*HATCHARIES* Where, who, and dependability.

[lazy gardener]

Where ever you order, do so at the beginning of the year, so you can lock in your breeds and ship date to match your schedule. Be sure to not allow shipping during a week that has a mail holiday. And contact your local post master with your shipping date, address AND TELEPHONE number with instructions to call you immediately (no matter what time of day or night) when your chicks arrive so you can pick them up at the PO.

 

[KodaBlue]

Wow it's good to know that people have such good luck with buying from these different live chick outlets. I know this isn't the right thread for it but can some of you guys send me pictures of your flocks! I love seeing other people's bunches of squawkers!!

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
You won't find good Speckled Sussex at a hatchery. Leela Olson, Kindred Hill Farm NH. has stunning Speckled Sussex. So do other members of the American Sussex Association. Check the Breeder's Directory at the Club website.
http://www.americansussex.org/
It takes decades to get a stable enough gene pool to get the tricolor pattern to reproduce faithfully from one generation to the next. Speckled is the toughest color of Sussex to breed correctly for color , called "breeding to feather" in the fancy. There are some superb bantam Speckled Sussex out there if you are interested. You want bantams founded on the Mongold, Overton, or Skytop or Rev. Ashbrook strains. Or folk who have founded their strains on these 4 veteran show quality bantam strains.
A small note here about Sussex breed type in all colors.
The Sussex is a carefully balanced fowl. It's an ingenious combination of egg and meat virtues. The hallmarks in each production virtue are carefully balanced so the bird delivers both egg and meat production in acceptable quantities. Because of this, breed type is very important. Literally, if it doesn't "look" like a Sussex, it is "not" a Sussex because the egg and meat virtues are so closely aligned with the breed type silhouette. Here is what a quality Sussex should look like. These are paintings of the Ideal Sussex ( any color, just happens to be the "Light Sussex" color here) done by Ms. Plumer for the 2010 APA Standard Of Perfection book :
http://katherineplumer.com/closeups/poultry/SOP/LLightSussex.html
Best Regards,
Karen and the Light Sussex in western PA USA.
My avatar is a superb example of a 10 month old Light Sussex pullet.

 

[lazy gardener]

Depends on your flock goals. IMO, hatchery birds may be the better choice if you simply want a back yard laying flock. If you intend to get into serious breeding, spend the money on birds from a reputable breeder. Do your homework to find a breeder who has good stock, practices appropriate culling, and has not had any disease issues.

 

[Folly's place]

I don't show my birds, so SQ doesn't matter to me. I do want birds who reflect their breed standards, and as far as SS are concerned, I enjoy the differences in their speckling. Some are more correct in color than others, but nice big birds who lay eggs well matters to me more.
If SQ is your goal, that's different, and those birds may not be as good at egg production.
Mary

 

[3riverschick]

wait, wait wait. Do be worried about bringing illness onto your place! Some of these illnesses can remain on your property long after the birds are cured. Making it hard to bring in new stock. Buy your birds from a reputable dealer or breeder.
Best,
Karen

 

[Folly's place]

Marek's disease will last for a VERY LONG time in your environment once it arrives, and it's one of the reasons I only buy chicks from careful hatcheries, or very reputable breeders as day olds. Never older chicks or adults, Never.
Mary

 

[Chickassan]

I got my only speckled sussex from Meyer's she's still little but she did arrive very perky and seems to have a good mind.

 

[KodaBlue]

I got my only speckled sussex from Meyer's she's still little but she did arrive very perky and seems to have a good mind.View attachment 1486699 View attachment 1486700

That is so sweet! Thank you for sharing your pictures.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Where ever you order, do so at the beginning of the year, so you can lock in your breeds and ship date to match your schedule. Be sure to not allow shipping during a week that has a mail holiday. And contact your local post master with your shipping date, address AND TELEPHONE number with instructions to call you immediately (no matter what time of day or night) when your chicks arrive so you can pick them up at the PO.

I agree picking them up at the Post Office can be critical. First year of ordering we received a call and picked up the chicks immediately and lost none. Second year our phone was not working. P.O. gave the chicks to the regular delivery mail lady and it took another 5 hours for us to receive them. We lost 4 chicks because of delay.