show quality speckled sussex ??

[math ace]

Quote:
Sent you a detailed PM - - THANKS for the input.

 

[Orange Ribbon]

I have a question which is probably just going to show more of my lack of brains, but I try to think outside the box sometimes. That it hasn't been brought up yet tells me it probably isn't an option, but is it possible to mate a small Speckled Sussex with a certain other big breed to get the body up to size then breed it back into the flock and still be able to end up with a true SS? Like maybe use a breed that was used to make SS in the first place? Oooh, maybe breed one to a Jersey Giant and then mate the offspring back to SS and have a SUPER BIG SPECKLED SUSSEX BREED?!! Just kidding about that.

But is something like that an option?

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Jeff, now this is something that I can comment with and let you know what I think. I am never in favor of going out of breed to try and make an improvement with any of the breed I have worked with. Now if you want to try one of the other Sussex varieties that would be a different story.

The only thing when you are breeding for extra size keep in mind that you can lose all the spangling and the Mahogany body color and it will be hard to get back to where it should be as the end result.

If the light weigh SS have to be used I would try for at least one good SOP type male to breed over them. There is really no reason to keep breeding the small and BYC type SS, they have the genes set already and you need some new blood in them to make changes,

As mentioned ART, won best English with a female as reported in the poultry Press last month. Very good looking and nice colored hen.

 

[Orange Ribbon]

Quote:
Jeff, now this is something that I can comment with and let you know what I think. I am never in favor of going out of breed to try and make an improvement with any of the breed I have worked with. Now if you want to try one of the other Sussex varieties that would be a different story.

The only thing when you are breeding for extra size keep in mind that you can lose all the spangling and the Mahogany body color and it will be hard to get back to where it should be as the end result.

If the light weigh SS have to be used I would try for at least one good SOP type male to breed over them. There is really no reason to keep breeding the small and BYC type SS, they have the genes set already and you need some new blood in them to make changes,

As mentioned ART, won best English with a female as reported in the poultry Press last month. Very good looking and nice colored hen.

I wondered what other qualities might be lost in trying that. I can see now how it would be hard to straighten the colors back out again. I can't even get the colors to match on a Rubic's Cube, much less figure that out. HA! Thanks, Snowbird.

 

[stormylady]

Hi all, I have a couple of questions that may have been answered and I missed them.

1. As far as professional breeders go, Is there an age that SOP Hens are retired from the breeding programs at?

2. Do Birds from a breeder, develope and lay later than the Hatchery birds. I know that Math Ace hit a little on this subject, but I was wondering specifically about My hen, Uno, she started laying (in my Opinion) very late at around 30-32 weeks, she is over 3 years old now and is still laying steady. So what would be better a late maturing good laying hen or a younger maturing bird that lays not quite as well but still hatches out good quality chicks. (If this makes sense to you?)

3. Uno is very stocky but not tall, the 18 week old chicks are about her same height, but she out weighs them by alot. Im not sure what, if any other redeeming Qualities she has, but if we work toward size first, could you give me an example of what type of a Rooster I should pair her with I know in the critique of her, this was said, her head seemed large compared to the Sewell print, her tail set was low, and she looked more brown than Mohogany. so would I look for a Rooster with a litte higher tail set, smaller head , ect....... She does have bent toes but that is due to my hatching inexperience with an incubator and not a genetic thing.

 

[math ace]

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Stormlady, do me a favor and repost uno's pics.... so that we can look at her easily and offer advice... Thanks.

 

[stormylady]

Uno

Thankyou

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Stormlady, The show breeders will keep a good producing hen for ever as long as she is healthy. I have never culled a good female because of age.

I do not think there is that much difference when a SS starts to lay. Hatchery-breeder

Never breed to a male trying to lower or raise the tail carriage. Breed to a male with as correct as possible tail set. Breed to a male with a good size head, I would never breed to a small headed male because your hen has a large head. With your hen it would be important to breed to a male with a very good comb, since your female has a very bad comb.

 

[stormylady]

Quote:
Stormlady, The show breeders will keep a good producing hen for ever as long as she is healthy. I have never culled a good female because of age.

I do not think there is that much difference when a SS starts to lay. Hatchery-breeder
Was wondering about the laying ? because of the age difference between, Uno and her sister who started laying very late , and the new girls from the hatchery laying at 16 and 18 weeks old??

Never breed to a male trying to lower or raise the tail carriage. Breed to a male with as correct as possible tail set. Breed to a male with a good size head, I would never breed to a small headed male because your hen has a large head. With your hen it would be important to breed to a male with a very good comb, since your female has a very bad comb.

Thankyou, And yes I know she has a super large comb and it looks horrible in these pictures. Poor old girls been through alot (lowest on pecking order, and hard winters)

Thankyou, Sandy

 

[math ace]

DECISION MADE . . . . This is the boy I am going to use until I can find or hatch something better. . .. . He is 20 weeks old

Maybe by crossing him with some unrelated females with little white and a nice comb and a wide butt and a low tail angle ..... welll MAYBE

I will produce a male that could replace this boy for the second generation......