show quality speckled sussex ??

[math ace]

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I hope

you are right.... I've got to select 2 or 3 at the most to grow out. They are just terriozing each other too much.
They are constantly pulling each others tail feathers out. The girls are kept totally separate.
These 6 SS cockerels and 1 marans cockerel all share a large 75 x 75 pen....
You would think that would be enough space for the little turds!

 

[LibertyChick]

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How old are they LibertyChick?

It is very hard to evaluate the breed until they have gone through their Juvie molt.... around 4 - 5 months of age.
Even the ones I am posting are still a little young to be evaluating. Unfortunately, I need to then the cockerels down a little bit due to the fighting.

When yours get a little older, you will need to take pics of them one at a time for the best evaluation.
Also, you will need to take a pic from the front, top, side, and back. Plus, spread a wing and take a shot of it.

It is a LOT of work to take all these pics, but it helps the pros give you the best feed back.

They were 12 weeks in the photos (almost 14 weeks now). They are losing a lot of feathers...in my opinion, this is my first time owning chickens. Do they lose all their feathers or do they grow them in as they are losing them?

What is the best way to take their pictures individually. How would I keep them still and where would I put them there they wouldn't fly away?

 

[math ace]

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Have you introduced yours to treats ? ? If not, start getting them trained to associate you with good things. My birds come running when they hear me callling because I am the "treat" lady. I start training them to the treats while they are still penned. Then I use the treats to motivate them when they are out free ranging.

They don't really fly away at this age. They might walk away, but flying is not a big issue.

I have 16 girls and when I want to take pics I get a handful of treats and recruit some extra help. ...
Someone needs to hold them to get the wing shot. The rest of the shots you can take as they are walking around.

I just follow mine around and snap as they go. The extra person helps corral them back if they start roaming the wrong way.
It takes patience.... I get two or three birds done at a setting.

 

[math ace]

I've collected some data for us to look at.
I weighed the cockerels this morning and this is what I found:


Leg Band Weight Age
Number

21 4 lbs 10 oz 21 weeks old ( post # 342 on page # 35)

19 4 lbs 5 oz 18 weeks old ( no pics posted yet)

20 4 lbs 0 oz 18 weeks old ( posted yesterday post # 396)

22 4 lbs 15 oz 18 weeks old ( posted first, post #330 on page 33)

23 4 lbs 0 oz 18 weeks old ( post # 355 on page # 36)

No leg band 4 lbs 1 oz 18 weeks old ( no pics yet)


I check the wings on all the cockerels ... and they all have white in the wings. I am hoping this is because they are so young and have not gone through the Juvie molt yet.

Weights - - - My mature marans roosters are close to the 9 lb standard that they are suppose to be. The speckleds sussex cocks are suppose to be 9 lbs too according to the SOP.
I have a marans cockerel born in the hatch as the other 18 week olds. He weighs in at a whopping 5 lbs and 13 ounces. To me, this means my speckled sussex cockerels are 1 to 2 lbs below the weight they should be at this age.

File this away in you speckled sussex file cabinet.... I think our speckled sussex cockerels at the 18 week mark should weigh around 5 1/2 to 6 lbs if they are going to be the appropriate size at maturity.

 

[snowbird]

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Jenny, will try and tell you what I see in your SS. If you plan on breeding to the SOP you will need to acquire some better quality SS. I believe your SS are Hatchery quality fowl and will explain why.

Look closely at the white that is supposed to be a diamond, On this male there is no Diamond only blury white. There is a name for this but can not think of what it is called at present.

Even though we know the Comb points have been frozen of we know that this male will not place in a show. His wattles appear to be a little large also. His back does not carry through all the way to the rear, it tapers off drastically.

edited to say, with the amount of White in the Wing feathers he should be DQ'd for that alone.

 

[snowbird]

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Jenny, These girls also have the faded out White Diamond, are they related to the male ?

 

[snowbird]

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Lisa, are these squirrel tail males all from the same place and hatch ? Also this one appears to be Roach Back from the one picture.

 

[Orange Ribbon]

Jumping in on rooster 20. All of the pictures won't come up on my slow dialup, but from what I can see that is a pretty good looking bird. Only two negative things that stand out to me are the white in the wings and the sickle feathers standing straight up.

I have two questions:

Can the white feathers in the wings be replaced with good feathers when they molt?

Is it okay for SS roosters to have white speckles in the neck and head area?

 

[snowbird]

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RustyHen, will comment on your comments. The things you bring up are all caused by other parts being correct. For the Pubic Bone to be correct you must have a nice wide and long Back. The back should be wide all the way to the tail. When the female is at the point of lay the Pubic Bones will widen. Check page #21-22 in the SOP 2001.

The rib cage will be nice and wide if the Chest is wide and you have a wide shoulder and back. Page #21-22.

All comments are welcome as Lisa has made it a point for all to Comment and ask questions.

 

[snowbird]

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Orange Ribbon, will try and answer your questions. Sometimes in the Juve molt the white wing and tail feathers will leave, but if they stay after the molt cull if you plan on breeding to the SOP. If you breed fowl with major faults expect to have young with the same faults.

Yes, the SS male should have White spangles in the chest and head area. Most prefer the male for breeding have a little less white in the areas.