Can you remind me what went wrong with the Red Sussex ? I am thinking of adding sussex - Thanks
It was just these particular birds, I think Sand Hill has a long way to go to get them to where they are supposed to be. IF I was to ever get them again there is only one other place that has them, Waltz's Ark, I'd have to give theirs a try. Their description of their breeding program for the red sussex sounds like they might have some good ones.
Green Fire made mention, I believe it was here on BYC on a old thread I read that they had imported some reds and had much of the same problems other breeders experienced, color problems, dark spangling on the chest (I had a few cockerels that had this) size issues, they decided to scrap them.
Sussex in any other variety would be a great addition to anyone's flock. Very similar to good New Hampshire's, but with a way much further back history. Sussex are great egg layers and have a good nice heavy carcass, great dual purpose birds.
The reds I got, beautiful birds, pretty much SOP as far as color, did have a few cockerels with wrong black spangling in the chest but did have two real nice correct colored one's, nice black hackle definition, white legs. Disappointed me on size and meatiness, did not fill out very good at all. I've had production RIRs that were way meatier than these things. I still have a few hens, while they are great layers they lay small eggs about the size of golf balls and mostly round, pathetic looking eggs.
If you were to get some sussex what variety are you looking to get? And from where?
