Chicken Breed Focus - Sussex

[Eggsakly]

Through the encouragement of Karen (3riverschick) to try numerous avenues, I purchased 10+ bantam Speckled Sussex hatching eggs on ebay. I've never done this before, not any of it, but with any luck at all I may have my heart's desired chicken breed soon, at least one of them. Keeping my fingers crossed.


What made you decide to get this breed?
Reputation for friendliness and egg laying. I had a very sweet, friendly Easter egger, and I miss her terribly. I like my Brahmas, but they are not friendly. They are nice little egg layers, though! Speckled Sussex have an awesome reputation for being engaged with their people, and I really enjoy that in my chickens. I consider them to be friends with benefits.

Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
I want them for eggs and breeding. I'm interested in them because they are large for a bantam, according to the information I have found. My Brahmas are hefty birds and I like the large bantams in general. I'm interested in heritage bantam breeds that make good layers and are friendly. The breeder of the Sussex eggs I'm getting states that her bantams are "outstanding" layers of large bantam eggs, something I'm interested in for my flock. (Some of my bantam Brahma eggs are very nice sized, 1-1/2 to 1-5/8 oz.)

What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
Not entirely certain yet, but I will know more soon, one way or another. If my hatching eggs fail I may have to find a couple of the LF girls; they are much easier to come by. As stated, eggs and personality, and it doesn't hurt that they are so beautiful. What gorgeous colors and pattern.

Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!
I hope I have that opportunity!

 

[Faraday40]

Through the encouragement of Karen (3riverschick) to try numerous avenues, I purchased 10+ bantam Speckled Sussex hatching eggs on ebay. I've never done this before, not any of it, but with any luck at all I may have my heart's desired chicken breed soon, at least one of them. Keeping my fingers crossed.


What made you decide to get this breed?
Reputation for friendliness and egg laying. I had a very sweet, friendly Easter egger, and I miss her terribly. I like my Brahmas, but they are not friendly. They are nice little egg layers, though! Speckled Sussex have an awesome reputation for being engaged with their people, and I really enjoy that in my chickens. I consider them to be friends with benefits.

Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
I want them for eggs and breeding. I'm interested in them because they are large for a bantam, according to the information I have found. My Brahmas are hefty birds and I like the large bantams in general. I'm interested in heritage bantam breeds that make good layers and are friendly. The breeder of the Sussex eggs I'm getting states that her bantams are "outstanding" layers of large bantam eggs, something I'm interested in for my flock. (Some of my bantam Brahma eggs are very nice sized, 1-1/2 to 1-5/8 oz.)

What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
Not entirely certain yet, but I will know more soon, one way or another. If my hatching eggs fail I may have to find a couple of the LF girls; they are much easier to come by. As stated, eggs and personality, and it doesn't hurt that they are so beautiful. What gorgeous colors and pattern.

Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!
I hope I have that opportunity!

Best of luck in your hatching adventures. Shipped eggs can be tricky but sometimes the only way to get a specific rare breed. If you let the eggs rest (air cell up) for about a day it will help the air cells reattach after shipping. If they are still wiggly, you can even skip turning them for the 1st couple days of incubation.

 

[Eggsakly]

Hi, Faraday! Thanks so much for your response and advice. I will certainly do that.

I know that shipped eggs are iffy, but I will take what I can get and do the best I can. I have plugged in my incubator for a few days in the past and it was excellent at maintaining a steady temperature. I have a thermometer/hygrometer on hand, and plan on picking up a second one for greater accuracy. I'm retired and at home all the time, and able to monitor my incubator closely, so I have hopes that at a minimum I will be able to hatch at least two or three out of 10+ eggs.

I will monitor my progress with photos, including hopefully those adorable little chipmunk chicks. I've wanted this breed for two years. I'm quite pleased with this turn of events.

 

[Eggsakly]

Faraday, when I replied a moment ago I didn't realize you were the author of that wonderful post about your beloved Sussex, your Sweetie, and your beautiful photos of your son. I love your post. Your photos illustrate exactly why I want Sussex chickens. Thanks for your encouragement.

 

[Eggsakly]

I think I should thank Sumi and everyone else for this thread. Because of the breed focus thread, the many comments and beautiful photos by members, and especially Karen's instigation

, I'm the new owner of Sussex hatching eggs, however they may turn out.

The help is great at BYC.

 

[N F C]

I think I should thank Sumi and everyone else for this thread. Because of the breed focus thread, the many comments and beautiful photos by members, and especially Karen's instigation

, I'm the new owner of Sussex hatching eggs, however they may turn out.

The help is great at BYC.

Best of luck with your hatch (and you know you have to share pictures of the new babies, right?)!

 

[Eggsakly]

Thank you, NFC. Are you kidding? If I get so much as one living chick, you all are going to hear all about it. With ample photos of every stage of the process, and numerous photos of new baby/babies. I'm already dreaming of the cuteness factor.

 

[Faraday40]

Hi, Faraday! Thanks so much for your response and advice. I will certainly do that.

I know that shipped eggs are iffy, but I will take what I can get and do the best I can. I have plugged in my incubator for a few days in the past and it was excellent at maintaining a steady temperature. I have a thermometer/hygrometer on hand, and plan on picking up a second one for greater accuracy. I'm retired and at home all the time, and able to monitor my incubator closely, so I have hopes that at a minimum I will be able to hatch at least two or three out of 10+ eggs.

I will monitor my progress with photos, including hopefully those adorable little chipmunk chicks. I've wanted this breed for two years. I'm quite pleased with this turn of events.

You're welcome. I have always hatched as part of my science classes and then donated the chicks to a local farm. I never dreamed of actually owning chickens until our daughter got into 4H & poultry about 4 years ago. Each year she comes up with new creative ideas for science projects - that of course involve incubation! I guess I am a hatch-a-holic & have passed along my problems with chicken math to my children! It used to just be the 2 of us, but now our son is getting older & joining in on the fun. Poor DH (dear husband) is outnumbered. When hatching day comes, we look like a family of raccoons b/c we're constantly watching the incubator. (i built one with ax extra large viewing window.) We also have "visiting hours" on hatching days for all the local kids who want to stop by to see a chick hatch.


Just wait until next week when you get to see your chick embryos via candling!



Warning: Hatching like chickens can be addictive! Since you're new to hatching, Here's a good link to get you started: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 Don't be worried or anxious about all the little things, since your goal is simply to get through your 1st hatch. Then you'll start trying to find ways to get your hatch percentage up. People have diff opinions & ways of doing things. In time, you'll find what works best for you, in your incubator, & in your climate.

Make sure to post pics! Chicks grow fast. It's also nice to be able to look back at past growth of chicks to predict future genders.

Edited to add another link on incubating shipped eggs: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ally-sunshine-bantychooks/53840#post_16540512

 

[Whittni]

 

[3riverschick]

Oh Whittni,
I especially love the pics of the 3rd and last birds. What strain are they? Really nice!
Karen