A-Z of poultry - A is for Australorp

Much is expected from the Australorp.

Simply being considered Australia's national breed has put enormous pressure on it to perform and in true Australian tradition the breed holds the ultimate poultry world championship.

This was established in 1922 when six hens attracted world attention by sensationally producing 1,857 eggs during a trail lasting 365 days. One particular Australorp hen achieved an even more awesome record by laying 364 eggs in 365 days. A somewhat impressive achievement considering that it was achieved before our sophisticated lighting regimes!

It's had to become a breed for all seasons to fulfil all of the other high expectations which have been demanded of it. Back in the 1920s when their utility status was being enhanced they were expected to hold their own as a table bird in addition to maintaining their phenomenal reputation for egg production. A very tall order.

Huge controversy surrounded the origins of the breed's name, this controversy was equally disputed in their native Australia. Although 'Australorp' is quite an unusual name for a poultry breed, once you know how it evolved, it makes simple, total sense. Our magnificent black Orpingtons, created by Mr. W. Cook, joined countless other British emigrants to Australia. Once down under they were further developed to become a crucial facet of Australia's poultry industry. When they began to trickle back to their mother country they were soon perceived as having kept the unbeatable utility qualities that their British cousins had in some ways lost. These utility qualities had diminished through too much emphasis on their show qualities. By the beginning of the 1920s this trickle became a flood. This popularity spawned the Australian Orpington Club of Great Britain. It doesn't require the mind of a genius to see how this long title was shortened to the Austral Orpington Club. Soon it evolved into the Australorp club and has remained so ever since.

In Australia many breeders and exhibitors are fiercely adamant that the Australorp most certainly isn't simply the prototype of a black Orpington, or even one which has been developed. They insist that it's the result of astute, judicious Australian breeding. They argue that the Antipodeans' poultry men saw the huge potential in the Cook Orpington but they were determined to improve its utility features beyond all recognition.

To achieve this classic Australian utility bird other breeds were crossed with the original Orpingtons but what were the other breeds vary to different sources. However there now seems to be fairly universal consensus that both the Langshan and Minorca played a great part in their new genetic make up.

Australorps ought to be active but certainly aren't flighty. They seem to thrive in runs where the fences luckily don't have to be too high. However they love free range conditions. They grow quickly reaching point of lay within five months. Although having an active disposition they are equally renowned for having calm and friendly personalities. Broodiness isn't common.

Everything the Australorp does it seems to excel at and this applies to their success as exhibition poultry. They are no strangers to top awards and this is unsurprising as such large fowl seem to have always been able to keep an athletic, active appearance whilst somehow retaining a sedate elegance.

Ironically, very ironically, their phenomenal utility qualities have fallen victim to their great popularity as a modern show breed.

The Australorp is a breed of curves with a longer neck being considered desirable thus helping create the breeds erect, active image. The head must be carried above the tail.

Their feathering is glorious and in the blacks the breeders aim for a lustrous green sheen. Their wings should be carried neatly to the body whilst being covered in the males by the iridescent saddle hackles. This recurring theme of abundance tempered by moderation applies to the tail too; it should be abundant but without too much length and their tails mustn't be flowing.

The blues should be slate- blue with each feather laced with a band of a darker shade.

Relatively recently whites have become increasingly popular.

This rich feathering is highlighted and enhanced by equally rich, extravagantly red wattles, ear-lobes, face and comb. These features should all be meticulously neat, even and well ordered.

They are equally admired for the huge tick which marks their profiles. This 'tick' runs down their necks and then seems to gently and effortlessly turn through a forty five degree to follow the line of its back. Old judges argued that the 45 degree angled 'tick' marked that everything was totally correct with the breed.

The eyes of an Australorp ought to be memorable. They should be large, expressive, bold and must be jet black.

An Australorp cockerel should ideally weigh less than 9 lbs and a pullet less than 7lbs but a cock and hen can both be a full pound heavier. However the maximum weight for a bantam cock should be less than 36 ounces and a bantam female should be under 28 ounces.

Very surprisingly there has only been a truly national Orpington club in Australia since 1999, that is a club which draws its membership from across the whole of the continent. Although individual states such as New South Wales and Queensland have had successful clubs for many years.

The Australorp's role as an important breeds in the creation of our modern laying hybrids sometimes overshadows its equally important role of being the backbone breed of countless smallholder flocks across the world.

They have a thriving breed club: The Australorp Club of Great Britain.

Secretaries: Ian and Louise Simpson, Chestnut Farm, Normanton, Southwell, Nottinghamshire.

NG25 0PR Phone: 01636-814958