The Standards

APS2 AUSTRALIAN POULTRY STANDARDS

On 24th May 2006 and 6th January 2007 our Management Committee recommended some minor alterations to be included within the 2nd Edition of the Standards for Australorps.

Most of our recommendations have been adhered to by the Australian Standards Committee and for this our club is most grateful.

We are particularly pleased that the controversial Beak colour of our Black and Blue Australorps has been changed from “Black” to “Predominantly Black with allowable graduation to off-white or white tip”.

We are also pleased with the inclusion of the Official Standard for the White Australorp.

To say that we are ecstatic that the Australorp - Australia's National Breed - is featured on the front cover of the 2nd Edition is an understatement.

We could claim that we are a little disappointed with the current weights of both Large and Bantam varieties as we believe that the original weights were taken from the old British Standards for the 1st Edition and relate to fowls from the 1940's.

   We know that both Standard (Large) Australorps and Bantam Australorps have had a slight increase in the weights for those fowls exhibited as Show Fowls, as we had several of our members in most states of Australia weigh their fowls in Cock, Hen, Cockerel and Pullet in both Standard and Bantam varieties. In fact, we were asked to do this by one of the Standards Committee members in 2005.
   When this time consuming exercise was done in 2006-2007 they were all predominantly heavier than those depicted in the 1st Edition of the Standards Book.
   Many of the fowls that were weighed were exhibited at major Royal Shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, major Regional Poultry Club Shows, as well as the Austalorp Australian Titles. The weights of the progeny of all of those fowls weighed 2006-2007 have remained the same in 2012.

    The 2nd Edition of the Australian Poultry Standards Book was released to the public during May 2012, and is now available for purchase. Just click the link below to order your copy.

                       Click to Order the 2nd Edition Standards Book

       Copied with permission from the APSC from APS 1st Edition:

   Large Importations to Australia of William Cooks original strains of Black Orpingtons were made in the late nineteenth century. As the looser feathered exhibition-type Orpington evolved, the original birds were bred on in Australia as superior layers and meat birds and became known as Utility Black Orpingtons. Some Australian Langshan blood was infused.

   The early days of egg laying competitions in Australia saw these birds establish records un rivaled by any other heavy breed. In the 1920s, stock was exported back to Britain.

   The name Australorp was adopted in Australia by 1930. The Australian standard, agreed to in 1949, had ensured the breed retain its usefulness as a superior layer and table bird.

   Australorp bantams have been developed to a high standard. Like their large counterparts, they are useful layers, reliable setters and good table birds.

The Australian Australorp Standards - Australorp Club of Australia Inc.

standsausm MALE CHARACTERISTICS
CARRIAGE: Erect and graceful, denoting an active fowl, the head being carried well above the tail line. The bird MUST be balanced.

TYPE: Body deep and broad, showing somewhat greater length than depth.

Breast full and rounded, carried well forward without bulging, breast bone long and straight

Back broad across shoulders and the saddle, with a sweeping curve from neck to tail.

Tail full and compact, rising gradually from the sickles gracefully curved but not long and streaming.

Wings compact and carried closely, the ends being covered by the saddle hacks.

HEAD
Finely modeled and skull rounded

Beak slightly curved, strong and of medium length

Eyes large prominent and expressive; high on skull, standing well out when viewed from the front and back.

Face full, fine in texture, clean, free from feathers wrinkles and overhanging brows.

Comb single, medium in size, erect, evenly serrated [ 4 to 6 serrations ] and blade tending downwards without touching the neck, texture fine, but not of glace appearance

Wattles medium in size, rounded at the bottom and corresponding in texture to the comb.

Ear Lobes small and elongated

NECK Fairly long, fine at the junction of the head, with a gradual outward curve to the back, widening directly at the shoulders.

PLUMAGE Feathering soft, but close, with a minimum of fluff, only sufficient to cover the thighs.

SKIN Fine in texture

LEGS and FEET Medium in length, strong bayonet shaped, and spaced well apart. The hocks being nearly covered by body feathering and the whole of the shanks showing below the underline.
Shanks and feet free from feather or down.
Toes four, straight and well spread.

standsausf FEMALE CHARACTERISTICS
The general characteristics are similar to those of the male, allowing for the natural sexual differences. The pelvic bone should be more pliable, not showing an excess of fat or gristle; abdominal skin being fine and pliable, without an excess of internal fat. All these part to be of fine texture; any indication of coarseness should be discountenanced

FREEDOM FROM COARSENESS
A):Shanks strong, as differentiated from either extreme coarseness or fineness of bone.

B):Pelvic Bones strong at the baselong and straight to be as free as possible from gristly covering. Undue importance not to be attached to male birds.

C):Abdomen to be elastic, avoiding sagging down or hardness, indicating excess fat; skin to be fine and pliable

al2004-2 COLOURS:
BLACK
Male and Female:
Plumage : Black throughout with lustrous green sheen.
Beak : Black, with allowable gradation of white (horn)
Eye: Black or dark brown iris, black is preferred.
Comb: Face, ear-lobes and wattles bright red
Shanks and Feet: Black, dark slate permitted in adults.
Skin: White
Souls of Feet and Toenails: White

BLUE: Male Plumage: Hackles, back, tail, sickles, side hangers and wing-bow: Rich deep slate, the darker the better. Flights blue slate.
Remainder of Plumage; clear slate blue ground colour, each feature distinctly laced with dark slate. The contrast between ground colour and lacing to be well defined.
In Both Sexes: Beak, eye. Comb, face, wattles, ear-lobes, skin, shanks and feet as for the Black.

WEIGHTS: Recommended weights as proposed by the "2nd Edition Australian Poultry Standards Committee" for their Second Edition Upgrade.
Whilst these weights are not those proposed by the Australorp Club of Australia Inc. in our submissions in 2006, they are within an acceptable range to our breeders.

LARGE AUSTRALORPS

Cock       3.60 - 4.10 kg
Cockerel 3.20 - 3.60 kg
Hen       2.750 - 3.10 kg
Pullet     2.25 - 2.75 kg

BANTAM AUSTRALORPS

Cock        1.00 - 1.230 kg
Cockerel .960 - 1.190 kg
Hen          .850 - 1.040 kg
Pullet       .790 - 1.020 kg

Suggested Standard for White Australorp Large & Bantams for consideration by Australorp Club of Australia Inc.©

This standard was adopted in its entirety by the Australian Poultry Standards Commitee for their 2nd Edition which was released to the public in May 2012.

Type, carriage, head, neck, legs plus quality and type of plumage exactly as in the Standards for the Black and Blue Australorp Bantams.

Weights to be the same as the new Standard of Weights for Bantam Australorps.

Colour:

Pure White Free from straw tinge or brassiness

Beak: Blue-ish White, Slate tones or Off-White (Horn)

Eyes: Black or Dark Brown, Black preferred. It is essential that the eyes are large and bold.

Comb: Wattles and ear lobes Bright Red

Face: Bright Red preferred, to achieve dark eyes in females.

A little sootiness is allowed

Legs and Feet: Slate Blue

Soles of Feet: White

Toe Nails: White