Australorp chickens are known for being a breed that lays a high quantity of eggs. They originated from Australia and were bred from the Black Orpington. They have a single comb and medium length wattles. They are a dual purpose bird but primarily kept for their egg laying ability, producing up to 250 large brown eggs per year.

The hens begin to lay eggs around five months of age and do not have a tendency to go broody. The ideal breed for beginner poultry keepers, they have friendly, calm temperaments and make good pets. Australorps are a hardy breed and are able to tolerate cold conditions.

They do enjoy an active lifestyle and are good foragers, but they are adaptable to be kept in smaller spaces. They are not flighty so enclosures do not need to be particularly high to contain them. The color variations are white, black and blue. The males weigh 3.85 - 4.55Kg, and the females 2.95 - 3.6Kg. There are also bantam versions available.