The Sussex thread!

[jmagill]

I have one light that started laying at 25 weeks but I a still waiting on several splits and lights to lay at about the same age.

I was wondering when to expect the rest to lay.

 

[Jared77]

Is anybody having to apply KY on their birds combs in the winter? I'm in Michigan I really like the breed just wondering if I need to take extra measures to protect the combs.

 

[peewee6765]

does anyone one have sussex ponte chicks?if you do can you ship?

 

[MrsChickendad]

Quote:
Hi Neighbor!

Sounds messy and kinda impractical! We just put a little heater in the coop that comes on when it drops under 40º; haven't had any frozen combs at all and we have Sussex and Cochins as well as misc. laying hens. Or you can put a heat lamp over the waterer which will keep the coop temp up and the water unfrozen.

 

[Jared77]

Well hello! Sweet another local!! What kind of heater do you run to the coop? And how warm does it make the coop? I figure if I could keep the temps around 50 degrees it would be fine. I'm still in the planning phase here (all my birds have been tractored) but want to get into a DP breed to get a sustainable flock going. I heard about the KY from some of the New Hampshire folks and all I could think was no way that would be everywhere.

 

[JanieMarie]

Wow!! 40/50*?? Them's some lucky chickens!! Here in MN I kick on the heat lamps at 10*. You must be much nicer chicken keepers than I am

Had no problems except one coop I had a sussex roo that frostbit the tips of his comb but I believe this was due to poorer ventilation in this coop and this has been fixed now.

I've never heard of using KY. I've always heard put vaseline on their combs and wattles altho I've never tried it so don't know how well it works. Lots of help I am huh!

btw peewee what is a sussex ponte?

 

[Jared77]

How many lights? What wattage? How big a coop and how many birds are in it? I'm assuming red bulbs so the coop stays darker...?

 

[Toi-toi]

I have a question...

My SS are so picky. They love to eat cherry tomato from my garden, but they don't eat regular big tomato. I cut it out to show them seeds but they won't eat.
They won't eat broccoli, too. I have broccoli in my garden but not doing so good. I decided to feed them and they don't touch.
They won't eat earth worms. They freaked out when I gave to them...

Is it some kind of sussex personality???

 

[Inkheart]

Hello all

Have a newbie question on Sussex - they list the Birchen color - is this a common color? And if so does anyone have pictures or description of the color - just curious
Thanks

 

[gootziecat]

I have found any breed of chicken with a single or large comb will not get frostbite if there is enough ventilation in the coop to prevent moisture from building up overnight.