show quality speckled sussex ??

[math ace]

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

They are suppose to because BOTTOMLINE is that they are SUSSEX. However, every Speckled Sussex that I have raised seems to lack the size that they should have. I raise them with my 8 to 9 lb delaware and marans offspring. The SS never keep up in the size department.

I do have a male that is just over a 1 year of age. I will try to get him and his two sisters weighed this weekend. I will post the weights for you. They are from Walt Reichert's stock.

 

[math ace]

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.

I just candled mine. It looks like I will have 4 going into lockdown in a couple of days. . . . The packing was good on the ones I received OR I wouldn't have any going into lockdown. The post office was rough with mine too. These were replacement eggs for where the post office LOST my first set of eggs.. Uggh...

I hatched 7 chicks from Walt's eggs last year - 5 Boys and only 2 girls.
Check this out.... the one girl won't let the rooster any where near him. He is fertile and does fetilize other girl's eggs, but not this one girl.
OF course, Murphy's Law at work, She is the ONE I want chicks from...

So... out of the 4 eggs going into lock down, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I get a couple of girls...

It is a shame Walt does not put his breeding pens together in the Fall...

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Based on observations so far, you think these from Walt have not kept pace with the even the marans???

My first ( and only) lt sussex was in a box of marans chicks. And the growth on that Lt sussex was very noticable as SHE out grew the BCM very quickly, even the male BCM. I have never forgotten her, too bad she go into the dog pen. I'm trying to understand if the very good lines are great growers.

 

[math ace]

Based on observations so far, you think these from Walt have not kept pace with the even the marans???

My first ( and only) lt sussex was in a box of marans chicks. And the growth on that Lt sussex was very noticable as SHE out grew the BCM very quickly, even the male BCM. I have never forgotten her, too bad she go into the dog pen. I'm trying to understand if the very good lines are great growers.

My marans and delawares are huge... I breed for size. I have a blue copper marans hen that would get DQ at a show because she is over 20% more than the SOP for hens. My black copper marans and delaware roosters are 8 1/2 to 9 lbs. When I say the SS are not as big as my marans and delawares, keep in mind that those breeds on my property are BIG, true LARGE fowl.

Walt's SS are the biggest, widest back, best colored SS that I have found so far. I haven't had access to Tony A. SS, so I can't say anything about his stock....

 

[mrheinz77]

Ill try to get some pictures of my SS. We'll see what you all think I have my favorites. I want to see if you agree.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Ahhh. . . . I know the dels are quite big, but if your BCM is larger than usual . . .then hard to compare BCM to SS for my edifiction. My BCM are not much of a meal. GEnerally just egg layers as far as I'm concerned. Love them for that alone.


Does anyone use the SS for a sunday dinner and have a pic of the carcass??

 

[math ace]

Ahhh. . . . I know the dels are quite big, but if your BCM is larger than usual . . .then hard to compare BCM to SS for my edifiction. My BCM are not much of a meal. GEnerally just egg layers as far as I'm concerned. Love them for that alone.


Does anyone use the SS for a sunday dinner and have a pic of the carcass??

Of the three breeds, the SOP declares that the Sussex should have the heaviest weight . . ..

Standard Of Perfection Weights for Sussex . . . . .
Hen 7 lbs, Pullet 6 lbs, Cock 9 lbs, Cockerel 7 1/2 lbs.


Standard Weights for Marans
Hen 6 1/2 lbs Pullet 5 1/2 lbs Cock 8 lbs Cockerel 7 lbs

The delawares SOP calls for weights slightly bigger than the Marans, BUT less than the Sussex.
I use my delawares and marans as gauges because I know the Sussex should be running close to their weights.
I can't wait for the day that I see a SS as big as my marans or delawares.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Now that I have tried raising CornishX, I have a new view of the std wts. It is one of the guages, it says nothing about the amount of meatiness it should have, in leg or breast. My CX are only 6 weeks and are rather impressive. feeding is an issue though; by 3-4 weeks they were laying around, a very different behavior than my SS which are pacing at the fence line waiting to be let out. THen they cover a huge territory, and often alone, which terrifies me. SHe could be easy pickings with out the others to warn her. Much cheaper to feed a freeranging bird.

 

[math ace]

Ill try to get some pictures of my SS. We'll see what you all think I have my favorites. I want to see if you agree.

I would love to see what you have going on....

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

The Sussex Club of America

Founded in 1903. Reorganized in 2013.

The Sussex Club of America supports and promotes all varieties of Sussex chickens in both large fowl and bantams. We support the American Poultry Association and stand in agreement with the American Standard of Perfection.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/786483/the-sussex-club-of-america