Australorp Chickens: The New Zealand Keeper's Guide
~250 brown eggs a year · Heavy (2.7-4 kg) · popular heritage breed in NZ
The Australorp is an Australian breed, a Black Orpington refined for laying, and it holds the world laying record. Glossy beetle-green black, calm and productive, it is one of the most popular heritage dual-purpose birds in New Zealand backyards.
Eggs and laying
Around 250 light-brown eggs a year from good utility strains, sustained over more years than a commercial hybrid. Show-bred lines lay less, so ask the breeder whether the birds are bred for laying or looks.
Temperament
Calm, quiet and gentle, excellent with children and easy to settle into a mixed flock. Less demanding of attention than the brown hybrids but very steady.
New Zealand climate fit
That dense black plumage handles cold well, making them a solid choice for the frosty south, and they cope with heat better than most heavy breeds, though dark feathers mean shade still matters in the warm north.
Care notes
Low-maintenance with no crest or feathered feet. Good foragers and reasonable pest controllers given room to range.
More breeds
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Australorps good layers?
Very. Good utility strains lay around 250 brown eggs a year and keep it up for four or five seasons, longer than commercial hybrids, which makes them excellent for a lasting flock.
Do Australorps go broody?
Occasionally, far less than a Silkie but more than a hybrid. Most make attentive mothers if you let a hen sit.
What colours do Australorps come in?
Black is the classic and most common. Blue and white are also recognised and increasingly seen in New Zealand.