Australorp Book

Australorp Book

The first breed in the series, the Australorp, was chosen to lead the way because of its significance as Australia's Premier National Breed.

It is unique in Australian poultry because it has its roots firmly in the Commercial Poultry Industry yet is equally as prominent in the Poultry Exhibition Pavilion. It is the only Australian Breed to be recognised immediately world-wide.

Ray Connor, the authority behind the Australorp Book, is possibly the most respected and certainly one of the most sought after judges in the country. His successes at the Sydney Royal Show with his Australorps are unprecedented being 17 times Champion Softfeathered Fowl in the last twenty five years. To find a genuine breeder with this degree of success is particularly difficult.

$34 - Soft cover version, at much less than the price of one good show bird this book should be regarded as essential reading for anyone serious about breeding, showing and understanding the Australorp.

$75 - Hard cover version, SOLD OUT, the collector's choice, green cloth hard cover with a dust jacket as shown above. 100 numbered and signed copies, these are selling fast, please be quick to avoid disappointment.

To order your copy please contact us by whatever means suits you. If you have any queries or need further information about this book please feel free to email.

Book Review (from Australasian Poultry Vol 12 No 2 June/July 2001)

This is the first in a series of books published by Bellsouth that tap into the great knowledge and experience of master breeders in Australia. 'The Doyens of Poultry' as the series is to be known, will cover a range of popular show breeds as described, and finer points detailed, by an authorative judge and breeder; in other words, a doyen in the field.

Ray Connor is indeed an authority on Australorp. Specimens from his pens have taken out 17 Champion Softfeather fowl awards in the last 25 Sydney Royal Shows. Ray says that despite the fact he has kept a range of breeds he has always come back to Australorp. Our national breed has ever appealed to him, and his very first prize at a poultry show, in 1937, was secured with an Australorp.

So how has the book been organised and Ray's breadth of experience presented? Adrian Kuys has extensively interviewed this doyen and shaped the material into a range of chapters starting with Ray's life with Australorp; explaining points of the breed standard; preparing for show; achieving breeding excellence; management; buying and selling and, finally, judging Australorp. A chapter outlining the historical steps from Orpington to Australorp has been contributed by writer Adrian Kuys, as has a section on genetics in the chapter on breeding excellence. An eight page colour section complements the explanations of the breed standard.

If one chapter can be selected for special mention it is 'The Standard'. It is particularly detailed, for example, when Ray is discussing type, he looks at the components of the bird that make up type and highlights important points. He makes suggestions of what to look for and what faults should be avoided, building up a mental picture of an ideal Australorp. Black and white photos used in this chapter and others give further weight to points made in the text.

If you want to learn about Australorps or flesh out your knowledge, this will be an invaluable reference. In fact, you probably won't need to read anything else. The book is concisely written and Ray's very detailed descriptions and explanations will be enthusiastically read by beginner and expert alike.

Adrian Kuys has done a fine job translating Ray's years of experience into a highly informative but easy to read book. This is another feather in Ray's cap and a most promising start to this inspiring and helpful series.