The Sussex thread!

[alohachickens]

Hi Tammy,

Those don't look like "correct" Speckled Sussex at all, but OMG, I just sent you a PM because they're PERFECT for what I need!

I wish you remembered the BYC member you bought those eggs from - I'm jumping up and down in my chair looking at your flock. I'm working on a new breed that (hopefully) will be pretty much like a Speckled Sussex when done, but in a lot more colors than just the mahogany, black, and white color we see now. I call them "Aloha" chickens (like the flowery, colorful Hawaiian shirts) and so far they are looking great! Here are a few pics:

Pumpkin or all-red mottled roo, a "new" color for this spring I've never had before:

Gold and white mottled baby hen:

New "Confetti" color:

My beloved, and sadly deceased "Ginger":

Tons more colors on the web site, including blue mottled!

Anyway, don't want to hijack the Sussex thread, I just want to say if anyone out there gets very odd lighter than normal or "off colored" Speckled Sussex, or interesting Speckled Sussex crosses, please send me photos, as they may be a huge boost to my project and I'd really appreciate the help.

Thanks!

Sommer (Website: www.alohachickens.webs.com )

 

[RustyHen]

Quote:
If you weren't planning on showing them . . . . you shouldn't worry!
They will be cute and friendly as they should be

There are very few sources of Show Quality speckled sussex out there. I have 3 hatchery ss - - - 2 from ideal and 1 from mt. healthy.
All are total darlins. I have no regrets.

Thank you both,
I know I will be very happy with them I have been waiting several yrs to be able to have the time and space for them. Do you think we should be worried that there are no SQ Speckled's available? how long would it take to bring them back up to where they would be SQ? Also I would like to know if the SOP in body perfection is the same for all sussex and their color is the only diffference?

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
The body type is always the same for all varieties in a breed. Comb and color may be different as in the Leghorn being a single and a rose comb.

 

[RustyHen]

Thanks Jimsfarmstand,
I have never shown Chickens before but was involved with dog shows sometime ago and I was just wondering.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
I THINK the body is the same for all sussex . .. . size / weights are different but there are many common characteristics.

SHOW QUALITY - - - THREE names kept showing up in my search. .. .

1.) One had predator issues a couple of years ago and is rebuilding his flock
2.) Another had a sterile roo issue ( and lesson learned . .. . make sure you have a back-up roo! I am now keeping 2 roos for each breed)
3.) The third breeder is having issues with flock too . . . . but don't know the details

I talked to many who used to have SQ SS and a few stated they got out of it do to lack of interest from others. . . . . With that in mind, if more were to become interested, I think a rebirth of SQ SS could happen. I did stumble accross a 4th person who advertises show quality SS. When I contacted them, they said they weren't breeding and selling them this year. . . .

I've gone on a few waiting lists for SQ SS. I really don't care if they are in vogue or not. I was so happy with my hatchery stock SS and their personality that this is one of the three breeds that I chose for my backyard flock. . .. I would like to get SQ SS because when I hatch some and go to sell the extras I want to feel like I am doing my part to better the chicken resources in this area. . .

The last few chicken shows that I have been to have not even had any speckled sussex entries. .. . I hope to show a few of mine too. It would be nice to have some representation for the breed. We truly adore ours. They are seriously like a chicken "dog". They walk with us every where. They are the first to greet us. They go out of their way to find us! BUTTERBALLS - - Great big Lovable Huggable BUTTERBALLS.. . ....

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Sad to hear those breeders have all had problems.

SQ Speckled's are near impossible to find here too. I'm hoping for eggs or if I'm really lucky a few grown birds next year.

 

[RIRJen]

I am very excited to be going to my first poultry show here in Michigan. Well...I can't go cause I'll be at a rabbit show in Columbus,OH but a friend of mine is going to take some of my birds I pre-enter for the show.

I'll let you guys know how the show goes!! I have a rabbit friend who is an APA judge and he has told me my SS are SQ and look wonderful...but in a couple weeks they'll actually compete!

Should be fun!!!

 

[RustyHen]

Quote:

Great I hope you do well!

 

[klf73]

my new babies from Greenfire Farms
Silver Sussex

Coronation Sussex

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Awwww! Those are adorable!

I hope my Silvers will produce some fertile eggs and chicks soon, none look to be developing in my Easter hatch.

Set some more yesterday.