FarmI wrote:
"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
Are pure bred Australorps 100% black or is it possible to have a
little red-brown on the front of the neck?
Australorps are pure black (including the flesh of the legs which is
one good indicator of the true breeding).
the legs are black
If there is any degree of 'colour' in the feathers it is not what I'd
call a true colour but more of a sheen if/when caught in the light. All of
my Australorps have only ever had this sheen in the blue/green
specturm (never any reddisheness at all). If viewed in shade, a true
Australorp will be all black feathers.
It isn't the iridescent shine from light interference patterns in the
feathers it's a true colour
I've just had a look at the breed standards and no red. You can read
them he
http://www.australorps.com/4.html
BTDT I wasn't so much interested in whether I have show quality chooks but
what their lineage might be, if they are pure bred but not show birds or
some crossbreed..
I've just bought 4 more Australorps and am busy building them a new
night house after I got the irrits with the last one and demolished
it. Once this one is done their current one will get removed too -
after 30+ years of keeping chooks I've finally decided that I am sick
to death of substandard chook housing and I finally want Rolls Royce
housing for my fancy.
Mine isn't RR but maybe BMW. It's a secondhand garden shed with secondhand
tennis court wire around it. I figure any fox or wild dog that can eat
through that I don't want to face unarmed.
Barter and sons at Luddenham are a reasonable source I've found - good
service, moderate price and seem to produce a true to type domestic
bird: http://www.barterandsons.com.au/
Any red feathers suggests to me a hybrid with RIR or Isa brown genes,
but it could be a from a grandparent rather than a parent.
Looks to me that they are 3/4 or maybe 7/8. Good looking birds
nevertheless, friendly and resourceful.
thanks
David