Chicken Breed Focus - Sussex

[fatcatx]

Sussex are my absolute favorite breed! Calm easy-going birds. I wish we had a bantam selection in the states. The only downside for us was keeping them cool in the summer, but with misters, cool dirt and shade they did OK in our heat waves. Some may not like their "sometimes" broodiness. The Speckled come with a bonus: with each molt you get a "new" bird.

Can't wait to get more! Getting Light and Coronation next time.

 

[3riverschick]

I want Speckled Sussex, but I'm torn . . . I began with bantams and I love them, and I can't find any bantam Speckled Sussex. I either have to buy some LF girls, or go with my second choice, which is bantam Buff Orpingtons. Darn.

I really wish Sussex bantams were more readily available.

If you want Speckled Sussex bantams then go to or find someone with the Skytop strain. They are just stupendous. A Mixture of the Edgar Mongold and Gary Overton strains. Excellent show birds they excel in proper hallmarks. Skytop bantams has a website. You might have to go to http://ww.archive.org to get the old website when they had the bantams. They became APA Master Breeders of SS Bantams, then I believe they moved on to other breeds. Check and see if they still have them. Several folk around the country have birds by them. Be tenacious, they are busy people at Skytop. I believe they live I Florida now and the website was done when they were in Pennsylvania. These are birds worth hunting down and paying sky high prices for. make sure you get pure Skytop and not a strain-crossed bird. It may take months to find a source but worth it. Get on the Sussex grapevine.
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Here is a study in superb Sussex struture and breed type.
It doesn't matter of the fowl are large or bantam, this is the structure we wish to see.
http://www.skytopbantams.com/sussex.html oops, its on archive.org now. , see here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20160409174045/http://skytopbantams.com/sussex.html

Skytop Bantam Speckled Sussex melded Rob Mongold and Gary Overton lines into their Skytop strain. Here we see the classic
"bottle-shaped" body ( think of the shape of bottle we consider when we think of the classic "ship-in-a-bottle" folk art).
Look at Cookie, she is ravishing. A study in classic Sussex hen breed type. Her tail set is nigh onto perfect. Almost level with her back.
As a result of their efforts, Skytop became APA Master Breeders of Bantam Speckled Sussex.
See the breast on Lily(bred by Gary Overton)? Lovely. Look at the heads on the hens. So refined, no coarseness. Dainty, yet not tiny.
See the long, long ,level back on Sprinkles and the lovely tail carried low.
Look at the long, level back and lower tail profile on "Chips", the rooster .
Now take a look at Confetti. The Sussex is a breed of graceful curves. See how her curves do a graceful ballet, one with another? The curve of the breast is offset by the lovely curve sweeping across the withers and up the back of the neck to a lovely, dainty arch of neck. at the crest of the skull.
The curve from the base of the tail to the point where the legs meet the body is offset by the graceful "S" curve starting from under the beak, flowing down the throat, out around the front of the breat.
The totality of the curves fill the eye, none of them so abrupt in angle that they distract from the whole.
The icing on the cake is the lovely patterning of the speckles.
It takes decades of severe dedication to create birds like these. They should never be crossed with utiltity or hatchery Sussex.

 

[3riverschick]

Looking for show quality Speckled Sussex?

Kindred Hill Farm
New Hampshire
Leela Olson
[email protected]
http://www.localharvest.org/kindred-hill-farm-M61338

FEATHERHILLS FARM
Tony Albritton
509-995-7284
email Us
16405 Orchard Ave, Caldwell, ID 83607
All bred to the Standard of Perfection. Large Fowl: Speckled Sussex,
White Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red. Bantam: White Plymouth Rock,
White Leghorn. Narragansett Turkey, Pilgrim Geese. NPIP#91-121.
Tony Albritton of Idaho has excellent large fowl has Speckled Sussex .
See his ad here on Page 3 : http://www.exhibitionpoultry.net/downloads/ep3-5.pdf

Skytop Bantams
http://www.skytopbantams.com/sussex.html Jackie Koedatich in PA
The Speckled Sussex that we started out with (Freckles & Dottie)
were purchased from Rob Mongold .Lilly & Trigger were purchased from Gary Overton
Jackie Koedatich, , MA
Jackie is an APA Judge
[email protected]. Bantam Chicken
http://www.todaywebsitedesigns.com/files/ffusaexample2.pdf
https://www.facebook.com/New-Hampshire-Poultry-Fanciers-Association-121964924517955/
http://exhibitionpoultry.net/downloads/EP3-3.pdf
Excellent now archived poultry ezine. All issues readable online. Includes info on APA judges.

ABA, APA Judge Gary Overton
1436 Wolf RdW Alexandria, OH 45381-9339
Phone number 937-839-5626

Adam W Loeffel
4297 Greenmount Ave
Memphis, TN 38122-2626
Phone number 901-682-3812
BYC profile: https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/1111/herechickchick
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adams-flock

Rob Mongold [email protected] had some lovely bantam Speckled Sussex,
as I remember. Here is his 2002 website via archive.org. http://tinyurl.com/la3ov69
Note: not sure the geocities email is still vaild.

Rev, Paul Ashbrook created at lovely line and just a while ago, sold it . Painted Feathers Farm
http://www.paintedfeathersfarm.webs.com obtained some and are crossing it with Overton :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631078/bantam-speckled-sussex-chicks

 

[3riverschick]

------------
Speckled Sussex are a tri-color breed and thus the most difficult to breed to feather because of all the color balancing involved. However, we are blessed that several master breeders have brought both the bantam and large fowl of this variety to top winning line status. On Large: Gary Overton, OH; Mr. Tony Albrittion, ID, Walt Reichert, KY, etc. In bantam: Gary Overton "Mr. Sussex", OH; Skytop Bantams, PA http://www.reocities.com/skytopbantams/sussex.html Look at the breed type on "Party", Wow! Just lovely type all thru this strain which is basically a meld of Overton and Mongold. ; Rob Mongold, OH; Adam Leoffel, KY, etc.
In Sussex fowl , the physical characteristics are so closely aligned with the breeds; production virtues, that if a bird doesn't look like a Sussex, it literally isn't a Sussex. This breed has rich literary history in English. You can actually read online one of the classic books on the breed by Mr. Sharpe, a legendary breeder/judge who was also actually the originator of the Light Sussex.
https://archive.org/details/cu31924003091398
There is a parent Club for Sussex, The American Sussex Breeders Association (website, with a Breeder's Directory) and a bunch of different Sussex threads which enjoy popularity here in BYC! In Sussex, the best winter layers are March-hatched.

Here is an anthology of info I wrote on getting started in quality fowl.
Where to find show quality and foundation quality Speckled Sussex in the USA:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/429217/show-quality-speckled-sussex/1970#post_13959610
post #1978 of 2043
--------------------------
Study the breed and find out what it's greatest need will be in 5 years.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...esteading-heritage-poultry/2520#post_14526815
post #2524 of 2524
===================
Here is a way to get started quality birds.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882047/the-dorking-breeders-thread/280#post_14479577
post #284 of 291
---------------------
Get started birds. It is the wisest way to begin.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/882047/the-dorking-breeders-thread/280#post_14479520
post #283 of 291
---------------------------------
Looking to be introduced to breeding show quality birds, was wondering where to get started.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/941219/where-did-you-get-your-starting-pair#post_14459908
post #2 of 11
======================
Go to your local feed store or Tractor Supply and buy a bottle of Poultry Nutri-Dench or Goat Nutri-Dench.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/941182/new-chicken-parent#post_14454501
post #4 of 9
==================
Does anyone have any suggestions for inexpensive sources of grains? Yup. Plotspike.
I have superb results with their Forage Oats.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...prouts-to-feed-the-chickens/700#post_14441278
post #707 of 762
====================
If I could have only 8 books in my Library they would be :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/940222/books-and-siites-on-poultry-genetics#post_14435187
post #4 of 6
===================================
TIGHT OR LOOSE FEATHERING.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...esteading-heritage-poultry/2340#post_14402190
post #2349 of 2524
This is very important to understand when beeding Sussex fowl.
------------------------
Can't say it often enough. Save the ,money and buy the very best.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...esteading-heritage-poultry/2280#post_14389826
post #2284 of 2524
==========================
How to Deal With Travel Stress in Baby Chicks
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/938139/how-common-is-it-for-chicks-die-when-shipped#post_14370214
post #3 of 5
======================
The Science of Feeding Grit to Poultry
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/891051/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry
Posts 1 and 3.

I found it! The Glory Hole of all things grit for poultry. I was surfing "grit" tonight and decided to try HathiTrust Digital Library. One of my favs because they post lit published after that annoying 1926 public domain cutoff date. Lookie here! This is 84 pages of bibliography and abstracts about grit for poultry *and* it is published by the granite grit industry! I have been reading it and fabulous info here. So much is beginning to make sense. The abstracts are great because I get to see the knowledge/conclusions without having to find the whole article. ( scientific Cliff Notes, hee, hee!) Even when we have to take into account the early dates of some of the research, there is so much here! . It's full view. You can keyword search the text. I used "size grit" and came up with some fascinating hits. Esp. on pages 38, 48, and 49. Enjoy! There is so much to digest here! ( pun intended!).
Grit for poultry: bibliography and abstract.
Author: Branion, Hugh Douglas, 1906-
Published: New York, Granite Grit Institute of America [1960]
84 p. 28 cm.
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89043737196;view=1up;seq=1

Best Regards,
Karen in western PA

 

[Eggsakly]

Hi, Karen. Thanks so much for the info. I will read every bit of it. I have contacted Skytop in the past, and as you write, their website is no longer active nor do they seem to be breeding the bantam Sussex. I have also checked the American Sussex Association for breeders and contacted every one listed. The woman in California won't ship. The guy in Michigan isn't selling this year, but hopes to next year. There was one man in Washington or Oregon, I cannot remember, who had SS bantams and Welsummer bantams, until just before I called him. At that time he had just gotten rid of his Specked Sussex.

Bummer.

Maybe someday. In the mean time, I'll read your post. Thanks for going the extra mile!

 

[3riverschick]

Hi, Karen. Thanks so much for the info. I will read every bit of it. I have contacted Skytop in the past, and as you write, their website is no longer active nor do they seem to be breeding the bantam Sussex. I have also checked the American Sussex Association for breeders and contacted every one listed. The woman in California won't ship. The guy in Michigan isn't selling this year, but hopes to next year. There was one man in Washington or Oregon, I cannot remember, who had SS bantams and Welsummer bantams, until just before I called him. At that time he had just gotten rid of his Specked Sussex.

Bummer.

Maybe someday. In the mean time, I'll read your post. Thanks for going the extra mile!

Hi,
Adam Loeffel got his bantam Speckled directly from Skytop. Pure Skytop. Tell him I sent you. Karen Tewart with the Light Sussex. if he doesn't have them any more, ask who he rehomed them to. Get on the grapevine or ask me and Iwill see if I can research their whereabouts.
Go back and ask these folk who they sold their birds to. Then let me know maybe we can find them. It's a thing I do. As for the lady in CA, find a friend near her willing to get chicks from her. Have them raise them up and ship to you. Or have them get get eggs, hatch them for you and ship you the chicks. Give the shipper a nice number of the chicks as a reward. Make sure the grower/shipper you choose has never, ever had sickness on ther property. But be careful not to be ofensive when you ask. I believe this person will have to be NPIP( tested and cleared of disease) to ship out of Calif. But, not if they are shipping you eggs. If youc an find someone willing to buy eggs and ship to you overnight express that day , it would be ideal. But buy a lot of eggs because that's a lot of movement for the eggs. I think I would FEDEX them because as I remember, FEDEX has pressurized cargo holds. I remember that from shipping chilled semen for dog breeding, I would box the eggs and then put the box in a Styrofoam shipping package like they use for Omaha Steaks or chilled semen. Then write on the outside, "fragile chilled live semen". The idea here being that FedEx doesn't know if this it racehorse semen or chicken eggs, so more careful with them. Question it, how big is that box and how many prepacked eggs can it hold? I know the Omaha Steak cooler is bigger.
forget all the dog stuff, just looking at the packaging and labeling. https://tinyurl.com/jbq282j
Or ask an experienced shipper of eggs here on BYC.
Best,
Karen

 

[Eggsakly]

What great ideas. You've done this before. I can tell. I may know someone in northern California who would do it for me. He is out of the country until late March, but he will return early this spring. He may very well ship some eggs or chicks for me.

Rhetorically, who is Adam Loeffel? I'm new at this chicken stuff, as you might tell by my low number of posts and rating of "just hatched." I will do a search on the site for his name and contact info.

Yes, if possible we should do something about this lack of Sussex bantams in the US. It's a terrible oversight on our part!

 

[3riverschick]

I am such a fan of the Light Sussex. They are a great variety for someone who wants to get into Sussex and is beginning in poultry. That's several reasons. One is the color. The Light Sussex is eWh/eWh Co/Co S/S .
The Wheaten Allele. ( An allele is the basic canvas upon which the other colors and heir modifiers are painted. There are a bunch of them in poultry). Since the Light Sussex carries 2 copies of everything it is "pure" for each of those things. No worrying about "in-between" allele bases or color combinations. The are called a Silver Columbian based on the eWh allele.
Why do we care about the allele? Because it makes a big difference in how the birds are bred. In a pure eWh Silver Columbian, the under color( called the down often). is white t the skin. No color balancing of the undercolor is necessary to achieve top color ( the outside feathers) in the bird. If a Silver Columbian ( like the Light Brahma) is eb ( Brown ) allele based, the undercolor will have a hue(s) of color in them. This hued undercolor must be balanced in the proper color ratios or the top color will not be correct. Usually what happens in a Light Brahma is that unbalanced undercolor results in scattered black feathers in the white part of the bird's body.
So we see with the Light Sussex we can spend more time breeding proper breed type and not worrying about color. That said there are still a couple of color considerations in Light Sussex breeding. For instance one must not breed too much Black into the hackle ( neck feathers). if this happens the bird gets a "superhackle" ( popular I the UK right now). This is when the black in the hackle is so widespread that the bird look like it has a solid back ring around the bottom half of the hackle. The Light Sussex cock in the 1st post of this thread has a perfect APA hackle.
Another color consideration I have come across (and that I think is researched correctly) is getting proper ratio of the black in the wings when mating birds. I had a generation show up with scattered grey feathers upon the white of the bird's withers. I believe it was because I bred birds together which each had so much black in their wings. This caused black to bleed thru as scattered grey feathers on the withers. I wasn't aware at that time that amount of black in the wing feathers might be a consideration.
So we have a variety here easy to breed for color. What else recommends the Light Sussex to the beginner? Like all proper Sussex, they are docile and curious. The Light however, had its heritage tweaked also be a good layer, as the original Sussex was mainly a meat bird. The Sharpe book (readable online , URL in one of the previous posts) was written by the man ( Sharpe) who created the Light Sussex, invaluable info for the Light Sussex Fancier. Still, the Sussex breed was originally a meat breed. When I raise my Light Sussex, they are raised as meat birds on a meat bird diet from hatch. I used Agway Meatbird(by Cargill) with great success. I believe Cargill also makes a Meatbird of their own in the Naturewise category. I use the mediated crumble Meatbird diet. They thrive on it. If your cockerel seem long legged, don't worry the great breed and judge Leo Outram notes in his book about Sussex that he like to see a cockerel a bit high on its legs because as they mature the carcass settles down on the legs and they look just right.
The Sussex should never look like and Orpington. What did Outram mean by that? The Sussex is a close feathered breed. The Orpington more loose feathered. How can I tell the difference. In the Sussex the "pantaloons" ( fluffy feathered region below the tail and stretching down to the legs) should not be obscuring the side profile of the thighs. In Orpingtons, we see this as the pantaloons are so large one cannot see the definition of the thigh in profile. See Katherine Plummer's painting of the ideal Light Sussex she did for the 2010 APA SOP: http://www.katherineplumer.com/closeups/poultry/SOP/LLightSussex.html
What is close feathering? It was described beautifully by William White Broomhead in his masterful brochure on the Light Sussex put out by the UK/s British Poultry Club. Judge Broomhead was a Judge for the Sussex Club, one of 3 Broomhead brothers renowned in UK poultry circles. he went on to become President of the British Poultry Club. This brochure was written as soldiers were coming back from WWI and the government was urging them to get into the poultry business as a means of earning a living. Because in the Sussex, the breed hallmarks are so closely tied to the production virtues that "literally" if a bird doesn't look like a Sussex, it is not a Sussex... the advice and counsel in this brochure are timeless and relevant today.
The Light Sussex by William White Broomhead, published 1921. http://www.tinyurl.com/jks9ddh
Best Regards,
karen

 

[3riverschick]

What great ideas. You've done this before. I can tell. I may know someone in northern California who would do it for me. He is out of the country until late March, but he will return early this spring. He may very well ship some eggs or chicks for me.

Rhetorically, who is Adam Loeffel? I'm new at this chicken stuff, as you might tell by my low number of posts and rating of "just hatched." I will do a search on the site for his name and contact info.

Yes, if possible we should do something about this lack of Sussex bantams in the US. It's a terrible oversight on our part!

That's great Eggsakly!
Just what you need. the best Sussex winter layers are hatched in March, historically.
If he can ship chciks thta's even better because they would be earlier hatched.
I have always used http://www.boxesforbirds.com Great folk, expert bird shippers. Just tell them what age and fowl you have and they will sell you the right box ( resuable) . Floor it with a non-skid surface like exelesior mats with a brown Kraft paper bottom. If you think they will be going thru cold areas, tape to the inside of the box some of those hand warmers. Nothing longer than 40 hours tho, as the initial heat spike in those hand warming pads which last longer than 40 hours is too hot for the chicks to lean against. Put some Grogel + in there with the chicks. Buy the smallest bottle of Bovidr Labs Poultry Nutri-Drench http://www.nutridrench.com ( Tractor Supply) and have the shipper give each of the chicks a dose before shipping. Have another bottle on hand at your place to dose them as soon as they arrive to combat travel stress. Then put the Drench in their water for the 1st 2 weeks they are with you to get them off to a strong start. The water should look like weak tea. I always ship birds USPS Express Overnight. Track them during flight and call your post office to let them call you when they arrive. Buy all these supplies and ship them to the shipper. It will cost to get the birds to you but if the quality is right it is worth every penny.
Best, Make sure your shipper does not need to be NPIP to get birds into your State.
Karen

Adam is a real nice guy who knew a good thing when he saw it. Skytop seems to be to be particular and I am impressed they sold Adam some of their stock when I know others had been clamoring for it and didn't get any. I was just following the Net on that and have only desired large fowl, smile. I haven't talked to Adam in a while and se his latest webpage does not show bantam SS. However, I would not let that deter me. I would talk to him anyway. I found Adam to be easy to talk to and knowledgeable about his birds. I am not sure Adam shows these lovely birds. he would not be the first person I met with stunning birds who just bred them for him/her self. Adam's contact info is in post 24.
Best,
Karen