The Sussex thread!

[AinaWGSD]

Chocs, those silver sussex are gorgeous! I have my two hatchery speckled sussex, but I have to say I really like them. They're friendly, inquisitive little pigs who are always the first to greet me to see if I'm bringing them any goodies. And I think they both laid their first egg today! We found two small cream colored eggs in the nest box today (we only have one other pullet that is supposed to lay brown eggs and we got a tan colored egg yesterday) and my husband caught the SS girls "practicing" in the nest boxes earlier this week. Unfortunately one was frozen solid and the shell was cracked (dang it's cold here! I checked the nest boxes at 7am and my hubby checked again at 11am and found the first egg), but I blew the other one out to save the shell.

How big does everyone's sussex eggs tend to be? I know that they're just pullet eggs and that they'll get bigger as time goes on, but the two we got today were little, only 1oz each.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I think that is a very accurate description of speckled sussex. The hens have the biggest - most compact breasts of all my breeds.
I've got two that are constantly tripping me because they are RIGHT UNDER MY FEET!

They lay a medium size egg. It is the same size as my SLW eggs. My partridge rocks are laying the same size egg to. So, if it was itty bitty - - it should get bigger BUT it will never be the large size of a leghorn.

 

[stoneunhenged]

My experience has been that with the exception of double-yolkers, the average Sussex egg would rate a "large" on the conventional commercial egg scale, but not an extra large or jumbo. My Sussex eggs are identical and indistinguishable in size, shape and color from large fowl Orpington eggs and Swedish flower hen eggs. The interesting thing is that Swedish flower hens probably weight half as much as a Sussex. I love the Sussex, but they are not high-volume layers of huge eggs. Of course, if you're making omlettes out of Sussex eggs, given their market value you're eating a $100 breakfast.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Quote:
So given the size of the eggs and the quantity they produce, why is their market value so high?

 

[stoneunhenged]

For the same reason most people who own Labrador retrievers never take them duck hunting: They have great personalities and are beautiful. Although Sussex are dual-purpose birds, they're more impressive as a meat bird than as an egg bird. But, if you're looking for a nice breed to give you breakfast eggs, they'll produce plenty for that purpose.

If you're really focused on egg production of very large eggs using heritage breeds, I'd go with something like a Delaware. If you want a high volume of beautiful eggs, black copper marans are hard to beat.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Thank you I appreciate your input. I do love my Marans and you are also right about the Del's.

The Sussex are very impressive to look at and one of the largerst, up there with my Orpingtons in size. Thanks! I guess they stay.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I'm not too concerned about egg size (or production for that matter) right now, mostly just curious about what I can expect in the future from these lovely ladies. During holiday baking seasons we can go through 2-3 dozen eggs a week, but the rest of the year a dozen eggs lasts us probably 2 weeks or so and with 7 pullets I expect we'll have more than enough eggs for our personal use

I had wondered what sussex were like as meat birds. The size of my two (and remember, they're hatchery stock) compared to the other 5 made me think that they might be a good choice for a dual purpose meat bird. They're at the top of my list for breeds to focus on when I win the lotto and get my "dream farm."

 

[Jared77]

Although Sussex are dual-purpose birds, they're more impressive as a meat bird than as an egg bird.

Can we talk about the Sussex as a meat bird? How well do they compare as a dual purpose bird? Is it all frame (they get their height first) then flesh much like the Jersey Giants, or do they grow pretty proportionally all over thus making them a good choice as a dual purpose bird for those of us looking for a sustainable flock?

Sorry not trying to offend anybody here but there are a number of us that want chickens for more than just pets. There are more and more folks looking for sustainable flocks (the Delaware's popularity is coming back for that exact reason) and if the Sussex fits that role then it needs to be advertised as such rather than just a big pretty bird. It would expand the appeal of them and thats only good for the breed.​

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Mine are still in the incubator, but from what I have researched the Sussex is a dual purpose breed like the Orpington. It will take 9-10 months or so to get them to the size for butcher, but are a dual purpose breed.

 

[ByN8ureHomstead]

Quote:
Can we talk about the Sussex as a meat bird? How well do they compare as a dual purpose bird? Is it all frame (they get their height first) then flesh much like the Jersey Giants, or do they grow pretty proportionally all over thus making them a good choice as a dual purpose bird for those of us looking for a sustainable flock?

Sorry not trying to offend anybody here but there are a number of us that want chickens for more than just pets. There are more and more folks looking for sustainable flocks (the Delaware's popularity is coming back for that exact reason) and if the Sussex fits that role then it needs to be advertised as such rather than just a big pretty bird. It would expand the appeal of them and thats only good for the breed.

We had 2 Sussex roos name Chicken and Noodles, Noodle was good. His frame looked the same as a smaller chicken. You did not offend me.

My Sussex are bigger than my Opringtons.