The Sussex thread!

[LooperChickens]

So you SS hen is 2-3 years old and lays 4 eggs a week

 

[Faraday40]

Here's our little "Hope" all grown up. This little chick hatched with a herniated navel. It lived through the 1st few days, then 2 weeks, then finally the scab fell away. At 1st we only hoped it would live. Once the beautiful feathers came in, we began to HOPE for a female. The name stuck.



Hope is our only Coronation Sussex. I do not think she's laying yet.....only about 5 months old. I'm now pretty sure my new Christmas eggs came from both my 8 mo old Orpingtons. However, I'm sure she'll be singing the egg song soon. I guess the Coronation Sussex is a large, slow maturing breed like the Orpingtons. Already her body looks big with the fluffy bloomers like my English Orps.

 

[WNCcluck]

So you SS hen is 2-3 years old and lays 4 eggs a week

Yes, in the summer / fall. She's wrapping up a nice molt now, so all her energy is going into getting back to form.

We don't add artificial light during the winter to force laying. We just roll with the natural rhythm of having more eggs when the days are sunnier and longer. We've been quite pleased that our largest Easter Egger has been giving us about three eggs a week - huge, blue eggs.

 

[Chica Chick]

Hi everyone. I am new to chicks and interested in Speckled Sussex. Don't have any local breeders, or at least none that I've found. Any pics of hatchery birds? Looking at Meyer and Cackle. Have checked hatchery pic threads and not many pics there.

Other suggestions to getting decent chicks?

 

[Faraday40]

Hi everyone. I am new to chicks and interested in Speckled Sussex. Don't have any local breeders, or at least none that I've found. Any pics of hatchery birds? Looking at Meyer and Cackle. Have checked hatchery pic threads and not many pics there.

Other suggestions to getting decent chicks?

Does your state have a local thread on BYC? There may be a breeder near you or in a neighboring state. Chicks may also be seasonal. In the spring months, more people will be hatching chicks, so many extras will be available. (ie- I'm from northern IL, so no one up here wants to raise chicks in the snow. In March-May, we see many day-olds available.)

 

[ThatFarmerChick]

Does your state have a local thread on BYC?  There may be a breeder near you or in a neighboring state.   Chicks may also be seasonal.  In the spring months, more people will be hatching chicks, so many extras will be available. (ie- I'm from northern IL, so no one up here wants to raise chicks in the snow.  In March-May, we see many day-olds available.)

I trust breeders much more than hatcheries for most of our birds. But we have gotten some good SS girls from McMurray. They lay well, are super friendly to all, and are more gorgeous . I think this time of year you must get a pullet or 25 chicks, but in the warmer months they will ship less. My hubby and I were thinking about giving stromberg (I hope that is the correct spelling) a try for some cockerels. You must order at least 5 of the same thing and place a total order of 25 at anytime with them. We love the service from McMurray, but we were concerned that if we bred them the birds may be closer in relation if we purchased from the same hatchery. We get a mixed group of Cockerels each year for meat. So ordering 25 won't be bothering us. We will be keeping the Sussex around though. I am glad to be in a place where others love this breed like I do.

 

[ThatFarmerChick]

I am sorry Faraday40, but I meant to reply to Chica Chick. Your info was the better response I was just adding some more info. After moving and starting over again I feel new to this.

 

[Johnn]

Dorothy

 

[WuFarms]

Dorothy

What a beauty. I showed her pic to my boys ages 14 years and 22 months and the toddler's jaw dropped. He clearly like Dorothy. I may have to look into having a Speckled Sussex some day. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Johnn]

What a beauty. I showed her pic to my boys ages 14 years and 22 months and the toddler's jaw dropped. He clearly like Dorothy. I may have to look into having a Speckled Sussex some day. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you! Glad you all like her