Farming and Homesteading Heritage Poultry

[KenK]

18 week old Speckled Sussex cockerel, 2 pounds 12 ounces. I have one more of these and the one still living appears to be a good bit bigger than this one. Hatched and raised with the Dominique shown above.

The thigh meat on this bird was notably lighter in color than the Dominique was. I have not noticed any major difference in the activity level between the Doms and Sussex.

A nice fryer I think. Will post back after I actually fry and eat it tonight.

Edit to add photo of cooked bird, it was delicious.

 

[punky rooster]

Really, the Dominique was larger? I'm impressed.
Mitch

 

[KenK]

I had two Dominique cockerels and two Sussex. Don't really think that is a large enough sample to draw much of a conclusion. They aren't necessarily "show" Dominiques either. The Sussex pullets are much larger than the Dom pullets.

BTW, got my first egg yesterday and I'm almost positive it came from one of the 18 week Dom pullets.

 

[SuttonHeritageFarm]

Great topic! Those pics are making me hungry! I hope to have some Barred Rocks ready for the table in about 2-3 months.

 

[Yellow House Farm]

Hmmm...from my experience growing those two breeds, which I can't claim to be extensive--just a couple of seasons, I think of the Dominique as faster maturing than the Sussex. I think of the Sussex in much the same way as the Dorking, which really doesn't reach its prime until 24-26 weeks as a roaster. At that point, considering your stock in each is of reasonable quality, your Sussex should be larger than the Dominiques. I remember the Dominqiues as smaller, but they had excellent form. The Sussex were good eating.

 

[Illia]

Curious, what sort of lines of Sussex are we talking about here? Because I'd love to know what people got out of the imported Sussex. Those birds are BIG and I plan using mine to cross for a meat project, and so far, when I carry the birds they certainly feel much more meaty than the last photos shown.



I noticed the poster said "Speckled Sussex" - I guess that answers it for me.


I'd love to see what people get out of imported Light or Coronation Sussex.

 

[hudsonnascarfan]

at what age do the roosters start to fight with each other id like to hatch out a bunch of chicks this spring and dont want to end up with a bunch of roosters fighting id like to be sending them to freezer camp before they do but i also want some roaster size birds its just my wife and i here but shes a breast only type chicken eater she doesent care for the darker meat i myself dont really care i like both if next springs hatching rate is anything like what i did this year we will have lots of roosters i was hatching out 3 roosters to one pullet this year lol

 

[Illia]

Quote:
They won't fight each other unless they're gamefowl.

I've been growing and raising roosters amongst each other in groups from 6-32 for years now and never had any serious issues. As long as you don't have a huge age gap between one group introduced to another, or simply one group or bird introduced to each other as adults, you're fine.

 

[hudsonnascarfan]

thats great cause i wasent sure and i know my wife wouldnt like them fighting im trying to do a few different breeds but none are game birds
Quote:
They won't fight each other unless they're gamefowl.

I've been growing and raising roosters amongst each other in groups from 6-32 for years now and never had any serious issues. As long as you don't have a huge age gap between one group introduced to another, or simply one group or bird introduced to each other as adults, you're fine.

 

[gootziecat]

It would be a great reference for many of us to see pictures, such as KenK posted, of different breeds or different ages of breeds dressed, so they can be compared. Many of us are interested in the meat aspect, with weights and/or feed conversions, and ages noted.