Australorp Chickens
Calm, hardy, and genuinely Australian. The Australorp is one of the most dependable dual-purpose breeds you can add to your backyard flock.
The Australorp is Australia's own chicken breed: a calm, hardy dual-purpose bird prized for reliable egg production. They lay around 250 to 300 light brown eggs a year, get along well with children, and cope with most Australian climates. We breed backyard quality Australorps on our farm, with well-started birds available from day-old chicks through to point of lay. Join our waitlist below to find out when birds are ready.
Few breeds carry the name of the country they came from. The Australorp does, and it earns it. Developed in Australia from Black Orpington stock in the early 1900s, this breed quickly earned a reputation for its calm nature and dependable egg production.
We breed backyard quality Australorps on our farm and work with trusted transport partners to get well-started birds to keepers across the country, from day-old chicks through to point of lay.
The origin of Australorp chickens
The Australorp began with Black Orpington chickens imported into Australia around 1890. English breeders had refined the Orpington for meat, but Australian breeders had other ideas. They kept crossing in Rhode Island Red, White Leghorn, and Langshan bloodlines, chasing egg production instead.
The breed was formally recognised as the Australorp in the early 1920s and added to the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1929. Nearly a century later, it remains one of the most trusted dual-purpose breeds for Australian backyards, and one of the few chicken breeds that can genuinely claim to be Australian.
Australorp hens and pullets
Australorp hens are calm, curious birds that settle easily into a backyard flock. They're gentle enough to be handled without much fuss, which makes them a solid choice for families introducing kids to chickens.
They lay around 250 to 300 light brown eggs a year, with reliable output across most of the year, including through the cooler months better than many breeds manage. Fully grown hens typically weigh around 2.5 to 3kg.
Our well-started Australorp pullets are raised on our own feed, with plenty of space and sunlight, so they're settled and confident before they join your coop.
Australorp roosters
Australorp roosters carry the same glossy black plumage as the hens, with a green sheen that catches the light, and a solid, upright frame. They're generally friendly, though like most roosters they can be more protective of the flock during breeding season.
Fully matured roosters typically weigh around 3.5 to 4kg. They're not known for aggression, which makes them a reasonable option for a family backyard, though any rooster is worth introducing to children carefully at first.
Why choose Australorp chickens?
STRIKING PLUMAGE
Feathers with a distinctive green sheen that catches the light.
RELIABLE LAYERS
Steady output of light brown eggs across most of the year.
A TRUE LOCAL BREED
Developed in Australia and one of the few breeds that can genuinely claim it.
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Calm enough to handle without much fuss, even for kids.
Most climates
Copes well across the range of conditions found in Australian backyards.
Ready to buy backyard quality Australorp chickens in Australia?
Whether you're after a dependable layer, a calm family bird, or both, an Australorp is worth a look. We breed backyard quality Australorp chicks, pullets, and well-started birds periodically throughout the year, from day-old chicks through to point of lay.
As with all of our birds, availability depends on hatching season and demand. If you'd like to be one of the first to know when Australorp birds are ready, join our waitlist and we'll be in touch. Got a question before then? We're always happy to talk chooks. Get in touch and we'll help you work out whether an Australorp is the right fit for your yard.
Join Our Backyard Waitlist →Frequently asked questions
Where do Australorp chickens come from?
The Australorp was developed in Australia from Black Orpington stock in the early 1900s. Australian breeders crossed in Rhode Island Red, White Leghorn, and Langshan bloodlines to boost egg production, and the breed was formally recognised in the early 1920s.
Are Australorp chickens good for beginners?
Yes. They're calm, easy to handle, and forgiving of beginner mistakes, which makes them one of the most reliable starter breeds for a backyard flock.
How many eggs do Australorp chickens lay?
Around 250 to 300 light brown eggs a year, with steady output across most of the year.
Are Australorp chickens good with kids?
Yes. They're gentle and easy to handle, and settle well in family flocks alongside children and other animals.
Do Australorp chickens go broody?
Occasionally. It's not their defining trait, but a hen will sit given the chance.
Are Australorp chickens cold hardy?
Yes, their dense feathering helps them cope well through a cold winter, and they continue laying better than many breeds through the colder months.
Do you deliver chickens Australia-wide?
We don't deliver birds ourselves. Local pickup is available from our designated pickup point in Bargo, NSW. For biosecurity reasons, the farm itself isn't open to visitors. For keepers further away, we meet your chosen transport company to get birds safely on their way, anywhere in Australia.
Do you sell fertile eggs?
No, we don't sell eggs of any kind, fertile or otherwise. We sell chicks, pullets, and well-started birds, from day-old through to point of lay.
Join Our Backyard Poultry Waitlist
Tell us what you're after and we'll be in touch as soon as Australorps are ready.