Quick facts
| Adult hen weight | About 6½ lb |
|---|---|
| Comb | Single |
| Eggs per year | ~300 |
| Shell color | Brown |
| Temperament | Calm, docile |
| Cold hardiness | Excellent |
| Heat tolerance | Good |
About the Australorp
Holds the world record — 364 eggs in 365 days. Glossy black with a green sheen, calm, quietly judging your productivity. Genuinely one of the best all-round backyard birds: heavy enough to be cold-hardy, docile enough for children, and a relentless layer.
Cold and heat tolerance
The Australorp handles cold well. She is heavy-bodied with dense plumage, and her medium single comb is small enough that frostbite is uncommon when the coop is ventilated and dry. Keepers in the northern states and Mountain West can run her through hard winters, and she usually keeps laying when days are short.
Heat is where black feathers matter. Dark plumage absorbs sun, so in the Deep South and Desert Southwest give her real afternoon shade, a second waterer, and frozen treats once the thermometer passes 90 °F. She copes better than most heavy breeds, but she is not a Leghorn.
Eggs and laying
The Australorp is the benchmark production brown-egg layer. Expect 250–300 medium-to-large light brown eggs a year from a healthy hen, with the first egg at roughly 20–22 weeks. Output drops during the fall molt and picks up again within weeks. Because she lays so heavily, feed layer feed with oyster shell on the side and watch for thin shells in her second and third years.
Temperament and care
Calm, quiet and easy to handle, she is one of the best choices for a first flock and for children. She is rarely aggressive, tolerates confinement well, and is seldom broody. In a mixed flock she is usually mid-pecking-order. Her only real quirk is that she is a hearty eater, so keep feed in a hanging feeder to cut waste.
Who they're for
the classic brown-egg backyard bird, an egg machine — output is the whole point, great with kids and visitors who want to pet something. Every flock is a sitcom cast — the Australorp is the overachiever.
Australorp FAQ
How many eggs does an Australorp lay?
A healthy Australorp lays about 250–300 light brown eggs a year, and the breed holds the record of 364 eggs in 365 days.
Are Australorps good in hot weather?
They manage heat reasonably well for a heavy breed, but their black feathers absorb sun. Provide shade, plenty of cool water, and frozen treats once temperatures pass 90 °F.
Are Australorps friendly?
Yes. They are calm and docile, which makes them a popular pick for first-time keepers and families with children.