show quality speckled sussex ??

[GreenRiverHen]

Just a couple of questions--
I think my flock overall doesn't have enough width between their legs.
They tend to have high tails and often short backs--especially the boys. And I have learned here that many of them have their legs set too far back.
Are these things easy to breed away from? If I just keeping picking the best of what I've got?

What are your feelings about crooked toes? My birds do not have them--but I did choose not to bring home better quality birds because of their crooked toes. Was that a mistake?

Thanks you so much -- I did have a couple of questions above. The crooked toes were a genetic flaw as per the breeder and they were really quite bad.

I'm wondering if these problems can be worked with or should I bring in some new blood - perhaps the crooked toed birds?

Many of my birds are from an old strain that hasn't been shown in 20 years but they were quite nice in their day I've been told. I'm so happy to have them! I looked for a long time.

 

[snowbird]

If it were me I would work with what you have for at least one year and do some single matings so you know what produces the young and mark the chicks. I use the toe punch method myself.

 

[campingshaws]

Hi all. New to this thread. I've started reading from the beginning to learn what I can, but I'm only a few pages in. Are y'all still looking at and critiquing birds? I have five SS, one roo and three hens, one pullet. The pullet I believe has too much white, and one hen has a wry tail at the wrong angle. But I'd like opinions on my roo and two hens, if I could.

I'd like to have good quality birds, but having trouble finding a breeder. Is it possible to improve hatchery stock?

 

[zinia8]

Hi its been awhile since I have posted here. Had one broody hen this past year, She started with nine eggs 6 SS and 3 mutts ended up with 2 SS 1 male 1 female and 3 mutts chicks. I gave the one male away stupid on my part cause I lost my rooster. anyways they are hatchery bird and I to am hoping someday for good quality birds. Here is couple of pics of the pullet she is much bigger than the other hens.

 

[acemario]

Hi all you Sussexers! I've been creeping for a while now, and have 6 eggs in the bator right now. However, I would love to hatch some in the hatchalong! If anyone is willing to ship some eggs to northern Utah, please PM me. Thanks!!!

 

[Sunflowergirl]

Finally finished reading the WHOLE thread! Took me a while!
Gearing up to get my chicks from Tony Albritton at the end of April. One thing I have seen referenced a lot in the older publications I have been reading is feed. I would think that feed would have a lot of affect on growth and size. A place I read recommends to start all heritage breeds on 28% protein, that would be game bird feed.
Do any of you SS breeders go that route?
Thanks!

Hope the activity level goes back up with the warmer month!!!

 

[Sydney Acres]

I wouldn't go as far as to say that all heritage breeds should have 28% protein, but I do think that most heritage breeds need more protein than 18% chick starter. I typically start with 22-26% protein with most breeds, and make adjustments based on experience with the particular line, history of the breed (i.e., I add a bit of fresh cooked fish with the old English breeds because fish scraps were commonly used as part of a chicken's diet on the old English farms), length of the rooster's legs (i.e., tall breeds, such as Croad Langshans, should not have high protein diets because they will get tall too rapidly, which often causes joint problems), or how the breed was developed. I once raised a clutch of Red Dorkings and Barnevelders together. They were fed a diet of 26% protein plus 3-5% fish in addition. The short legged English Dorkings thrived, and the average height Barnevelders pullets did well, but 40% of the Barnevelder cockerels had significant leg issues. I hadn't taken into account that one of the foundation breeds used to develop Barnevelders was a Croad Langshan. The Croad Langshan rooster is very tall and stately, and the cockerels gain height very quickly. If fed a high protein diet it grows too quickly, which often causes permanent lameness. So there's lots of things to consider if you create a custom diet. There can be tremendous benefits, but it's not without risks.

If starting with a very high protein diet (mid-20s to 30), it is recommended to decrease the protein a bit around 8 weeks old, and a bit further around 14-16 weeks

 

[Sunflowergirl]

I wouldn't go as far as to say that all heritage breeds should have 28% protein, but I do think that most heritage breeds need more protein than 18% chick starter. I typically start with 22-26% protein with most breeds, and make adjustments based on experience with the particular line, history of the breed (i.e., I add a bit of fresh cooked fish with the old English breeds because fish scraps were commonly used as part of a chicken's diet on the old English farms), length of the rooster's legs (i.e., tall breeds, such as Croad Langshans, should not have high protein diets because they will get tall too rapidly, which often causes joint problems), or how the breed was developed. I once raised a clutch of Red Dorkings and Barnevelders together. They were fed a diet of 26% protein plus 3-5% fish in addition. The short legged English Dorkings thrived, and the average height Barnevelders pullets did well, but 40% of the Barnevelder cockerels had significant leg issues. I hadn't taken into account that one of the foundation breeds used to develop Barnevelders was a Croad Langshan. The Croad Langshan rooster is very tall and stately, and the cockerels gain height very quickly. If fed a high protein diet it grows too quickly, which often causes permanent lameness. So there's lots of things to consider if you create a custom diet. There can be tremendous benefits, but it's not without risks.

If starting with a very high protein diet (mid-20s to 30), it is recommended to decrease the protein a bit around 8 weeks old, and a bit further around 14-16 weeks

Wow! Thank you Sydney Acres for this information! Certainly gives us something to think about and work with!

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Hello, someone on this thread is looking for Speckled Sussex Hatching eggs, if you are selling maybe you could work something out :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/965037/speckled-sussex-eggs-or-babies

Thanks in advance

 

[waatwo]

We have a one-year old show-quality Speckled Sussex rooster that is available to a good home. Location is Eastern Shore of Maryland. Please let me know if you are interested. [email protected]

Thank you.