Chicken Breeds Common in Australia

Backyard chickens are a great way to get fresh eggs or meat. Chickens are also a great deal of fun to watch and you get the added benefit of them helping control the insect population in your backyard. If you are thinking of adding some chickens to your life, here are some common chicken breeds you may run across.


The Araucana is a breed from South America. They come in almost any color combination known to chickens. They are distinctive for their ear tufts, muffs and crests. They have been diluted over the years by crosses with other chicken breeds and may be known as Easter Eggers and Easter Egg Chickens. They have earned these names because of the natural coloration of their eggshells. Eggs can be various shades of blue, olive green and sometimes pink. This breed is hardy and they lay quite a few eggs per year. Some hens tend to go broody and make good mothers.


The Australorp is actually an Australian original. This is a genuine dual purpose chicken that will provide a great deal of eggs per year as well as meat. An Australorp set a laying record of 364 eggs in 365 days! They begin laying between 5 and 6 months of age. Their glossy black feathers with the green-purple sheen make them a gorgeous sight to see. In Australia they can also be found in blue and white. They are a gentle breed that lays medium sized light brown eggs.


Orpingtons hail from England originally. They are a large chicken developed in the late 1800s. They lay a great number of eggs per year and also make good table birds. Their heavy feathering keeps them warm enough to keep laying in the winter. They come in buff, white, black and blue. They may go broody and they are excellent mothers. They lay large brown eggs. They are docile and easily handled.


The Plymouth Rock was developed in America. This chicken was created in the early 1800s by crossing Dominiques with Black Javas. They lay well in the winter and make a nice roasting bird as well. They come in many colors, including white, buff, partridge, barred, Columbian (white with black streaks on the tail and neck), blue and silver penciled. They are calm and mature early. They lay a light to medium brown egg.


Rhode Island Reds are one of the most popular chicken breeds in the world. Developed in America, they lay a large amount of rich medium brown eggs per year. They are often used to create sex-linked chickens where the roosters are different colors from the hens for easy sorting when they are chicks. Their rich red color makes them a beautiful choice for a backyard chicken coop. They are hardy birds and easy to keep.


The Leghorn is the breed used for most commercial egg production. They are light, thin birds. While they come in a variety of colors, the white is the most popular and the best egg layer. They were originally developed in the Mediterranean and were found in ancient Rome. They lay an abundance of medium to large pearl white eggs. They don't eat as much as some of the larger chickens, but they are flighty and nervous. They are good flyers and are quite noisy.


One of the more unusual types of chicken breeds is the Polish. These birds are light in body and are seen frequently in poultry shows. Their most unusual feature is the pom-pom like crest of feathers on their heads. They come in many colors, with the most striking variety having a black body with a white crest. They lay small white eggs. Special care may be needed to keep them out of foul weather.


Bantam versions exist for almost every breed. These are miniatures that fit nicely into a very small backyard. They are beautiful and often have interesting personalities. They lay small eggs matching their larger counterparts.

Of course, there are also many other chicken breeds available to the home flock owner in Australia. Check your local hatcheries and feed stores for more varieties. Most hatcheries will let you choose whether you want only hens or a mixture of both sexes, known as a straight run. Raising chickens is a wonderful hobby and helps a great deal when you are working towards simplifying your life.