Chicken Breed Focus - Sussex

[sumi]

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.

Details:

Detail Value
Breed Purpose Dual Purpose
Comb Single
Broodiness Average
Climate Tolerance All Climates
Egg Productivity High
Egg Size Medium
Egg Color White - Light Brown
Breed Temperament Friendly, Bears confinement well, Quiet, Docile
Breed Colors/Varieties Speckled, Light, Buff, Silver, Coronation, Red, White, Buff Colombian
Breed Size Large Fowl; Bantam


Pic by @3riverschick


Pic by @Fancychooklady


Pic by @Fancychooklady


Pic by @GardeNerd


Pic by @wava1vaughn


Pic by @mstarr

Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/sussex

Breed Discussion Threads:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/279509/the-sussex-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/429217/show-quality-speckled-sussex/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/424026/coronation-sussex-thread/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ssex-fowl-all-varieties-large-and-bantam/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/796329/buff-sussex/0_30


Do you own Sussex chickens? Are you a Sussex breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

 

[N F C]

One of my favorite breeds, glad to see Sussex featured this time!


I really enjoyed having the SS in my mixed flock. Mine weren't show birds, but in my backyard flock, I thought they were the most beautiful and they were very sweet tempered. They fit in well with the other breeds I had, not at the top or bottom of the flock. They were terrific foragers, usually the first to find the tastiest treats in the garden. Mine seemed just a tiny bit slower to mature than the others, but once they reached adulthood, they were good steady layers...I'd get on average 5-6 eggs per week.

 

[ChickenGrass]

I am a bantam coronation Sussex breeder here in Ireland.

I decided to get this breed because I like Sussex as a whole,
But I wanted a rare colour so I went for the bantam coronation Sussex.

I own my coronation Sussex for breeding and showing.
They are good layers and large fowl Sussex have a nice bit of meat.

My favorite characteristic of this breed is they are very friendly.
When I am training my coronation Sussex to sit in a cage for a show,
They are very quiet and don't start flapping all over the cage.

Here's some pictures of mine.
They are just under a year old.

 

[1cock2hens]

oooh coolio! I have always wanted a couple speckled sussex to put out at my tiny house to free range. // I didn't realize there were so many colors of the Sussex <33

 

[N F C]

oooh coolio! I have always wanted a couple speckled sussex to put out at my tiny house to free range. // I didn't realize there were so many colors of the Sussex <33

You won't regret getting them!

 

[peeper89]

these r real pretty can u get these at feed store

 

[N F C]

these r real pretty can u get these at feed store

I got mine through Murray McMurry, show quality ones you'd need to get through a breeder. Every feed store I've been to has a different assortment of birds, you'd have to check with the ones around you to see what they have.

 

[The Duck Ladie]

When I was maybe about 8 my family got one a speckled sussex. I believe we called it Lady Jane. I think she was eveyones favorite. She was the one chicken that would let me hold her. I remember that she had very soft feathers. I remember loving how small and cute she was. Sadly she died before her first egg I think. I think she choked to death, but I could be wrong. Today, It's the one chicken I actually really like.

-Catherine

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I've love the Sussex breed!

I've been wanting quality light Sussex since I first got chickens.
The closest I've come is the little 2 inch replica ornament of a Light Sussex.

But I see some light Sussex hatching eggs in my future.

 

[CharB]

My small flock of five includes one Speckled Sussex - Wynonna. She is definitely the most interesting of the lot. She is the most curious and will try any new treat/food first. The others wait to see what she does. They also seek her out when roaming the garden because she usually finds good food. With that being said, she is not the alpha hen. In fact, she gets picked on at times and will often be to herself. At 10 weeks, Wynonna took to sitting on my shoulder. She discovered she gets more grapes that way and the others can't pick on her then! My flock is 10 months old now. She was one of the first layers. Extremely friendly and beautiful feathers. I would highly recommend them.