show quality speckled sussex ??

[cowchick11]

What book are you reading?
I'm working on "The Mating and Breeding of Poultry" and "The Call of the Hen". I have my eye on a few other books but they are expensive so I'll just buy one or two at a time and work my way through them.
I have some exciting things to share but I have to get photos first. I'll try to do that in the next few days.
Pam

 

[Arielle]

I've been reading THe Sussex Fowl . IT is an online book.

 

[jasonch]

Hello guys and gals heres a pic of one of my young roos and a hen.Any show potential at the state fair level in these two. Your opinions are greatly appreciated. Thanks ,Jason

 

[snowbird]

From everything I can see on the hen she should do very nicely in a show. Good luck.

 

[cowchick11]

Jasonch - your roo looks very triangular in the body and the standard calls for a square body shape, not sure why but his stance seems off also. The hen looks like she has a nice body type and I know it is hard to tell in photos but she seems to be a little bit light colored in the hackle/neck area. The hen appears to have a nice amount of white, not too much and not too little. I really like her tail angle!

As for me and a few days for getting photos that went out the door with my job and 3- 70-80 hour work weeks

. I'll try to get some photos today while I'm dusting and prepping some birds for the next show if my brother will help me out by holding or taking photos of birds.
What was my big news

??? One of my Speckled Sussex pullets, at our county fair, received Champion English (beating out my Orpintons, my other SS and some Australorps), best large fowl out of about 45-55 birds, and then went on to receive a Best of Show plaque!!!!

The judge liked her so well that she requested a chat with me. We talked about the amount of white and that it would increase next year, about who I got my chicks from (she just reminded me that Tony was a good choice on the west coast and that I should chat more with him), and if I had breeding plans of my own. It was a great talk and I'm sure we will chat again as she shows in WA and OR. While the pullet didn't do as well at the next show she still did well. She is one of three SS that I'm taking to our Western WA State Fair on Wed. along with 5 Orpingtons.

 

[ChicksNherps]

I have a 4-5 month old Speckled Sussex pullet, I REALLY want to show her but I have been keeping an eye on her tail, it seems to sometimes go off to the side like she has wry tail. BUT, I was just playing with her and she held her tail off to the left, off to the right, and right in the middle at some point or another. Is it normal for a Sussex to hold her tail off to the side sometimes? Is she trying to balance herself?

 

[ChicksNherps]

double post sorry

 

[memphis]

Just want to jump in and introduce myself! Been following this thread and just love the intelligent exchange of information!! Just a beginner with SS and am learning a lot. I'm a Hall of Fame breeder of Australian Shepherds. Been competing in versatility with them for over 25 years and fully understand the concept of form follows function. Love genetics and the science behind it. That's it....just wanted to say hi. By the way, my birds are easily handled and can weight them. They are only 14 weeks old. Can anyone give me an idea of what they should weight at this age??

 

[snowbird]

Memphis, Welcome to the Speckled Sussex thread. Lisa will come along and give you some weight on the young fowl. She kept a record of the different weights on some of her SS. Post pictures and jump in with Questions or answers. Very friendly thread.

 

[Arielle]

It is show season--went to a small show--4H fair, and didn't see one speckled sussex; but then I didn't see one LF other than geese and turkeys. Kids like the smaller birds. I'm hoping my kids lilke the LF bacause that is all i'm interested in.

DH finished the new pen for the SS; I combined the rooster and hen from one source with the 3 hens from McMurray. THe young pullets from Meyers are still growing up and running with the outher juveniles..

One has very little white and others look like snow fell on them. Lots of work ahead.