Hen-Gen
Well-known member
- Messages
- 1,240
- Location
- Island of Fetlar, Shetland Islands
Over many years I've kept a lot of different breeds. Some have been excellent layers (eg RIR's) , others good and meaty (eg Indian Game) and others very beautiful (eg Chamois Campines).
I cannot understand why the Black Australorp is not more popular. It lacks the exaggerated fluffiness of the Orpington and the mediocre laying ability of the Jersey Giant. It is steady as a rock and has none of the irritating flightiness of the Mediteranean breeds. Furthurmore it looks beautiful on a sunny day with a beetle-green sheen to its feathers. It's got to be said that our Australian cousins have created a breed which is close to perfection.
Now I have no axe to grind and no longer keep them but have used them as one of the foundation breeds in a project. My passion is experimental breeding. But if, in my dotage, I choose to keep just one breed then it will be the Australorp.
I cannot understand why the Black Australorp is not more popular. It lacks the exaggerated fluffiness of the Orpington and the mediocre laying ability of the Jersey Giant. It is steady as a rock and has none of the irritating flightiness of the Mediteranean breeds. Furthurmore it looks beautiful on a sunny day with a beetle-green sheen to its feathers. It's got to be said that our Australian cousins have created a breed which is close to perfection.
Now I have no axe to grind and no longer keep them but have used them as one of the foundation breeds in a project. My passion is experimental breeding. But if, in my dotage, I choose to keep just one breed then it will be the Australorp.
