Favorite Breed? Any You Hope to Add?

3riverschick said:

Hi Mesmama,
 If you want quality Speckled Sussex, do not go to the hatcheries. Just not there. If you like their stunning beauty and great temperament, buy from a  breeder. Esp. in the Speckled variety, It is the toughest color to breed in Sussex, being a tricolor. Takes decades to get the gene pool stable enough to get a nice pattern to replicate regularly from generation to generation.  The three top strains of the Speckled large fowl here in the USA are ( In no particular order) Walt Reichert, Gary Overton ( Mr. Sussex) and Tony Albrittion. You want to either buy from them or someone who very recently bought from them   and/or has not crossed the strain into another strain. In Speckled, esp, do not cross strains to found your flock! That's very important. It will mess up the stability of the gene pool and take years to straighten out the color, unless you are a Master Breeder.
I have contact info for all of the, just a sec, while I look it up.

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So the hatchery birds tend to not have the same temperaments as those from breeders?

Correct,. The hatcheries often cross the Sussex with leghorn to make them better layers. That's what most people go to hatcheries for. However, this can also make them shallower and narrower in body. Plus the temperaments can be more flighty. The Sussex is a docile breed. Easy-going, always busy looking for feed and curious. If you fell in love with the Sussex because of all their historic traits, then buy from a breeder. Not only are the quality breeders, breeding for color, but also for that delicate balance between egg and meat qualities, plus the great Sussex temperament.
In this color, do not start out with eggs or chicks. Buy started birds. It costs a bit more but the Speckled ( because it is a tricolor variety) is culled for color quality later than the other Sussex varieties. like 12 weeks or older. Buy a trio which you explain to the breeder need to be from the same strain but not so closely related so you can breed them together. Buy chicks hatched in Feb. or March, they will be the best winter layers. Or older breeder birds the breeder doesn't need anymore because he already has their children. This is a great way to start because them you can hatch eggs this year. Waiting for tp quality birds may seem difficult but it is worth every minute I the pride you can have in your lovely, correct Speckled Sussex.
Best Regards,
Karen

Anyone else want to share their fav breed? Or maybe one you're interested in?