Why You Need An Australorp In Your Backyard

There are certain breeds that we keep coming back to, and the Australorp is definitely one of them.

Here at The Poodle and The Hen, we’ve kept and bred a lot of different poultry over the years, and the Australorp is one of those breeds where we understand why it has become such an Australian favourite. They’re productive without being difficult birds, they’re generally calm and friendly, and they’re a really useful combination of a good layer, a substantial bird and a beautiful backyard chicken.

We also appreciate how versatile they are. We breed both backyard and exhibition Australorps here on the farm, and while the breeding goals can be slightly different depending on what we’re selecting for, the qualities that make the Australorp such a great breed are the same across the board.

If you’re putting together a backyard flock, there are plenty of reasons we’d suggest taking a serious look at the Australorp.

Excellent layers

One of the first reasons people choose chickens is, of course, the eggs, and this is where the Australorp really earns its reputation.

Australorp hens are excellent layers and can produce around 250–300 light brown eggs per year. Their eggs are a good size too, averaging approximately 60–65 grams, so you’re getting a useful-sized egg from a bird that can provide a reliable supply for the family.

They’re particularly appealing for backyard keepers who want chickens that are both enjoyable to have around and genuinely productive.

There is something very satisfying about collecting eggs from your own backyard, and an Australorp can make a very good contribution to the egg basket.

One thing worth knowing: Australorps can go broody from time to time. It's not their defining trait the way it is for some breeds, but a hen will occasionally decide to sit on a clutch given the chance. If you're after steady year-round numbers it's worth keeping an eye on, though a broody hen can also be a handy, natural way to hatch a few chicks if that's something you'd like to try.

Calm and family friendly

Another reason we like Australorps for backyard flocks is their temperament.

They’re generally calm, friendly and easy-going birds that tend to settle well into their surroundings. While every chicken has its own personality, Australorps have a reputation for being relatively gentle, which makes them a lovely choice for families.

They’re a breed that can be introduced to children as part of learning about caring for animals and collecting eggs, provided young children are always supervised and chickens are handled appropriately.

They’re also a good option if you already have chickens and want to introduce another breed into your flock. As with any new birds, introductions need to be managed properly, but the Australorp’s generally calm nature can make them a good addition to a mixed backyard flock.

Hardy birds

For us, this is an especially important quality in a backyard chicken. We’re based on the outskirts of the Southern Highlands in NSW, where our birds experience a fairly significant range of weather conditions throughout the year. Our summers can bring some very hot days, while winter can be genuinely cold, with much cooler temperatures than many parts of Australia experience. We’ve found Australorps to be very capable of handling both ends of that spectrum.

Like any chicken, they still need appropriate management. Good ventilation, shade and access to plenty of fresh water are particularly important during hot weather, while adequate shelter and protection from the elements are essential through winter.

But having birds that are generally hardy and adaptable makes life considerably easier for a backyard keeper.

Australian breeders developed the Australorp as a practical breed for real conditions, and that adaptability is one of the qualities we really value about them.

Beautiful large fowl

If you’ve never kept an Australorp before, their appearance is another reason they can be such a lovely addition to a backyard.

The large fowl in particular are big, substantial birds with plenty of presence. Their plumage is a beautiful glossy black and when the light catches their feathers you'll see a deep green shimmer moving through the black, not unlike the sheen on a magpie's back.

Their large, round black eyes add to their character, and there’s something particularly impressive about seeing a mature Australorp walking around the yard.

They’re productive birds, but they’re also genuinely beautiful to keep. For many people, that’s an important part of having poultry. You don’t have to choose between a bird that lays well and one that you enjoy looking at.

Genuine dual-purpose breed

The Australorp is also considered a dual-purpose fowl, with their size and body making them a useful bird beyond simply being an egg layer.

They can also be interesting when used in crossbreeding programs. Depending on what a breeder is trying to achieve, Australorps can be crossed with breeds such as Light Sussex, Leghorns and Faverolles, combining different characteristics to produce birds for particular purposes.

We’ve previously used Australorps in our own meat experiments here at The Poodle and The Hen, and it was interesting to see the breed from that perspective.

That’s one of the things we enjoy about poultry breeding. A breed doesn’t necessarily have to be kept for just one reason, and the Australorp gives you plenty of options if you want to explore breeding further.

They can grow with your interest in poultry

One of the things we particularly like about the Australorp is that you don’t have to know exactly where your poultry journey is going to take you when you start.

You might begin with a few hens because you want fresh eggs for the family. You might then find that you really enjoy keeping chickens and want to breed your own birds. Or perhaps you discover an interest in poultry shows and start looking more closely at breed standards and exhibition birds.

The Australorp can accommodate all of those interests. That versatility is a big part of why we think they’re such a good backyard breed.

Australorps in the show world

While the Australorp makes an excellent backyard chicken, it also has a very strong place in the Australian poultry exhibition world.

The Australian Poultry Standards classifies Australorps as a soft-feather heavy breed, and they are a very popular class at poultry shows. You’ll see both large fowl and bantam Australorps being exhibited, and the breed has a strong following among poultry breeders and exhibitors.

There is even an Australorp Club of Australia, which holds an annual show dedicated to the breed. The popularity of the club and the annual show is a good indication of just how much interest there is in Australorps beyond the backyard.

For exhibition breeders, the focus becomes much more detailed. Rather than simply selecting birds because they’re good layers or have a nice temperament, you’re looking at the finer points of the breed: type, size, feather quality, comb and the overall characteristics that contribute to a quality exhibition bird.

That’s something we enjoy about working with the breed.

We have both backyard and exhibition lines here at The Poodle and The Hen, and while the selection process can become more specific when you’re breeding towards the show bench, you’re still working with the same fundamentally versatile and useful breed.

It also means the Australorp appeals to a really broad range of poultry keepers. You can keep them purely as backyard chickens, or you can become much more involved in breeding and exhibiting if that’s where your interest takes you.

Our final thoughts: why an Australorp?

For us, it really comes down to versatility. They’re excellent layers, calm family birds, hardy enough for our Australian climate conditions, beautiful large fowl and useful as a dual-purpose breed. Whether you’re keeping chickens for eggs, companionship, breeding or showing, the Australorp gives you plenty to work with.

That’s why they remain one of our favourite breeds.

If you’re interested in our backyard Australorps, you can join our backyard poultry waitlist on our website. Or, if you’re after our exhibition Australorps, you can join our exhibition waitlist on our website. We’ll keep you updated when birds become available and you can decide which type is right for what you want to achieve with your flock.