The Sussex thread!

[3riverschick]

Ok, here ya go. Go. To :
Https://Hathitrust.org
In the search window enter : sussex Fowl. :. Select : full view. :.
3 books will come up. All are useful and educational. Start with Sharpe. Try sections starting with pages 65; 108 ; 126. Also check out the Broomhead brochure. It's superb.
It doesn't matter which variety you are Breeding. There is instruction for all in the writings on all the varities. In Sussex, the production virtues are so closely aligned with the breed hallmarks, if it doesn't look like a Sussex, it isn't a Sussex.

 

[Amelia Egghart]

Great info, thank you! The link didn't work for me but I searched for it and got to the books. Fantastic!

 

[LeeRoadPoultry]

Since the Speckled Sussex is a tri-colored variety, it should be selected for color at a later date than the other varieties . Between 12 and 16 weeks.
Karen

Great resource thanks

 

[Leela NH]

My young speckled Sussex are about to enter the flock. I want to pull out best for breeders. How do I decide which are more qualified stock.

Do you have a copy of the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection? If you are in the US it should be your first purchase as a new breeder. You can find a ton of info there about how to breed to standard.
I can't really start selecting until at least 26 weeks. If I see defects, bad faults or birds that are just not up to size for age then they are culled.

The hardest part of breeding is keeping the males long enough to make a really informed decision. Even at one year sometimes they will fool you...and going into year two as well.
Some good changes, some not so good.

Females I can't get a really good grasp on until they start laying and they have their first molt.

This means hanging on to the better birds for longer than most breeds.

Feel free to post pics and we can try to help you with critiques.

Leela
Kindred Hill Farm, NH

 

[3riverschick]

Lee Road,
Leela isn't just anybody in Sussex. she's President of the American Sussex Association and one of the finest Speckled Sussex breeders I know in the USA . so if she tells you something, you can take to the bank.

If you want to see proper adult type for the breed go to
Http://www.Katherineplumer.com
Choose: Drawings
choose : Chicken and poultry drawings
Choose : 2010 standard of perfection illustrations
Choose: Light Sussex
That is what a proper adult Sussex bird should look like in any color variety.
Best,
Karen

 

[Leela NH]

Lee Road,
Leela isn't just anybody in Sussex. she's President of the American Sussex Association and one of the finest Speckled Sussex breeders I know in the USA . so if she tells you something, you can take to the bank.

If you want to see proper adult type for the breed go to
Http://www.Katherineplumer.com
Choose: Drawings
choose : Chicken and poultry drawings
Choose : 2010 standard of perfection illustrations
Choose: Light Sussex
That is what a proper adult Sussex bird should look like in any color variety.
Best,
Karen

You are very sweet Karen, but I am hardly an expert on the breed/variety. I'm a really passionate steward, to put it simply.

 

[3riverschick]

You are very sweet Karen, but I am hardly an expert on the breed/variety. I'm a really passionate steward, to put it simply.

_'''''''_'''''
Considering the number of "available" experts on Speckled Sussex, I'm pretty sure at this point 'passionate Steward" qualifies as an expert.

 

[Lelanae]

Do you have a copy of the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection? If you are in the US it should be your first purchase as a new breeder. You can find a ton of info there about how to breed to standard.
I can't really start selecting until at least 26 weeks. If I see defects, bad faults or birds that are just not up to size for age then they are culled.

The hardest part of breeding is keeping the males long enough to make a really informed decision. Even at one year sometimes they will fool you...and going into year two as well.
Some good changes, some not so good.

Females I can't get a really good grasp on until they start laying and they have their first molt.

This means hanging on to the better birds for longer than most breeds.

Feel free to post pics and we can try to help you with critiques.

Leela
Kindred Hill Farm, NH

This is so interesting. Other than color, is the standard the same for all color varieties? (I have a broody sitting on Coro Sussex eggs--and crossing my fingers!)

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
Yes, other than color, the Standard is the same for all varieties in the Sussex.
Best,
Karen

 

[Faraday40]

I'm a complete novice with the Sussex and really only want one SS to add a little color & beauty to my flock. I decided last fall that we'd add one this spring. Now that we have ours, I can see why people are in love with their sweet & friendly SS's. Mine is only 6.5 weeks & already follows me around the yard when she sees me. Now that I am sure she's a female, I can think of a name.

The only thing that I'm a little concerned about is her appearance. She has a mostly white belly and looks nothing like those pretty pics I have seen. At about what age do they outgrow their baby feathers and look like pretty adults?

Also about how long do they take to lay the 1st egg. My EEs usually lay around 4 months & my orps take about 7-8 months. I'm hoping it's somewhere in between.