show quality speckled sussex ??

[3riverschick]

Quote: Oh, I am so sorry for your loss! I think Bill Fox in Ohio has some really nice ones. Check the Net for his contact info. He can also connect you with other Ohio Speckled Sussex breeders.
Best,
Karen

 

[cowchick11]

Mary, so sorry to hear of the loss of your flock.

It would be irronic if Mr. Fox could restock you after this loss by Mrs. Fox.

I actually got my brother to help me weigh my birds really quick this evening. I think he only did it to get a few birds on the freezer camp list for this week. He may even have been drooling on some of the reject cockerels.
So, looking back in the information on my new cockerel he will be a year old about the middle of this month. Tonight he weighed 7# 10 oz., so awesome for a cockerel as they should be 7# 8 oz.!!!! Now if he can put on even another pound over the next year he will be even more awesome for size, cocks should be 9#
The girls just turned into hens a month ago (not pumpkins, hens) the numbers are strictly for me with this post but have not changed if someone looks back at the photos from last Sept. Pullets should be 6 # and hens should be 7 #, yes, taken from the SOP.
SS Orange 80- 4# 14 oz.
SS Orange 81- 5# 6 oz.
SS Orange 78 - 6 # 5 oz. (She has consistently done the best at shows too)
SS Orange 83 - 5 # 12 oz.
All four of these girls have been treated the same eccept the smallest has been in with the layer flock as I noticed she was smaller last fall. Guess she goes back in and the top two or three go in with the new guy.

 

[Pozees]

Hello everyone, I'm sorry to report that last week a fox killed 10 hens, all nice birds, leaving me with only one SS hen. We have yet to trap the fox, who is here during the day, not just overnight. It's been a very sad time; never had daytime losses like this, and my overnight coop is Ft. Knox. My nasty rooster met his end a few weeks ago, so I'll be starting over with SS. Darn!!! Any advice on catching Mrs. Fox??? Any SS chicks near southern Michigan? Mary

So sorry, how heartbreaking! I don't know how far you are from Idaho but you could ask Tony Albritton if he has any more he could ship to you. I got chicks from him a month ago, they are lovely [email protected]

 

[math ace]

You have all reminded me to weigh my, now hens, today as I'm getting so close to putting them in with the new rooster. And the cockerel too. My girls were hatched last year about April 1. I still have to finish that darn pen to get everyone moved around! Then the even harder choice of put the best in the breeding pen or hold out the best two for the upcoming show???

Arrrrgggghhhh, I hate these kind of decisions. Hold onto your hats when you see the comb on this guy, it is way too big. The white feather in his tail is not solid. I really like the minimal white on his chest and his stance is very wide.

Comb issues are genetic and very easily passed to the next generation.
This guy should be an automatic DQ from the show ring due to the floppiness of his comb.... Don, jump in here and correct me if I am wrong

Also, a floppy comb like this one can indicate that the chicken is not well, sick.
Good luck with him cowchick11. If he is new to your flock, I would isolate him and watch him for a while.

 

[math ace]

Hello everyone, I'm sorry to report that last week a fox killed 10 hens, all nice birds, leaving me with only one SS hen. We have yet to trap the fox, who is here during the day, not just overnight. It's been a very sad time; never had daytime losses like this, and my overnight coop is Ft. Knox. My nasty rooster met his end a few weeks ago, so I'll be starting over with SS. Darn!!! Any advice on catching Mrs. Fox??? Any SS chicks near southern Michigan? Mary

Sorry... on your loss... They become our babies and any loss is tragic!

 

[Folly's place]

Thanks so much for the kind words, I've been pretty upset. The fox is still around, as neighbors saw her today viewing the meat bird pen next door. Darn!!! So far two opossums caught, so the live traps are doing some good. I think maybe chicken parts in the traps tomorrow. Mary

 

[snowbird]

Comb issues are genetic and very easily passed to the next generation.
This guy should be an automatic DQ from the show ring due to the floppiness of his comb.... Don, jump in here and correct me if I am wrong

Also, a floppy comb like this one can indicate that the chicken is not well, sick.
Good luck with him cowchick11. If he is new to your flock, I would isolate him and watch him for a while.

Lisa, The Comb like this one has would be a DQ and also should be culled from an SOP type of SS. This floppy type Comb will produce more of the same.

Couple of comments on the light and Dark SS. For showing as young Fowl the light colored fowl will work much better. The darker fowl will show better as adults since they will get more color as they age.

I always tried to raise some of the lighter ones to show as young adults and more of the darker fowl to show as full grown adults. The Spangled and speckled fowl will lighten as they get older.

 

[snowbird]

This male also has a High tail set and the Back appears to be short. These two things usually go hand in hand with poultry.

 

[BrierRabbit]

I'm looking for some SS to show and have run upon this add for chicks. I don't know anything about showing poultry but what do you think of the flock pictured?
http://eastky.craigslist.org/grd/3775691726.html

 

[math ace]

I'm looking for some SS to show and have run upon this add for chicks. I don't know anything about showing poultry but what do you think of the flock pictured?
http://eastky.craigslist.org/grd/3775691726.html

The ad does not say anything about "show Quality" . Folks will normally say something about the birds being exhibition or show quality if they are. From the pictures, it looks like the flock has many hens with pinched tails. That is another sign that the flock is not show quality. If you are looking for Show quality SS, you should familiarize yourself with the posts on this thread. The poultry world is a "buyer beware" place. If you find SQ SS and aren't familiar with the standard, you will ruin the flock quickly.