show quality speckled sussex ??

[fowlman01]

Quote:
HOW YOUNG ? ?

When can you start judging the width of head, back, or chest ? ?

I can pretty much tell when I candle the egg.


j/k....it takes a while and you can tell some breeds sooner than others. Getting an "eye" for such things usually does not happen overnight. The critiques here will help most people get it.
As an example the Del people have a good idea now what to look for now, but it didn't happen overnight.

Walt

 

[Stevenson]

Quote:
HOW YOUNG ? ?

When can you start judging the width of head, back, or chest ? ?

I can pretty much tell when I candle the egg.


j/k....it takes a while and you can tell some breeds sooner than others. Getting an "eye" for such things usually does not happen overnight. The critiques here will help most people get it.
As an example the Del people have a good idea now what to look for now, but it didn't happen overnight.

Walt

I wish I could say that I did! I am working on it though!

 

[lauralou]

Anybody with any pictures for us to critique breast and back?


I'd love to help out, but my little man is only 6 weeks old. And he's zippy! So hard to photograph...

 

[teddiliza]

I have a question. I have two speckled sussex rooster both from hatchery stock. Should I breed the bigger one, or the one with the sleeker form? I'll have to post pics of the bodies shortly. The smaller one has a nicer comb and sleeker form but is skittish right now and won't let me take pics.

Bigger one. Pretty used to me petting him- tail looks awful.

Smaller one. Used to be used to me picking him up but I think the other guy has got him running so much he's on self preservation mode, so won't stand still long enough for a good pic with my I phone

**Both from Estes Hatchery in Missouri

 

[Orange Ribbon]

I was about to send out flowers. I thought this thread had died!

 

[lauralou]

Me too!

But we're at the most interesting part now. This is where the bird gets it's overall shape.

It's also one of the first things that I notice. I see short backs. (I think.) Also, I'd love some pictures from the top, so we can see how the back progresses to the tail. The broadness factor, so to speak. That had never occurred to me, although it's pretty obvious once it's stated.

And the high chest. Maybe I see what Don was talking about earlier with the high chest. At first glance you'd think, "Oh look, the bird has a big chest, that's a good thing." But the birds pictured in the SOP have a rather straight line down from the neck, with the "bigness" at the bottom, not the top.

Photos? Discussion?

 

[math ace]

Quote:
My guys look to be about this size - -- so I am guessing that ther are around 15 - 18 weeks old.
Am I close?
Your babies have not gone through the juvie molt yet. You do not want to use a roo with a solid white feather in the wing or tail.
ABSOLUTELY no decisions can be made yet..... I have a pen of 6 of this age cockerels 15 - 20 weeks old and I am just waiting to see what falls out and what grows back in. PLUS, their bodies have a lot of developing to do.... At the 4 month old stage, they start really developing.
Chests start expanding and weight really starts going on.

Don (snowbird) could probably spot potential earlier than I can because he has put so many feet on the ground. I have found that taking pics allows you to notice small things that hint at BIG things. Taking pics allows you to start identifing the ones you want to watch.

If you can hold on to the 5 month point..... you won't be as surprised with the results.



Lauraloo, let me tell you a story.

I had a batch of marans cockerels. At 8 weeks of age, I weighed eveyone and selected the top three.
One was 47 ounces, one was 46 ounces, and one was 39 ounces.

These boys are now 5 1/2 months old. They have been raised together and fed the same food.
It is just them in a 75' x 75' free ranging penned in area.
The biggest cockerel ( 47 ounces) is now the SMALLEST, noticably smaller!
The smallest cockerel (39 ounce) is now in the middle, but closer to the the biggest versus smallest in size.
The second biggest cockerel (46 ounces) is the biggest, like a TANK BIG.

So, the moral to the story ..... They change a lot between the 6 - 8 week period to the 5 - 6 month period.

 

[math ace]

I just got my older girls leg banded yesterday.
Hopefully, I will be able to take and post some pics soon.


My roos still have another 2 months to go before they are ready for evaluation.

Don't send flowers yet..... It ain't over till the fat lady sings

This thread may not be super active, but it is full of QUALITY information.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
These two boys are the SAME age?

 

[PetRock]

I am really enjoying this thread and appreciate all the info that is being shared! I am new to Speckled Sussex. I only have three 8 wk old hatchery chicks. I'm not in a position to have a rooster and a breeding program but maybe in the future!

Thank you to everyone who has been so willing to share info and pics of their beautiful birds!