show quality speckled sussex ??

[snowbird]

Quote:
Jeff, good question. Anytime we are working with white spangles like this it is always a balancing act going on. Some of the feathers are required to have larger areas of white tips. The main thing here is do not use a male that has the White feathers in wing and tail. Use the male with less white spangling also.

 

[Orange Ribbon]

Quote:
Jeff, good question. Anytime we are working with white spangles like this it is always a balancing act going on. Some of the feathers are required to have larger areas of white tips. The main thing here is do not use a male that has the White feathers in wing and tail. Use the male with less white spangling also.

Gotcha! Thanks a bunch.

 

[Orange Ribbon]

Well folks, I hope to be the owner of a new flock of non-hatchery Speckled Sussex next weekend. I didn't want to say anything until I made the deal and knew for sure I was getting them. I was going to pick them up Friday, but the breeder lives on the coast and wants me to wait since they are right in the path of the hurricane and were working to get everything battened down. I sure hope they make it through the storm!

I feel very fortunate to have found these birds, and although they need some work, they are the best SS I've been able to find. The breeder sent me some pictures taken that day, and right off I noticed some faults. The hens have tails too high, and the roosters have too much white in the wings and tail. I almost decided not to get them, but I sent a couple of the pictures to Snowbird to see what he thought about them. He noted the faults I saw, but said the hens looked really good with dark mahogany coloring, good wide backs and big chests. Same with the roosters, but he says it is best to find some better roosters to breed with due to the white. Now they have some other SS she hatched out from another breeder, so some of those might be good, but they are still young. I already made a down payment for them to hold the entire flock, so we'll see.

Thanks again, Snowbird, for your assistance! I sure do appreciate the time you took to look at the pictures and give me a shout. I know it will take some time to straighten these SS out, but I will do my best and hopefully in the future can have a great flock. It will take some work, but it will be fun. I am very excited! I will post pictures after I pick them up.

Boy, I hope they don't get blown away. I bet they will lose power and phones for a few days, so it is hard to say when I will be able to get in touch with them. I wish I could have got them before the storm hit. I'll be a nervous wreck before I hear from them!

 

[stormylady]

Quote:
Hi, See if you can get a closeup to see the eye color.

Very nice SS pullet.

Comb needs some work.

Nice broad Chest

Nice Spangles

Mahogany looks very good from the picture.

Tail ok could be a little more open

Tail looks to be molting so nothing to worry about.

Nice leg color and with between

Check to make sure the back is wide all the way back to the tail. Run your hand cupped starting in front and all the way back and you will be able to tell if the back is tapered or wide at tail intersection.

Thankyou so much Snowbird! I will go out and get another picture of her eyes, but Im pretty sure there still alittle on the greenish side just starting to turn bay colored.

 

[stormylady]

Quote:
Congrats on your new Babies!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

This seems to be a good thread to ask. Does anyone know where I can get Speckled Sussex hatching eggs within driving distance of Fayetteville, Arkansas? I'm not necessarily concerned about Show Quality, though that would be nice. I want to avoid shipping eggs if I can.

Thanks.

 

[stormylady]

Heres a picture of Lucy's eyes that you asked for and I couldn't catch her she was free ranging and no intention of stopping so tryed to get a pic of her top side. She does seem to taper in the pic.

Thanks again!! Sandy

 

[stormylady]

Here is Pullet #2 This is Emerald she is also just barely 20 weeks old. Her leg band is green, they all got different colors on that way I can keep there pics straight. LOL I included an face (eye color) picture and spread wing pics just incase you needed them.

Seems like emerald has more of a green sheen on the black then Lucy does? Looking forward to your critiques!

Thanks again, Sandy

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
I see the same good and a little bad that I seen on the other pullet. I would not worry about the eye color at this age. The comb could use a little work. The back on these pullets could be a little broader and wider all the way back.Overall two very nice pullets though. With the right male you could raise some nice SS from these pullets.

 

[stormylady]

Quote:
I see the same good and a little bad that I seen on the other pullet. I would not worry about the eye color at this age. The comb could use a little work. The back on these pullets could be a little broader and wider all the way back.Overall two very nice pullets though. With the right male you could raise some nice SS from these pullets.

Thankyou so much!! I knew that they would have flaws LOL but Im in seventh heaven right now, I was expecting the worst. But You said "overall very nice pullets" that means alot to me. However Im not sure what you mean by (comb needs some work?) I know you mean using a really nice male with a great comb, just not sure what that looks like Yet? So what I need so far in a Rooster is one with a Really nice comb, and a wide back right? Well I got 3 more girls to go, and will post pics of them soon. Thanks again!