show quality speckled sussex ??

Pics
They belong to Hot2Pot. They were hatchery SS but she can't find the paperwork to confirm which hatchery they are from. They look like Meyers SS to me.
 
Quote:
------------
That's because the top show lines rarely sell eggs, or even young chicks. Speckled Sussex need to be culled for quality once at about 6-8 weeks and again at 12 weeks. The top show lines only sell started birds. Speckled Sussex are the most difficult of all the Sussex varieties to breed corectly because they are a tri-color variety. . Historically, that's how it's done in this variety to make sure only the best have a chance to procreate.
smile.png

Best Regards,
Karen

Most of us just enjoy the breed. They are all beautiful. Man, I am glad we don't "cull" people for their imperfections....the human race would be extinct.
 
Can you tell from an early age if a girl will be show worthy? Mine have such pretty coloring at the young age of 8 weeks. I just have no idea what to look for. I wish they could keep their blue eyes though!
 
Quote:
------------
That's because the top show lines rarely sell eggs, or even young chicks. Speckled Sussex need to be culled for quality once at about 6-8 weeks and again at 12 weeks. The top show lines only sell started birds. Speckled Sussex are the most difficult of all the Sussex varieties to breed corectly because they are a tri-color variety. . Historically, that's how it's done in this variety to make sure only the best have a chance to procreate.
smile.png

Best Regards,
Karen

Most of us just enjoy the breed. They are all beautiful. Man, I am glad we don't "cull" people for their imperfections....the human race would be extinct.

Yeah, imagine eating all the extra male people too. I make a point of never comparing humans to chickens. On that note though, if humans were culled for imperfections, they wouldn't go extinct. Within a few generations, most of the disorders of our species would vanish & we would all look alike, maybe like Speckled Sussex?
tongue.png

However, that's exactly what Hitler was after so we wont go down that road & luckily it isn't inhumane to selectively breed chickens to a standard. Without the strict breeders, there would be no Speckled Sussex to begin with. It is very important that each breed has dedicated people breeding to standard cause if not, THAT'S when they go extinct.
 
Quote:
This thread is strictly about teaching you what to look for in your own birds. Although it is 92 pages long, VERY LITTLE of this thread is pointless chit chat.
There are a lot of pics and teachings going on. Take the time to go back and read this thread from the beginning. The standard for showing speckled sussex is posted on the very first page.

8 weeks is too young to determine show quality. Their color will change many times in the early months.
At this young age you can start looking at things like - - leg color and combs.
In a few more weeks you can start looking at length of back and potential tail angle.

I like to weigh mine around 12 weeks of age and see how they are doing with that aspect of the SOP.
I check them again at 20 weeks and see if the leaders are still the leaders.
 
Last edited:
Quote:
This thread is strictly about teaching you what to look for in your own birds. Although it is 92 pages long, VERY LITTLE of this thread is pointless chit chat.
There are a long of pics and teachings going on. Take the time to go back and read this thread from the beginning. The standard for showing speckled sussex is posted on the very first page.

8 weeks is too young to determine show quality. Their color will change many times in the early months.
At this young age you can start looking at things like - - leg color and combs.
In a few more weeks you can start looking at length of back and potential tail angle.

I like to weigh mine around 12 weeks of age and see how they are doing with that aspect of the SOP.
I check them again at 20 weeks and see if the leaders are still the leaders.

Great thanks!!!
 
Quote:
JakRat,

I just went to look back at the beginning of this thread. The chick pictures I started posting were 7 and 10 weeks old. . . There are some real good tips given my snowbird on what you can or should be looking for right now. . . . HOWEVER, most of your decisions won't be made until that last Juvie molt... which is around 5 months of age.

OBTW EVERYONE - - -There sure is a lot of info at the beginning of this thread that is worth re-reading!
 
Last edited:
Great info.

I am such a visual learner and I do best by seeing comparisons. I think they are all beautiful! But that is because I am just a novice
smile.png


Here are some bad pics of my girls... I need to get the good camera out tomorrow and try to take some better shots.

28956_389480_10100180776853785_25402899_42626944_1406353434_n.jpg


28956_373863_10100170301576325_25402899_42579260_557117744_n.jpg


28956_img_2735.jpg


28956_img_2768.jpg


They are now 10 and 11 weeks old. The most recent picture was the one of my little girl sitting on the arm chair and that was last week... They are super sweet and are getting the neatest greenish sheen to the black parts of their feathers.

I just messaged the lady I got them from to ask about there parentage.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom