show quality speckled sussex ??

[math ace]

Because the structure of the birds relates to every aspect of their commercial virtues, Breed type is everything in Sussex. If it doesn't look like a Sussex, it's not a Sussex ,regardless of color. Color is always last with Sussex.

Karen, have you ever stumbled across a sketch that illustrates the shape of the sussex?
I am not looking for a colored drawing. Just a black and white sketch illustrating the angles we should be looking for Sussex type.

 

[3riverschick]

yes, I have it in a book, will take a mite to look it up online. Hang on a sec...
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

From http://www.archive.org "The Sussex Fowl" by Sharpe (inventor of the Light Sussex". Page 32

http://archive.org/stream/cu31924003091398#page/n43/mode/2up

Keep paging thru this pictorial section. 4 pages further is a stunning drawing of the correct type in the cock.
A couple of pages before page 49 is a stupendous picture of a Light Sussex pullet showing a long back.
http://archive.org/stream/cu31924003091398#page/n73/mode/2up
Note the lack of a cushion on the back at the base of the top of the tail. That back is flat and long. So correct!! One sees this kind of long back in Gary Overton's Bantam Speckled Sussex. In the early part of the last century the Sussex wanted by the fatteners were described as so long in body they were almost too long to cram. Note the development of the breast on this pullet, just stupendous.
Karen

 

[cowchick11]

HELP NEEDED! PIC HEAVY!!
I've got 4 SS roosters that I hatched out and they are 4 months old now. I only want to keep 1 for breeding purposes and would like some SS expertise. I've put different colored zip ties on them so I can tell them apart. So their names are Green, White, Yellow and Black. The one I decide to keep will get a proper name.

So here goes. I've taken 4 shots of each one. I can take additional ones if needed. Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Green Rooster








Here's White Rooster:









Yellow Rooster:









And last, but not least, Black:

Texaschickmom- I will mostly agree with Mathace
Green seems to have a nice amount of white for a breeder, proper colored feet and legs, really excellent width of back, good shape and angle to the body and a more proper tail angle. There is something that I don't like about the head but not sure what it is, maybe the comb not really having a blade, but something.
White has a lot of white in the tail and too high of set to the tail, looks like one crooked toe but could be standing on something, nice width of back, good shape and angle to the body. I think white has the best comb out of all of them
Yellow has too much white throughout its body and I think the head is vary narrow, he also has a bad comb with a twist and maybe a side sprig, his body angle is up to high and he has multiple crooked toes, it is hard to tell from photos but I also think he is the most narrow in the back. He goes to the bottom of my list for keepers!
Black seems to have a better head but has a bad comb, his feet and legs look good, his body angle is ok, tail angle is way too high and he has a lot of white and too much black with no white tips in the hackles.
Will be interested to see the weights you get on them. If I were to retain one I would keep green or maybe white.

I need to post my photos of our three older hens that are hatchery stock.
Mathace and 3 Rivers I will try to remember to ask Tony what he feeds and will take photos as the chicks are growing. Remember though that they will not arrive for another 3-6 weeks.

 

[texaschickmom]

Thank you so much, cowchick for your input on my SS roos. After thinking about math ace's comments I'm not feeling so negative about keeping one of these for a breeder. I did buy these eggs from BYC but they weren't advertised as SQ. So I didn't get SQ, did I?

I just love my SS. Such personalities and beautiful to look at, too. What should I be seeing weight-wise on these young roos? They're only 4 months old.
Thanks again,
Martha

 

[3riverschick]

After thinking about math ace's comments I'm not feeling so negative about keeping one of these for a breeder. I did buy these eggs from BYC but they weren't advertised as SQ. So I didn't get SQ, did I?
=====
Hi Martha,
You're correct, you didn't get SQ. if you just want to breed utitlity Speckled Sussex which lay eggs and which you can enjoy, use them. However, they don't have what it takes to improve your flock.
Best Regards,
Karen

 

[math ace]

Will be interested to see the weights you get on them. If I were to retain one I would keep green or maybe white.

I need to post my photos of our three older hens that are hatchery stock.
Mathace and 3 Rivers I will try to remember to ask Tony what he feeds and will take photos as the chicks are growing. Remember though that they will not arrive for another 3-6 weeks.

Excellent criteque. I am so glad you went into detail like you did. I didn't even notice the toes....

OF course post pics..... post pics of the hatchery and of the stock you get from Tony. It is very useful to see how the birds mature.

 

[math ace]

Quote:

Thank you so much, cowchick for your input on my SS roos. After thinking about math ace's comments I'm not feeling so negative about keeping one of these for a breeder. I did buy these eggs from BYC but they weren't advertised as SQ. So I didn't get SQ, did I?

I just love my SS. Such personalities and beautiful to look at, too. What should I be seeing weight-wise on these young roos? They're only 4 months old.
Thanks again,
Martha

Good Move Martha!

I have a few breeds that I am trying to breed for show quality stock. Then I have a couple breeds just for me... I have those because I like them and I have NO INTEREST in making them show quality. I will have absolutely no trouble selling chicks from these non-show quality breeds. There are lots of folks out there that just want eye candy for themselves - not for showing...

I've got some buff leghorn eggs coming in a month.... I won't have trouble selling the extra chicks from that hatch.
I've got some ameracaunas too. I thought I kept a couple of pullets and ended up keeping a mating pair. I will be mating them this Spring so that I can get a couple of more pullets for myself. I won't have any trouble selling the extra chicks from that hatch either. I don't plan on making either breed a show quality focus for me. I just want some Blue and White egg layers to go with my other breeds

There is nothing wrong with what I am doing. OF course I will do my best to learn what a good leghorn or a good ameracauna should look like so that I select the best of the hatch for future breedings. HOWEVER, I won't stress out because my goal is different for these birds. When I sell my extras, my first question is normally - " Are you planning on showing or just looking for some egg layers for the backyard? " Most folks are just looking for some egg layers for the backyard eggs....

I guess what I am saying is HECK YES, it is fine to have and breed birds that are not SQ. Know what you have and don't promise people better stock than you do have. Birds were kept for Eggs and Meat long before they were breed for Show.... Keep everything in perspective and enjoy your birds

 

[cowchick11]

Quote:


Good Move Martha!

I have a few breeds that I am trying to breed for show quality stock. Then I have a couple breeds just for me... I have those because I like them and I have NO INTEREST in making them show quality. I will have absolutely no trouble selling chicks from these non-show quality breeds. There are lots of folks out there that just want eye candy for themselves - not for showing...

I've got some buff leghorn eggs coming in a month.... I won't have trouble selling the extra chicks from that hatch.
I've got some ameracaunas too. I thought I kept a couple of pullets and ended up keeping a mating pair. I will be mating them this Spring so that I can get a couple of more pullets for myself. I won't have any trouble selling the extra chicks from that hatch either. I don't plan on making either breed a show quality focus for me. I just want some Blue and White egg layers to go with my other breeds

There is nothing wrong with what I am doing. OF course I will do my best to learn what a good leghorn or a good ameracauna should look like so that I select the best of the hatch for future breedings. HOWEVER, I won't stress out because my goal is different for these birds. When I sell my extras, my first question is normally - " Are you planning on showing or just looking for some egg layers for the backyard? " Most folks are just looking for some egg layers for the backyard eggs....

I guess what I am saying is HECK YES, it is fine to have and breed birds that are not SQ. Know what you have and don't promise people better stock than you do have. Birds were kept for Eggs and Meat long before they were breed for Show.... Keep everything in perspective and enjoy your birds

That is why we (my family) have a layer flock and I have my show birds. They are separate but I have also talked to my mom about adding in my female show rejects to the layer flock and going back to feeding out the rejected males like we used to do when I was a kid. You know, as chicken math starts to take over!

 

[cowchick11]

Got a call from Tony this morning. He said he might be able to ship my chick order next week!

(trying not to count my chicks before they are shipped

) That would just be awesome because I have Easter chicks that should hatch next weekend and they will all be about the same size/age.
Also, he said that he starts his chicks on game bird starter but that any good, high protein starter would be just fine.
Right, photos, of my older girls. Because I'm actually eating dinner at 10 instead of 11 I might get them posted tonight.