show quality speckled sussex ??

[mrheinz77]

I weighed my pullet from Hot2Pot. She weighed right in at 6 pounds. She has a slight twist in her comb. I'll get a pic of her and post it to Facebook, then I can post it from my phone.

 

[math ace]

I weighed my pullet from Hot2Pot. She weighed right in at 6 pounds. She has a slight twist in her comb. I'll get a pic of her and post it to Facebook, then I can post it from my phone.

That is excellent! I think I need to see a pic of this pullet!
OMG, what are you feeding her?

I have only had a couple of hens get to the 6 lb mark. Seriously, I've ordered from many folks and am not seeing the size that we should see in the speckled sussex.

 

[Arielle]

It does seem that size is the first thing to go. I'm basing this on the 8 breeds I bought from hatcheries. All are at a reduced size. I suspect 2 factors are at play. THe demand for an increase in egg production and size; and the lesser cost to maintain enough breeding stock for high production.

 

[mrheinz77]

From Hot2Pot's eggs

Alexandra owes me more eggs. I sent her Cuckoo Marans eggs in exchange for more SS eggs. The tropical storms messed up her birds laying.

 

[mrheinz77]

I just weighed one of the Walt pullets. She was about 3.5 pounds. I can't do any more because I need to get chores done. I feed 22% meat bird feedne from Deb (Hot2Pot) has been getting 18% layer pellets with cracked corn, oats, and sunflower seeds mixed in. Deb told me her average size pullet at 8 months old was 6.5 pounds.

 

[Folly's place]

I really appreciate your chicken weighing reports; My birds are 20 weeks old; I plan to weigh them soon. So many are smaller than the standard. Mary

 

[math ace]

I really appreciate your chicken weighing reports; My birds are 20 weeks old; I plan to weigh them soon. So many are smaller than the standard. Mary

Absolutely, SIZE is a big issue...
The speckled Sussex should be BIG like all the Sussex varieties. The Speckled Sussex should be bigger than my Delawares and Marans. That is just not the case! I have ordered and hatched from many sources.. Not only am I seeing wrong type, incorrect color, but way small chickens.

This disturbs me because this is not a new breed. The other sussex breeds aren't having size issues. I see BIG sussex at all the chicken shows I go to, but never a Speckled Sussex Large Fowl. I do see bantams, but not large fowl.

 

[math ace]

Alexandra owes me more eggs. I sent her Cuckoo Marans eggs in exchange for more SS eggs. The tropical storms messed up her birds laying.

I may have to see how she feels about some black copper marans.... PLEASE, PROMISE . .. PROMISE... that you will post some pics of her birds in a few more weeks

 

[mrheinz77]

I may have to see how she feels about some black copper marans.... PLEASE, PROMISE . .. PROMISE... that you will post some pics of her birds in a few more weeks

I'll get pictures of her. Her one fault right of the top of my head is white wing feathers.

 

[mrheinz77]

Not the best pictures of my Hot2Pot pullet. She was waiting to lay her egg. What I notice with her without really analyzing is the white primary, a twist in her comb, and she is lighter in color compared to my other Speckled Sussex. Her hackle feathers are starting to get white tips.



Is her tail at the correct angle?





That white primary is about ready to fall out.








I imagine I want her back wider too near the tail.

Besides what I stated as faults, what am I missing? This is the girl that is 6 pounds at 35 weeks.