The Sussex thread!

[Faraday40]

Let's play find the chicken!
(She blends in very well. If she weren't in the center, I think she'd make Where's Waldo look easy! You could have a whole line of books & call them the Hide the Hen series!)

 

[vachick15]

Quote: Haha! I agree!

 

[FreedomFarm13]

Very pretty!!!

x2!!

Thank you!! I'm loving this breed so far! Libby is such a little character...she's got a great personality!

 

[FreedomFarm13]

Let's play find the chicken!
(She blends in very well. If she weren't in the center, I think she'd make Where's Waldo look easy! You could have a whole line of books & call them the Hide the Hen series!)

Hahaha!! Yeah, she's a little difficult to get pictures of...she's quite shy and always runs in the bushes when I pull out my camera. She's got some mighty fine camouflage goin on...

 

[teaton]

Does anyone have any hatching eggs available sale? I currently only have rir's but ive been itching to get some speckled sussex's and with the new years eve hatch along i was hoping to find some and hatch them but i havent had any luck so far.

 

[vachick15]

Quote:
My sussexes are like that too, LOL!

 

[summerb123]

Hen Contest #2

 

[KF0002]

Getting my first Sussex, a roo and hen pair, in two days! Do all Sussex have similar dispositions? We are hoping they are friendly

My old Speckled Sussex brood cock was mean. So far the jury is out on whether or not his sons will be aggressive or not, they are still under a year old. One cockerel is very protective of his hens and charges forth to bluff my truck when I pass their coop as I go up the driveway. lol. He puffs up and acts macho when I am in the coop but has never attacked. The other cockerel is much calmer and more laid back. The hens get along well with any of our other chickens we pen them with. Even when introduced to a pen of new hens they've never encountered before, there is little drama. They are a very social breed and the hens seem fearless and come close when I am in the coops, unlike my wingnut Easter Egger who stays as far away from people as she can get.

My friend also raises Speckled Sussex and his old cock was aggressive also. I think it is fairly common for the males of the breed to become aggressive when they are with hens.

 

[KF0002]

Does anyone have any hatching eggs available sale? I currently only have rir's but ive been itching to get some speckled sussex's and with the new years eve hatch along i was hoping to find some and hatch them but i havent had any luck so far.

Only two of my hens are laying at the moment and I've been setting all of their eggs I collect in the incubator.

I can collect over the next few days and see if I could get enough to send.

 

[Leela NH]

My old Speckled Sussex brood cock was mean. So far the jury is out on whether or not his sons will be aggressive or not, they are still under a year old. One cockerel is very protective of his hens and charges forth to bluff my truck when I pass their coop as I go up the driveway. lol. He puffs up and acts macho when I am in the coop but has never attacked. The other cockerel is much calmer and more laid back. The hens get along well with any of our other chickens we pen them with. Even when introduced to a pen of new hens they've never encountered before, there is little drama. They are a very social breed and the hens seem fearless and come close when I am in the coops, unlike my wingnut Easter Egger who stays as far away from people as she can get.

My friend also raises Speckled Sussex and his old cock was aggressive also. I think it is fairly common for the males of the breed to become aggressive when they are with hens.

Is your stock from exhibition lines or do they originally derive from hatchery stock? Your friend? I know Walt Reichert is in KY, but the cockerel I got from him was very sweet.
I have never had a mean SS cockerel or cockbird, hatchery or exhibition lines. Just curious if you or your friend selectively breeds or are they flock bred? I also think aggression can come from hen side as well. More likely an environmentally created aggression based on protecting hens or being denied breeding etc.