Speckled Sussex vs Swedish flower

[Dishens]

Hi, newbie here. I’ve been studying the breeds to determine what breeds I will keep in my small 8 hen flock next year (retirement gift to myself!) i am constantly drawn to the Swedish Flower and Speckled Sussex. What are the differences in the breeds? How are Roos? Thanks!!

 

[Thyme4Chickens]

We have one speckled sussex hen, and she is the gentlest of our hens towards our preschooler (who loves chickens!). Our SS is from a hatchery, and she is gorgeous. I don't keep exact records, but I think she's laying about 3-4 eggs a week. I'm hoping to get more SS chicks next year.

I've never had Swedish Flower hens - they are so beautiful, aren't they!

What are your goals for your flock?

 

[Perris]

hello @Dishens ! I have SFH hen and roo but no experience with Sussex of any variety. I love the SFHs; the hens lay well (my sole current hen laid 81 to the end of April), the roo is fantastic (was a dork as a teenager, but aren't they all?) and I have 3 SFH chicks so fertility is not an issue either And they all look beautiful

 

[Dishens]

hello @Dishens ! I have SFH hen and roo but no experience with Sussex of any variety. I love the SFHs; the hens lay well (my sole current hen laid 81 to the end of April), the roo is fantastic (was a dork as a teenager, but aren't they all?) and I have 3 SFH chicks so fertility is not an issue either And they all look beautiful View attachment 1790753 View attachment 1790754 View attachment 1790755

They are beautiful! I am thinking of a too as well, either SFH or Australorp. I will have a mixed flock of 8 hens, don’t know if this is too few for a roo.

 

[Dishens]

I would like a mixed flock of 8 hens, calm, decent egg layers. I would also like a roo to provide protection, if possible with this number of hens. So far on my list of considerations:
Black Australorp
Delaware
SFH
SS
Barnevelder
Plymouth Rock

I welcome any thoughts

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Speckled Sussex and Black Australorp are my favorites. Barred Plymouth Rocks are sweet to humans but sometimes really bossy to other birds. I love them but they aren't in my chicken house anymore, they live in our cattle barn and free range.

 

[Dishens]

Speckled Sussex and Black Australorp are my favorites. Barred Plymouth Rocks are sweet to humans but sometimes really bossy to other birds. I love them but they aren't in my chicken house anymore, they live in our cattle barn and free range.

Thanks for the input. I had a sense that might happen. Hence, no RIR on my list. I prefer a zen hen house. That would make a cute sign!

 

[kana9]

I would like a mixed flock of 8 hens, calm, decent egg layers. I would also like a roo to provide protection, if possible with this number of hens. So far on my list of considerations:
Black Australorp
Delaware
SFH
SS
Barnevelder
Plymouth Rock

I welcome any thoughts

I have all the breeds on your list except for Australorp. The Speckled Sussex is one of my favorites, calm and friendly, but broody when she was younger. I have four Swedish Flower hens and they are all beautiful and do well in a mixed flock. They are slightly more bossy with other breeds than the Sussex. My Partridge Plymouth Rocks are benevolent leaders of the flock, and the Barred Rock is beautiful and calm as well. I think you have chosen excellent breeds! My Delaware cockerel is young but so far calm and curious with people, not stand offish or aggressive and good with the pullets.

 

[GoatDragonFarms]

We have the SS, Delaware, and Australorp from your list, and would raise any of these again!
The Australorp is an egg laying machine. Every day, huge egg. Sweet hen.
Delaware is the head hen in our flock. Good egg layer, curious.
The SS is into everything we do. Everything. Always on our heels. Talkative. Sweet. Cute. I would do a flock of just these in the future if they were all like my Clara.
Swedish Flower is on my wish list. We went with Marans for my father in law rather than these ladies, wish it'd been the other way.

 

[Chickassan]

Love my SS Ethel even though she's really small and i'm finding out she's a hilarious broody chicken she goes full tilt angry turkey. Her eggs are plentiful but very, very round.
Marlene the delaware is is mean stuffed with more mean, always has been. But she does lay some gigantic eggs 70 grams plus so I can't say too much about her personality. I totally understand.