Speckled Sussex

[Gonzo]

I ordered 2 speckled sussex hens from Mt. Healthy. Are they a good breed to get? I got them because I have several other breeds, and I just did it on a whim while changing my order around.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

You will absolutely fall in love with them.

One of my favorite hens of all time was a speckled sussex named Houdina. She could escape ANYTHING. Including a rabbit hutch that required thumbs and an elbow to get into. How she got out during the day and back in at night still confuses me. She was so sweet that she would sit on your foot until you picked her up. She LOVED being held and loved long, luxurious hot baths in the sink.

She had the worst conformation for a Sussex, but was an absolutely lovely bird and always will be.

 

[math ace]

I have heard nothing but good about them. Suppose to be very friendly and lay a lot of eggs. Only down side is that the eggs are "med" size instead of "Large" or "extra Large".

They are on my want list.

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
True, I raise SS and they are good birds to have, but the eggs are meium sized and really light brown or cream colored.

 

[verlaj]

I love my 3 SS - incredibly friendly and curious - even from baby chick-hood. Mine came from Ideal - have a few more coming from Mt. Healthy in a few weeks. Underfoot, chatty, let you pet them, very pretty. I like the cream colored eggs - nice contrast with the brown, tan, dark brown, speckled, green, blue, and olive in the basket! One of mine is laying a large egg - the others are medium sized.

Of 5 "pullets" from Ideal, I got 3 pullets, 2 cockerels. Read somewhere here that they are hard to sex as day-olds. Maybe that's why my pullet percentage was poor.

Gave one roo away young to a BYCer and kept the other for about 6 months. He was so nice - beautiful and very gentlemanly. I gave him to Crimson Tide at Thanksgiving, but was really sad to let him go.

By the way - math ace - the SS coming are part of my special order via Reddick Brothers, too! Just in case you were interested...

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

someone gave me 6 baby SS, and I think they are so cute. I can't wait until they start laying in 6 months...med. eggs huh? hmmmmm maybe I'll just have a few of them then. I just love so many types of chickens. I can't decide. so someone told me to keep the ones I want pure seperate in different hen houses and keep the other breeds minus a rooster in a larger henhouse...so now I am happy.

 

[Gonzo]

Thanks Everybody! I can't wait until they arrive!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Take pics when you get them!!!

 

[KyBlue]

I love my SS as well! I have three that I received in a pullet assortment from Mt. Healthy last summer. They are gorgeous and the friendliest chickens I have. They follow me around like little dogs. Mine were slower growing than most of the other breeds in the assortment, but they eventually caught up and now are the heaviest of all. They don't look quite as big as the Orps or Cochins- because of the tighter feathering- but they feel like lead weights when they jump up in my lap. (I'm sure they would make great table birds if they weren't so doggone cute.) The biggest drawback, as most have said, is the medium size eggs. However, with so many other positive attributes, the egg size ends up being a minor issue. This has been my first experience with the breed, but I plan on keeping a few around from now on.

 

[verlaj]

I love my SS as well! I have three that I received in a pullet assortment from Mt. Healthy last summer. They are gorgeous and the friendliest chickens I have.

KyBlue - I was glad to hear what you say about your Mt. Healthy SS - I am getting a few SS chicks from them in a couple of weeks! If you can, would you please post photos of yours? Thanks!​