Chook experts?

 Are pure bred Australorps 100% black or is it possible to have a little
red-brown on the front of the neck?

David

 

I seem to remember (30 years ago)  that the feathers on the neck were like
you describe. Usually the sign of a healthy bird.  Bet they have really dark
red combs too.

 
Australorps are pure black (including the flesh of the legs which is one
good indicator of the true breeding).
 If there is any degree of 'colour' in the feathers it is not what I'd call
a true colour but more of a sheen if/when caught in the light.  All of my
Australorps have only ever had this sheen in the blue/green specturm (never
any reddisheness at all).  If viewed in shade, a true Australorp will be all
black feathers.

I've just had a look at the breed standards and no red.  You can read them
here:
http://www.australorps.com/4.html

I've just bought 4 more Australorps and am busy building them a new night
house after I got the irrits with the last one and demolished it.  Once this
one is done their current one will get removed too - after 30+ years of
keeping chooks I've finally decided that I am sick to death of substandard
chook housing and I finally want Rolls Royce housing for my fancy.

Barter and sons at Luddenham are a reasonable source I've found - good
service, moderate price and seem to produce a true to type domestic bird:
http://www.barterandsons.com.au/

Any red feathers suggests to me a hybrid with RIR or Isa brown genes, but it
could be a from a grandparent rather than a parent.

 FarmI wrote:

the legs are black



It isn't the iridescent shine from light interference patterns in the
feathers it's a true colour


BTDT  I wasn't so much interested in whether I have show quality chooks but
what their lineage might be, if they are pure bred but not show birds or
some crossbreed..



Mine isn't RR but maybe BMW.  It's a secondhand garden shed with secondhand
tennis court wire around it.  I figure any fox or wild dog that can eat
through that I don't want to face unarmed.


Looks to me that they are 3/4 or maybe 7/8.  Good looking birds
nevertheless, friendly and resourceful.

thanks

David

 
Regardless... those standards are still useful.  They confirm to you that
your birds aren't pure breds.


And so long as they lay some eggs, that's all that's required in a domestic
chook.  Although I know I'd still keep chooks even if they didn't lay.