caring For Your Australorp Chickens

Australorps are good foragers and easy to care for. This makes them a great bird for beginners. They are not noisy, which makes them a good bird for neighbors. They also don’t fly much, which makes them good for backyards.

But, they can be prone to obesity so free-ranging Australorps allows them to be more active and helps hens to fight weight gain. They are shy, gentle, and calm. Even the roosters are mellow. That means that they can be bullied by more aggressive chickens.

Australorps do well in cold climates because of their larger size. They are also very heat hardy and have no special health considerations or needs. They live for 6-10 years.

ClimatePersonalityUseSizeEggs/ YrBrooderForages
Hot & ColdShy, CalmEggs &MeatM: 8.5 lbsF: 6. lbs250-300AverageYes
  • Dual Purpose 300+ eggs 10 lbs
  • Shy & Calm
  • Cold & Heat Hardy

My Favorite Chicken and Duck Supplies

This list contains affiliate products. Affiliate products do not cost more but helps to support BestFarmAnimals and our goal to provide farm animal owners with accurate and helpful information.

Manna Pro Oyster Shell keeps eggs strong. Before I gave my chickens oyster shell, I had the oddest eggs, many with weak and irregular shells. Now, I don’t have an issue.

Layer Feed by Manna Pro. I like pellets rather than crumbles as my chickens eat them better and less gets wasted or scavenged by rodents. A good layer feed makes the difference in hens laying many more eggs.

My chickens love this mealworm treat, which gives added protein, something that’s great during molting and winter months.

There are many ways to feed and water your chickens. I like this food and water setup the best because it reduces waste, saves me time feeding and watering, and keeps the food fresh longer. Except, in the winter, I use a heated waterer. The only problem is the heated waterers need to be replaced every few years.

I love this chicken veggie hanger. It makes it easy to give your chickens produce from the garden and keep them occupied in the winter with a fresh head of lettuce.

These chicken toys are a hoot! They will help curb bullying and keep your chickens active, especially in the winter when hens tend to get more lethargic.

Scroll to Top