The Sussex thread!

[CatMom]

I think this is a pullet too, I have one who is 12-14 weeks and has a massive red comb, medium wattles and pronouced hackle & saddle feathers. He has also started trying to mount my hens, who do not take him seriously in the least.

 

[CatMom]

Here is a place to get Silver Sussex. These look pure.
Owens Farm

Wilmore, KY 40390
http://www.localharvest.org/owens-farm-M43621
Beware of folk who cross the Light Sussex with the Silver Sussex
if you want a bird which truly looks like a Silver Sussex. Crossing the 2 colors  makes the colors look funny.

I think I read somewhere that the genetics that gave the Light a columbian-look included a wheaten gene that causes weirdness when it crossed with a birchen gene in the Silver... is that right? Are the Silver Sussex supposed to have a body color that is more black or sort of 'silver-laced' as in the Wyandotte?
I have seen examples of both types in pictures online, as well as some that just look like a splashy hot mess to my uneducated eye. The ones I liked the looks of best were out of Australa and resembled kind of a photo-negative of the Light color: penciled-looking feathers on head & tail, with very dark -almost all black- body feathering, with classic Sussex shape, white feet.

 

[Johnn]

I think this is a pullet too, I have one who is 12-14 weeks and has a massive red comb, medium wattles and pronouced hackle & saddle feathers. He has also started trying to mount my hens, who do not take him seriously in the least.

If my chick turns out to be a boy and starts trying to mount my girls now, god help it. My girls are vile to each other, if that chick tried to mount one they would probably kill it, they are so nasty! I still love them though!, they just dont love each other!

 

[Johnn]

 

[CatMom]

[/IMG]

 

[ChickNmamma]

[/URL]

Interesting - does that boy have feathers on his feet? I wonder what cross he is...

 

[CatMom]

This is Bam, when I got him as a 3-4 week chick I was told it was a Speckled Sussex pullet, the featgers on the legs and all that stuff that screams "BOY!" came later. However, now I know what I'm looking at, and I will spot an early red/large comb in a snap next time I go looking at Sussex. He's 12-15 weeks now, so far no crowing, and such a nice bird I am sold on the breed. However, I have heard that tha Speckled color has some Brahma in the mix a few generations back & that's probably where his 'yoga pants' come from. His temperament seems true to Sussex though.

 

[kada6305]

I don't think my SS has started layign yet, she is 19 weeks. when will she start laying? When did yours start laying?

 

[kimmerjo]

So no speckled Sussex until next spring I'm going with buff Orpingtons , blue Andalusian and black austrolorps for now.

 

[Johnn]