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Sussex

The Sussex was developed in Sussex County, England over 100 years ago. It was famous...
Overview Reviews (107) Gallery
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General Information

Breed Purpose
Dual Purpose
Comb
Single
Broodiness
Frequent
Climate Tolerance
All Climates
Egg Productivity
High
Egg Size
Large
Egg Color
Brown tinted
Breed Colors/Varieties
Speckled and Light
Breed Size
Large Fowl
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The Sussex is a dual purpose breed that originated in England around the time of the Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43, making them one of the oldest known breeds. Today they are a popular breed for show exhibitions as well as a garden breed.

The Sussex is an alert, docile breed that can adapt to any surroundings. They are comfortable in both free range or confined spaces and in the presence of humans, although they will mate and breed better in larger spaces. The breed frequently goes broody in the warmer months. They are good foragers and are generally vigorous and hardy as a garden fowl.

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Sussex egg

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Sussex chicks

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Sussex hen

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Sussex rooster

For more information on this breed and their owners' and breeders' experiences with them, see our breed discussion here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-sussex.1154699/
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Latest reviews

ella2025
Mine kinda hates me but is beautiful
Pros: SOOOO PRETTY!
Cons: very unpleasant to pick up, but that's just mine
She was and still remains very skittish and stays away from me and sometimes the rest of the flock. But she is SO INCREDIBLY PRETTY ( i have speckled sussex) and I would definitely consider getting more.
Purchase Price
9$
Purchase Date
april 3
btagg
Love these birds!
Pros: Very friendly, beautiful
Cons: Hard to find any color other than the speckled variety.
I have just loved this breed of chicken. I got my first light Sussex about a decade ago and am currently looking for a breeder to obtain more in the spring. They have been my friendliest birds along with my Delaware and Dorkings. I will always have them in my flock from this point forward.
Purchase Price
5-50$ depending on the breeder
Purchase Date
3/2012
triciayoung
Love My Speckled Sussex Chickens
Pros: Calm
Friendly
Nice
Beautiful
Cons: Too nice get bullied
Loud (if this is a problem)
I have a flock of 11. I was supposed to have 3-speckled Sussex hens, but 2 ended up being roosters. All three are very calm, extremely friendly, and easy to care for. My hen, Lucy, is too nice and ends up being low on the pecking order scale, only above the 3- Silkies. She is a good egg producer and started laying at 20-weeks.
Purchase Price
$5.00
Purchase Date
06/01/2022

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Comments

chickencowranch
I like my specks as well. I never heard of this breed until I went to tsc last year and bought 5 chicks. 3 roosters 2 pullets. I got rid of the roos. The two hens are bossy with the other chickens in the flock. If i dedide to get anymore chickens, I'll consider getting another coop to keep them away from the specks. They are friendly. I'd consider getting more.
 
Curly Beard
I only kept the one breed instead of a mixed flock , hatched out replacements in the spring and culled out unproductive birds and small birds ... they were looking nice when i lost the land i lived on and had to sell off the flock , i only kept about a dozen at a time anyway(including the roo)
 
Sylvestor12
Awww they sound so cute! I've found that many heavy breeds hold up against cold weather well. Could you imagine little bantams in sitting all poofed up trying to keep warm? The sight would be terrible! And just a side thing, your avatar is absolutely adorable! For the chicks that I raise that are really pet-like I set on my head for pictures too. Hah, I remember one time that I put one on my head and the crazy thing started trying to nip at my eyes and fell off. Luckily I caught her though. Phew!
 
vlselz
I just got two Speckled Sussex chicks, and a barred rock 5 days ago, so far they seem lovely. Now hopefully hand rearing all of them they stay that way =)
 
pupchick
Do you have any other breeds of chickens? I have a large variety of rare and common breeds and I also have 120 eggs in my incubators... I do not really have a favorite breed of chickens though...
 
pupchick
I forgot to ask, do you have any rir/speckeled sussex crosses? if so how is thier temperment and what do they look like? Thanks
 
Boichik86
I have only 1 s.sussex, but its growing up every bit as fast as its Faverolles (a relatively quick growing heritage breed) nest mates.
 
snowflake
the sussex is a fun breed, I have 2 and if I am digging in the garden they are ON the shovel kicking the dirt of in hopes of a worm. a very friendly breed
 
H
where did you you get her from??I want to get a pet hen and sussex seem to be the best choice if you dont want silkies, but I want to make sure I get them from the same line where people have had extremely friendly and cuddly birds.
 
H
where did you get this girl, I m looking for a pet hen to cuddle and sit on the couch with me and I want a SS from the same place that you got her! ;)
 
sbhkma
I have to agree. My SS are really friendly. Nice size (mine are only 10 week old pullets atm) and they love to just come hang out with me on the back porch while my cuckoo marans rummage around in the brush. Pretty birds, easy to work with (except Annie, who loves to sit on you and hates to be picked up!). They border on being pests, but I can shoo them away and eventually they "get it' and go forage. I'm glad I got them!
 
ibreathe4u
I have to say, my Sussex has the funniest, friendliest personality. Like someone else mentioned, it borders on pest. She likes being carried, and when the back door is open, she makes a beeline for the kitchen. She so wants to be an inside chicken! She's the bottom of the pecking order, but she has no clue.
 
Joultry
I have raised a flock of Speckled Sussex before and they are by far one of my favorite breeds. I only have two hens due to a viscous fox attack. Originally I had 10 speckled Sussex hens and 1 RIR rooster but 8 of the hens got eaten and I got rid of the rooster because would surreptitiously stalk me until I walked away. And he would attack me trying to spur me but I always defended myself with a stick or either a bucket. Over all though I have thoroughly enjoyed the two hens that I have now and they will always be considered pets not egg layers.
 
canesisters
I have 2 speckled sussex - LOVE THEM!!! They are the friendliest birds in the flock. They have both gone broody and are sharing a bunch of eggs right now.
They are Sola and Nova. Great birds.
 

Item information

Category
Chicken Breeds
Added by
bilbothebanty
Views
96,111
Watchers
32
Comments
126
Reviews
107
Last update
Rating
4.53 star(s) 110 ratings

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