The Sussex thread!

[Deerfield Acres]

You could try Lonesome Pine Farm. [email protected]

The President of the American Sussex Association has Lights too. I don't know if Karen (3riverschick) will be selling eggs since she just got a trio and is building her flock. I only have a pair.


I'm not a fan of putting anything with Cornish X but others may have another opinion.

X2

 

[3riverschick]

Wow! Thanks for the great responses. I think I am just about sold on getting some Sussex's. Now I just need to decide if I want Speckled Sussex or Light Sussex chickens. How will i decide they both look awesome, does one lay better then the other or gain weight faster?

It depends on how complex a color breeding project you desire. The tri-color Speckled Sussex is the most difficult of the breeds to color breed. If you are going to start with them, you need to get your foundation stock from a vintage line which has been line-bred for years and wins consistently in the show ring. In large fowl, That would be Tony Albritton of ID, Gary Overton of OH, and Walt Reichert of KY. (see Poultry Press for contact info). In Bantam Speckled Sussex, that would be Skytop of PA, Mongold of OH, Overton of OH, Adam Leoffel of KY. And there are several others whom these people know. All these strains come out of a base of Mongold /Overton and bred into different strains by different breeders with different artist's eyes.
In Light Sussex, ..stay away from the Aussie lines. Their type is too different, they are so overweight, they are DQ'd in the APA show-ring. There are several US lines, Presley (now in other hands), (Arielle is the other one Dillon?) and a couple others. A couple of folks have formal breeding programs where they have merged the US and Aussie lines. Those are best looked at after they have several generations behind them so the size and close featheredness have been brought back to within APA Standards. Do not use birds which are 1st or 2nd generation crosses on Aussie birds.
There is a third strain in Light Sussex, I have them and they are pure English strain. I got them from Walt Boese in MT. Walt is a strict mentor when it comes to sharing his stock and we both appreciate that. It is not that I don't want to share this stock. It's that Walt must approve first...that's the deal. And this strain must never, ever be crossed with any other stain of Light Sussex. The variation caused by that would ruin the delicate balance of genetics in this strain. With so many out there wanting to "improve" or "fix" the problems they see with the infusion of Aussie blood in the variety. It is really hard to find anyone who respects the integrity of this strain enough to resist the strain-crossing temptation. Walt does not want his strain or genetics associated with the widespread genetic variation seen in the melding of the US and Aussie lines. That is the first thing that will happen. Folks will start touting their birds are Boese-this and Boese-that. Just not happening.There is plenty of variety in the Boese strain to continue breeding within it. Plus, Walt and I have plans for another pure English outcross in the future if we ever need it. So that's where I am at right now. Plenty of other choices tho with top stock and great mentors. There are no bantam Light Sussex.
Best Success,
Karen

 

[City Chicken]

Can anyone tell me if this is what your light Sussex eggs look like? I am incubating eggs and want to keep the light Sussex and sell the rest in order to build up my light Sussex flock. I only have one pure hen left and I'm thinking these are hers.

 

[3riverschick]

Can anyone tell me if this is what your light Sussex eggs look like? I am incubating eggs and want to keep the light Sussex and sell the rest in order to build up my light Sussex flock. I only have one pure hen left and I'm thinking these are hers.

---------------
Hi,
The color and size os the same as my Light Sussex, except mine don't have the mottling.
But I think that mottling is just a "paint" issue, not a mark of breed integrity.
Best,
Karen

 

[City Chicken]

Yeah I read that they could be pink and speckled... This is the most speckled I have every had! But very pretty!

 

[pysankigirl]

I wish I could upload pictures but my picture uploading thingie is missing.

I love sussex, expecially the coloumbian patterned ones but I cant get into breeding them for now. need to concentrate on the two breeds I currently have. so just for my laying flock I picked up a single "light sussex" chick she'd hatched out from shipped eggs (don't know where from) when I was getting my Blue Barnie cockerel. just to tide me over.

But her feathers aren't coming in white. more of a mottled buff...is this normal for "light sussex?" because if she's a buff sussex then I want to run over there and grab the rest of these buggers. (buff sussex being my favorite

) what does a light sussex chick look like if crossed with a speckled?

dang, I wish I could just show you a picture.

 

[DownwardDog]

Is there anyone in NH, eastern ME or VT or Northern MA selling Speckled Sussex chicks? I so want a few of these lovely ladies!
Thanks, Lenore

 

[Moretimefarm]

Hi Y'all-

Does anyone have light, buff or speckled susex around middle, TN?
I need some hens for my poor lonely roo!

 

[KBG204]

My babies at almost a week old.

 

[Chickawawa]

My babies at almost a week old.

Adorable! We bought pullets and a cockeral so I hadn't seen them as chicks! Hopefully we will later this Spring tho! Thanks for posting this!