Australorp
Australian utility chicken bred for record egg-laying performance.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Australorp is a dual-purpose utility chicken breed from Australia. It was developed from the British Black Orpington, with selective breeding focused on egg production—some hens can lay over 300 eggs a year. The breed gained global fame in the 1920s after setting several world records for egg-laying, and it has remained popular in the Western world ever since. It is one of several poultry breeds created in Australia and recognized by the Australian Poultry Standards. The original and only color accepted in the United States for many years was black, but the APA now also recognizes white and blue Australorps. Blue and white are also recognized in Australia, while the Poultry Club South Africa additionally recognizes buff, splash, wheaten laced, and golden.
The foundation stock for the Australorp came from England, imported from the Black Orpington flocks of William Cook and Joseph Partington between 1890 and the early 1900s. Local breeders improved the utility traits of these imported Orpingtons by crossing them with Minorca, White Leghorn, and Langshan chickens, and there is even a report of some Plymouth Rock blood being used. The early focus was on practical features, and the birds were initially called Australian Black Orpingtons (Austral-orp).
The name “Australorp” means Australian chicken, and its origin is debated. The earliest claim to the name came from poultry enthusiast William Wallace Scott before World War I. From 1925, Scott worked to have the Australorp recognized as a breed by the Poultry Society. Another claim came in 1919 from Arthur Harwood, who suggested calling the birds “Australs,” with the suffix “orp” added to indicate the major breed in their development. A further claim came from Britain’s W. Powell-Owen, who drafted the British Standard for the breed in 1921 after importing “Australian Utility Black Orpingtons.” The name was certainly in use by the early 1920s when the breed was launched internationally. The Australorp was added to the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1929.
A white variety was bred in South Africa in the 1930s and in Australia in the 1940s, gaining Australian recognition in 2012. A bantam Australorp was bred in the early 1930s by Roy Corner and Jack Mann and first exhibited at a poultry show in 1934. The breed is found on all five inhabited continents, in seventeen countries, with four
- origin
- Australia
- developed_from
- British Black Orpington, with out-crossings of Minorca, White Leghorn, Langshan, and possibly Plymouth Rock
- primary_use
- Dual-purpose utility (eggs and meat)
- egg_laying_record
- A team of six hens laid 1857 eggs in 365 days (average 309.5 per hen) in 1922–1923; one hen laid 364 eggs in 365 days
- recognized_colors_in_Australia
- Black, white, blue
- added_to_American_Poultry_Association_St
- 1929
- conservation_status
- Not at risk globally; at risk/endangered in Australia; priority in UK; removed from US watchlist in 2023
Lore & Background
The original stock used to develop the Australorp was imported to Australia from England out of the Black Orpington yards of William Cook and Joseph Partington between 1890 and the early 1900s. Local breeders used this stock with judicious out-crossings of Minorca, White Leghorn, and Langshan blood to improve utility features, with a report of some Plymouth Rock blood also being used. The resulting birds were initially known as Australian
Reader's Guide
The Australorp's significance lies in its exceptional egg-laying performance, which set world records in the 1920s and drove international demand. A team of six hens laid 1857 eggs in 365 days (average 309.5 per hen) in 1922–1923, and one hen laid 364 eggs in 365 days—all without modern lighting regimens. These feats led to importation orders from England, the United States, South Africa, Canada, and Mexico. The breed is one of eight poultry breeds created in Australia and recognized by the Australian Poultry Standards. Its conservation status is 'not at risk' globally, with an estimated worldwide population of close to 16,000 in 2024. However, it is listed as 'at risk/endangered' in Australia and 'priority' on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust watchlist in the United Kingdom, while it was removed from the Livestock Conservancy watchlist in the United States in 2023. The Australorp is also valued as a good nest sitter and mother, making it a popular large heritage utility breed.
Did You Know?
- A team of six Australorp hens set a world record in 1922–1923 by laying 1857 eggs in 365 days, averaging 309.5 eggs per hen.
- One Australorp hen laid 364 eggs in 365 days.
- The breed's name 'Australorp' is disputed, with claims from William Wallace Scott, Arthur Harwood, and Britain's W. Powell-Owen.
- The white colour variety was bred in South Africa in the 1930s and in Australia in the 1940s, but was not recognized in Australia until 2012.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Australorp?
The Australorp is a dual-purpose utility chicken breed developed in Australia, selected for outstanding egg production while still providing usable meat. It is one of eight poultry breeds created in Australia and formally recognized under Australian Poultry Standards.
What breeds went into creating the Australorp?
The breed was built on the British Black Orpington foundation, with targeted out-crossings of Minorca, White Leghorn, Langshan, and possibly Plymouth Rock to dial up laying capacity. Selective breeding then focused on maximizing egg output generation after generation.
What made the Australorp famous around the world?
In 1922–1923 a team of six Australorp hens laid 1,857 eggs in 365 days, averaging roughly 310 per bird, which set a world record and put the breed on the global map. The feat helped secure its acceptance into the American Poultry Association's Standard in 1929.
What colors of Australorp are officially recognized?
In the United States, black is the sole accepted variety, whereas Australia recognizes three colors: black, white, and blue. The limited American palette reflects the breed's original single-color focus when it was first imported.
How many eggs can an Australorp actually lay in a year?
A typical Australorp hen can exceed 300 eggs annually, and one record-setting bird produced 364 eggs in a single 365-day stretch. This sustained high output is the core trait the breed was genetically selected for, distinguishing it from many other utility chickens.
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