Speckled Sussex and Black Australorps?

[chickenfever]

I'm surprised to hear that the SS don't lay as well as the BA's. I had read in one of my chicken books that they are one of the most prolific layers of brown eggs.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I am absolutely in love with speckled sussex and Australorps. The Aussies are the most prolific brown egg layers of my flock...but my sussex never failed to put in her share of the egg basket for me to haul back and forth.

I think you will enjoy both breeds very much!

 

[Chirpy]

I have both SS and BAs. This is my first winter with the SS and they are doing great... they are laying very regularly. However, one of my SS flies over my 6 ft. fence most every day to get out to free range before the rest of the flock is let out. She was raised with Guineas though... I think they taught her to fly like she does. It does mean I often have to hunt for her eggs in the barn.

I had my Australorps through last winter and they did wonderful. They are great egg layers and give very large eggs, very regularly.

All of mine are very sweet but were all raised by my kids so they are used to being picked up and petted a lot.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Chirpy...I named my Speckled Sussex "Houdina" for a reason!

 

[dalostshaker]

I have a BA that literally flies into my arms because she loves to be held...and the crazy thing is that I haven't had her since she was a chick, I got her from a farm when she was already a couple of months old. A very nice bird and in my flock she's the bottom of the pecking order, but she loves me. I plan on getting a SS chick with my order this Spring. Everything that I've read on them are positive, too.

 

[tazcat70]

I have 2 Australorps and they are great layers. One even went broody for me once last summer! Very friendly and curious.

I hope to get some Speckled Sussex too.

I think you have made some great choices!