NEW Sussex Color (Cuckoo)

[onthespot]

next step, send me some eggs!

 

[jeremy]

That's what I was going to say!

 

[onthespot]

I'm sure we can all share, and give back...

How many pullets do you have laying now?

 

[jeremy]

Quote:
Yes, definitely.

 

[riverrockfamilyfarm]

Not to many yet. I have 4 mature hens that are laying well and 2 young hens that have not started lay yet. Janice only kept the best of the best. The rest she gave away or sold to folks for backyard pets. She did not tell them what they were. I think my best plan right now is to hatch some eggs and get a few more hens on line. My Rooster is the only one that I know of right now.

I do have 2 Light Sussex pullets that show quite a bit of barring in their tails. A few months ago they would have been culled from my flock, but now I think I need to see what they will do. New genetics will be important for the health of the birds. When they start laying I may cross them onto the rooster and see what I get.

I will be putting in a few batches of eggs right now so I can get a feel for how true they are breeding. We are getting ready to head into winter here in Utah so I need to move forward very carefully. Babies can be a real challenge in our cold months.

I know am being selfish right now because I don't want this new color out there until I truly know how good they are. Janice said they a breeding true 90% +. The other 10% are almost all black with very little to no white and have been all hens.

First chicks should hatch 19 days from today.

Suzie

 

[jeremy]

Please do keep us updated!

 

[jmagill]

Just saw this thread.

I saw the first barred hen last year. I got some of my coronations and lights from Janice.
It is nice to see the results from that first chick.

I can verify that this is a full Sussex. I saw the breeding pens and all her breed stock myself.

I would love to join in on the breeding project. I have a big incubator and I live close.

 

[onthespot]

you are not being selfish, you are being careful and thoughtful as you start your breeding program. Everyone should be in a new variety. Thanks so much for sharing your story and your photos. I really enjoy seeing people develop new varieties. It's harder than it looks, and objects in mirror are closer than they appear, LOL.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Well I would believe that either the Light or the Silver Sussex are not pure for verity/ color.
Some where there was Barring added to either the Light or the Silver Sussex line that Greenfire has for what ever reason.


Chris

 

[riverrockfamilyfarm]

I just found this. If you google Cuckoo Sussex this picture comes up from 1926. This documents that there were Cuckoo Sussex in England. So It would also stand to reason that the barred gene exists in the back ground of some sussex lines.

The caption under the photo reads
SUSSEX 4: Sussex Cuckoo Pullet. 3rd place Barnstaple for Richard Terrot in 1926. Barnstaple was a huge agricultural show in England.