show quality speckled sussex ??

[BrierRabbit]

Thanks I'm supposed to pick a pullet for my 4H project but gosh, I haven't a clue where to start. I've not been able to find any adds for SQ chickens that aren't more than 3 hours away. I was originally set on Silkies but now I'm just concerned with finding anything. I've bred SQ Mini Rex rabbits for about four years now but that's not helping me any here,

 

[math ace]

Thanks I'm supposed to pick a pullet for my 4H project but gosh, I haven't a clue where to start. I've not been able to find any adds for SQ chickens that aren't more than 3 hours away. I was originally set on Silkies but now I'm just concerned with finding anything. I've bred SQ Mini Rex rabbits for about four years now but that's not helping me any here,

It will be way easier to find show quality silkies than it will be speckled sussex.
As far as locating them, Craigslist is probably not the best place to locate them.

You are in Kentucky, Walt Reichert is a breeder of SQ speckled sussex and he lives in Kentucky. I don't know how far Simpsonville is from you, but I can hook you up with an email address if you want to contact him.

As for SQ silkies, There are two places to look on BYC. First, check for a thread with KY chicken show information in it. Try this title...
Bluegrass Poultry Association Spring Show, April 6, 2013

You are looking for breeders who showed and won at a show near you. Hopefully, if they are showing near you, then perhaps they live near you. If not, they may be able to refer you to someone else.


Another place to look on BYC is on any Silkie thread. Make sure you tell them you are looking for them for a 4H project.

Good luck.... Final piece of advice. . . .STAY TRUE TO YOUR HEART! IF Silkies own you, don't give up on them. Raising chickens is NOT FUN if you pick something that doesn't do anything for you. Different strokes for different folks. I am a LARGE FOWL girl ONLY. A bantam would just not do anything for me.... STAY TRUE To your heart and you will enjoy this 4H project

 

[mrheinz77]

FYI CSU (chicken state university) will be looking to have Sussex pictures posted.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...e-university-large-fowl-sop/980#post_11250009

 

[math ace]

FYI CSU (chicken state university) will be looking to have Sussex pictures posted.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...e-university-large-fowl-sop/980#post_11250009

Mrheinz77,

Have you ever been to a chicken show?
I've seen some monstrous sussex at shows, but never a speckled sussex that could compete to the other types of sussex.
Since, you have SS from all different sources, have you raised an SS roo the met the SOP for weight? Have you raised any SS that were at the top of the SOP weight range?

It will be interesting to see if the CSU is able to find some "Worthy" specimens from the SS or if all the good ones are coronation or light sussex.

 

[Arielle]

Fowlman has so many breeds of chickens-- does he have SS?

Maybe Tony A or walt the SS breeder would be willing to donate a few pics to the Chicken Univeristy project.

Happy Spring everyone. I am at 1 rooster and 6 pullets and hens. Most of the chicks I have sold, but a few remain with me to add to the flock. I love what you say MathAce about staying true to what speaks to us. I continue to be enamoured by the SS despite a slightly nasty rooster. I forgiv ehim as he free ranges with his girls with coyote and fox lurking and he doesn't understand that I raised most of his girls so they love to run to me. Poor fellow! Generally we respect each others space. DH also likes the SS, so I am debating on whether or not to change to a good quality line.

THose of you that have Walt's or TOny's birds, would you share the size/weight of the birds as adults and the egg color/ size/ freqency and info on being a summer layer or winter layer. I'm finding most people are expecting SS to have larger than a medium egg but honestly, this is working for my girls that forage all day ( feed in coop) and lay a med every day.

 

[mrheinz77]

[COLOR=800080]Mrheinz77,[/COLOR]

[COLOR=800080]Have you ever been to a chicken show?[/COLOR]
[COLOR=800080]I've seen some monstrous sussex at shows, but never a speckled sussex that could compete to the other types of sussex.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=800080]Since, you have SS from all different sources,  have you raised an SS roo the met the SOP for  weight?  Have you raised any SS that were at the top of the SOP weight range?[/COLOR]

[COLOR=800080]It will be interesting to see if the CSU is able to find some "Worthy" specimens from the SS or if all the good ones are coronation or light sussex.[/COLOR]

Lisa,
The shows I've been to have had. 1 Sussex each, both Speckled. The one time it was my pullet.

Of the Speckled Sussex I've raised, I've only raised one cockerel. He wasn't very big and I lost him this winter.

Of the 2 dozen eggs I got from KY, only 2 developed and made it to the hatchet. They are due to hatch tomorrow. The PO was really rough with them. I'm hoping Walt has extra started SS to sell amfthat he would ship them.

 

[mrheinz77]

Arielle,
Once my Sussex started laying in December, they haven't quit. Mine lay a medium to large egg.

 

[Pozees]

Fowlman has so many breeds of chickens-- does he have SS?

Maybe Tony A or walt the SS breeder would be willing to donate a few pics to the Chicken Univeristy project.

Happy Spring everyone. I am at 1 rooster and 6 pullets and hens. Most of the chicks I have sold, but a few remain with me to add to the flock. I love what you say MathAce about staying true to what speaks to us. I continue to be enamoured by the SS despite a slightly nasty rooster. I forgiv ehim as he free ranges with his girls with coyote and fox lurking and he doesn't understand that I raised most of his girls so they love to run to me. Poor fellow! Generally we respect each others space. DH also likes the SS, so I am debating on whether or not to change to a good quality line.

THose of you that have Walt's or TOny's birds, would you share the size/weight of the birds as adults and the egg color/ size/ freqency and info on being a summer layer or winter layer. I'm finding most people are expecting SS to have larger than a medium egg but honestly, this is working for my girls that forage all day ( feed in coop) and lay a med every day.

I can only tell you about Tony A youngsters at this point, but the difference between 7 and 8 weeks is very noticeable, so they are growing fast When I begin to select what I keep I will select for vigor first, then type, then of the remaining birds will try for best color and production. I plan to keep back the least-speckled cockerel and hens to try and recreate Reds from these beautifully typed birds.

Right now I am seeing one cockerel I will not keep because of a tilted serration in his comb, unless he come out with incredible type, and even then will think long and hard about it. One of these days I will get out there with my camera and post some pics. They are so young, it is very hard to tell how they will mature right now, but I adore them.

 

[Arielle]

Arielle,
Once my Sussex started laying in December, they haven't quit. Mine lay a medium to large egg.

THank you!

Hmmm. . . . .when I finally let my little flock out to graze all day I did notice the egg size change. Actually the calcium was lacking and the shell was too brittle; when that was corrected the size of the egg decreased.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I am very curious if the SS grow as big and as fast as the light sussex.