Speckled Sussex, White flight feathers

[Spangled]

When I breed a male Speckled Sussex with white flights to my older hens that have always had white flights, I get chicks that have white flight feathers.

Question: Is this a "feature" of mottling or is something else going on as in the white flight feathers that are sometimes found in Black Copper Marans which are obviously not mottling related?

Question: If I hatch enough Speckled Sussex chicks (100) will I ever end up with 12% or more of them having proper wing feathers without the white? (I'd rather work with what I have than buy new Speckled Sussex chicks. Mine are not show birds; I'd just rather not have white flight feathers if I can eradicate them in my flock without starting all over.)

 

[3riverschick]

When I breed a male Speckled Sussex with white flights to my older hens that have always had white flights, I get chicks that have white flight feathers.

Question: Is this a "feature" of mottling or is something else going on as in the white flight feathers that are sometimes found in Black Copper Marans which are obviously not mottling related?

Question: If I hatch enough Speckled Sussex chicks (100) will I ever end up with 12% or more of them having proper wing feathers without the white? (I'd rather work with what I have than buy new Speckled Sussex chicks. Mine are not show birds; I'd just rather not have white flight feathers if I can eradicate them in my flock without starting all over.)

Hi,
Speckled Sussex, as you know, is a tri-color variety. It is the most difficult color of Sussex to breed.
Here is some classic lit on the subject by veteran, trustworthy Sussex breeders. There is excellent advice on how to balance the colors for breeding Speckled Sussex successfully.
The Proper Color of Speckled Sussex Page 202
http://tinyurl.com/8z9ahhq

The Sussex fowl (1920)
By Sharpe, S. C
http://archive.org/details/cu31924003091398

All my best wishes for success,
Karen Tewart
Waterford English Sussex
PR Director American Sussex Association
http://americansussexbreeders.webs.com/

 

[3riverschick]

When I breed a male Speckled Sussex with white flights to my older hens that have always had white flights, I get chicks that have white flight feathers.

Question: Is this a "feature" of mottling or is something else going on as in the white flight feathers that are sometimes found in Black Copper Marans which are obviously not mottling related?

Question: If I hatch enough Speckled Sussex chicks (100) will I ever end up with 12% or more of them having proper wing feathers without the white? (I'd rather work with what I have than buy new Speckled Sussex chicks. Mine are not show birds; I'd just rather not have white flight feathers if I can eradicate them in my flock without starting all over.)

You'll find the answer in the lit I posted. The short answer is, you need a new rooster. Things will go much faster if you have proper coloring on one side of the pedigree. In this instance, the male side is the choice. Where do you live? Now is the perfect time of year to pick up a nice male with proper coloring as the breeders thin their flocks for over-wintering.There is an extensive list of breeders at the parent club website. Many of them discuss here on BYC.
Best,
Karen

 

[Spangled]

Thanks, Karen. I will enjoy reading the link. And I will be glad to get the pesky white flights out of the picture.

 

[snowbird]

If we look at the present copy of the APA SOP we will see that it does not say the white flight are a problem. The SOP say they should be white and black, The ABA Standard says they should be black with a white spangle. I have asked the Standards Committe to take a look at this problem and possibly correct.

The reason you see so many males with the white is because the SOP is flawed.