Speckled Sussex?

[kmksmommy]

Thanks for the validation DH thinks I'm nutty for constantly photographing everything;-) When they were about 5 weeks, my 5 year old daughter told me that "the ones with the white chests are the boys." Where this came from, I'll never know, but at least with these guys the ones with distinctly larger and darker combs and wattles all have a similar feather pattern and stand up tall.

One of the chicks I think is a pullet one day and looks like a cockerel the next. I figure 5/8 I can keep is great, 4/8 would be fine, too... another meat bird and then I get more chicks, too.

I am in love with their little chicky masks! Without a doubt, I'll get more of them if they are available nearby again.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I got eggs from one person and chicks from another - - - so in 6 months or so . . . I will be ready to hatch some for you if you want. . . .
I haven't figured out how to tell who a cockerel yet. I can tell pretty quickly with my other breeds. ... my I keep scratching my head on these guys

 

[verlaj]

Quote:
I've been thinking that I might want to get SS chicks from you in the future! (Or eggs.)

The first time I ordered SS pullets (Ideal) I ended up with 3 pullets and 2 cockerels. In this experience, the cockerels revealed their identity really early - one was crowing at 4 weeks or so and quickly found a new home. The other developed a red meaty comb very early. I kept him for a while, then reluctantly gave him away to keep peace in the family. He was absolutely gorgeous and very well-behaved. I called him "Gentleman Roo." He went to a new home with a BYCer - I delivered him to Alabama!

Had better luck with a pullet order from Mt. Healthy - all pullets!

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I've been thinking that I might want to get SS chicks from you in the future! (Or eggs.)

The first time I ordered SS pullets (Ideal) I ended up with 3 pullets and 2 cockerels. In this experience, the cockerels revealed their identity really early - one was crowing at 4 weeks or so and quickly found a new home. The other developed a red meaty comb very early. I kept him for a while, then reluctantly gave him away to keep peace in the family. He was absolutely gorgeous and very well-behaved. I called him "Gentleman Roo." He went to a new home with a BYCer - I delivered him to Alabama!

Had better luck with a pullet order from Mt. Healthy - all pullets!

Either way - - - Wait until the end of summer and I can either send you eggs OR hatch some eggs for you

I'll be posting pictures of them on this THREAD as they grow so keep an eye out for them

I did like the shape of the ones I just from Idea better than the shape of the one I got from Mt. Healthy. . . There was a BIG difference in body types.

My breeding stock is not from Idea or Mt. Healthy. . . . I got those from private breeders

AND I am very anxious to see what they llok like ALL GROWN UP!

 

[verlaj]

Quote:
I agree on the body type - the Ideal SS were bigger - but the Mt. Healthy SS did not have as much white. I think the Ideal ones were friendlier - like so friendly they are underfoot, in your lap, standing at your feet, looking up at you and chortling, having to be pushed away when you are working in the garden! The Mt. Healthy ones are nice, but not so incredibly outgoing!

Are the stock from breeders better looking, but as pleasant, as the hatchery ones? If better looking, in what way?

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I agree on the body type - the Ideal SS were bigger - but the Mt. Healthy SS did not have as much white. I think the Ideal ones were friendlier - like so friendly they are underfoot, in your lap, standing at your feet, looking up at you and chortling, having to be pushed away when you are working in the garden! The Mt. Healthy ones are nice, but not so incredibly outgoing!

Are the stock from breeders better looking, but as pleasant, as the hatchery ones? If better looking, in what way?

That was EXACTLY what I noticed between the two breeds.

The chicks are TOO young for me to know -- - but the one set I ordered as STARTED CHICKS and they are suppose to be from Show Quality parents.
The other is from a breeder off ebay who has had their stock for years and years.

I will be excited to compare the two sets of birds as they grow up .. . They are only around month old now.

 

[verlaj]

The chicks are TOO young for me to know -- - but the one set I ordered as STARTED CHICKS and they are suppose to be from Show Quality parents.
The other is from a breeder off ebay who has had their stock for years and years.

I will be excited to compare the two sets of birds as they grow up .. . They are only around month old now.

I'll be excited, too! I hope you will post photos.​

 

[Cold Canadian]

Sorry to pop in here , but the birds all look great ! I have always loved the way that they look and this year I ordered some in from Meyers and if they look even half as good as what I've seen here .............well I'll be more then happy .............once again , sorry for the interuption , back to the pictures ............please

 

[math ace]

Quote:
If you are talking Speckled Sussex, then you are not interupting. Instead, you are CONTRIBUTING !

Welcome to the Speckled Sussex Thread

 

[Cold Canadian]

Well thank You ,

I watch the forums closely , and see all the beautiful chickens that everyone else has and it starts me wanting as well .I have tried to get some Speckled Sussex for two years now and I'm so pumped that I'm getting some this year , but please ................post more pictures , so much to learn