Speckled Sussex as meat bird?

[UBkevy]

I have recently been interested in this breed of chicken buy all I can find around are straight run. So if I get them I would have a bunch of roosters and I would hate to waste them. So I guess I am wondering are they worth it? I see they are duel purpose but are they worth it? Is there enough meat and is the quality of the meat good? I would cull them just as they start to crow just because I do not want to piss off the neighbors. I would likely get barred rocks and buff orpington straight run too but I have heard they are not a bad meat bird, or have I heard wrong?

 

[kera!]

cant say I've had a speckled sussex lately, but they get pretty big. so I would think pretty good meat size, sweet birds.

 

[Fred's Hens]

White skin, not common yellow color. Hefty. Roos will weigh 9 lbs, but will begin crowing at 5-6 lbs. A bit slow to grow, actually. Nice meat, but their conversion of feed to weight isn't anywhere near other breeds, if that matters to you. In other words, you'll have more in them.

 

[bigredfeather]

I have processed my extra roos and they are no better or worse than most other DP roos. I do like the shape of the carcus, it's nice and square like a meat bird. The females are too small to even think about getting a nice dinner out of.

 

[UBkevy]

I have never had a roo how big is a sussex roo by 5-6 weeks if thats when I have to start being concerned about the crowing?

 

[NevadaRon]

I think he said they would start crowing at 5-6 lbs., not weeks.

 

[UBkevy]

ohhh then thats not bad, so its more like 13-14 weeks

 

[Fred's Hens]

When they begin crowing, and I assume you don't want that for neighbors, they'll also be ready for processing. You won't be able to wait, I assume, until they have their full adult weight. Individuals vary, but some might start trying out their voices around 18 weeks, some later than that. Growing "fryers", that is, young dual purpose roosters, for butchering at 17-18 weeks is a time honored practice. In the '50's and '60's, My dad always brought home 250 White Rock and Leghorn day old chicks each spring for me to care for. By late September, they were Sunday fried chicken. To this day, I still love Rocks and still don't think much of a Leghorn.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Here's a picture of a full grown Spec Sussex.

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Fred's Hens :

When they begin crowing, and I assume you don't want that for neighbors, they'll also be ready for processing. You won't be able to wait, I assume, until they have their full adult weight. Individuals vary, but some might start trying out their voices around 18 weeks, some later than that. Growing "fryers", that is, young dual purpose roosters, for butchering at 17-18 weeks is a time honored practice. In the '50's and '60's, My dad always brought home 250 White Rock and Leghorn day old chicks each spring for me to care for. By late September, they were Sunday fried chicken. To this day,still love Rocks and still don't think much of a Leghorn. I

Made me laugh! We had bunch of white Leghorns when I was a kid and I can't stand them now.​