The Sussex thread!

[karlamaria]

Hi,
I have Montana bred Light Sussex. Got them from Walt Boese. They arrived Dec. 1st of last year at 10 months old. Got a trio. The boy was hatched 11/2011; March was hatched 3/12; May was hatched 5/12. Yeah, I named the girls after the months they were hatched. Both girls laid all winter long. Even in blizzard conditions. I do keep an 85 watt light on 24/7 in the 4x6 foot coop to keep the boy's comb from freezing. March-hatched Sussex are the best winter layers. Traditionally, the Light Sussex is the best layer of all the varieties in the breed.
Best,
Karen in western PA, USA

Yep Im getting them from him, and he lives 50 miles away from me.

 

[Summer98]

Hi Sussex owners,
I am considering getting some Speckled Sussex chicks. Can you tell me your opinions about their temperaments and egg laying abilities?
Thanks.

 

[Johnn]

Hi Sussex owners,
I am considering getting some Speckled Sussex chicks. Can you tell me your opinions about their temperaments and egg laying abilities?
Thanks.

My friend has one and they are quite good layers, some do go broody and they get along with everyone in the flock.

 

[Arielle]

THe girls I have are very friendly. My kids have fun playiig with "Grass Girl" and the other SS hens. My SS are hatchery bred and lay a light-med brown egg almost every day. THey forage all day in the woods with pellets and water at their coop.

 

[youngchooklover]

what kind of sussex is this ? and is this bird a good layer?

light sussexs.

 

[3riverschick]

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By karlamaria:
Yep Im getting them from him, and he lives 50 miles away from me.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=VKLTUgfkcBs

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Hi karlamaria,
What's the heritage on your Boese Lights? Mine are by Senior out of 2 different hens. I have a trio. Junior and one hen out of one breeding. Another hen out of another breeding. From them, I have 23 chicks on the ground. I am really liking what I see.
Best,

Karen

 

[K Spot]

Hi Sussex owners,
I am considering getting some Speckled Sussex chicks. Can you tell me your opinions about their temperaments and egg laying abilities?
Thanks.

I have a Speckled Sussex hen - it's winter here and she lays about 6 eggs a week, which I think is very good considering I don't have any additional light source for her.

Her temperament is excellent - friendly to me, not a bully to my other hens/pullets either.

 

[3riverschick]

Quote: Hi karlamaria,
My Boese Lights started laying in Jan. of this year. We had a real cold Jan. Feb. March. ( The groundhog was way wrong in his prediction for an early Spring). They laid right thru it, no problems. My one pullet, March, went broody in Feb. and hatched out three chicks Feb. 23rd. A super Mom she raised them in the coop right thru the cold and then in May , March went broody again. I only had an 85 watt light in the coop 24./ to keep combs' from freezing.
I sure wouldn't worry about laying in the wintertime.
When were your birds hatched ?
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

I just have to share this. Been looking for it for over a year.

Why am I so excited? Clem Watson was one of the 3 great Secretaries of the UK Sussex Poultry Club. ( other 2 were Leo Outram and Sharpe). He was extremely learned on the breed. Yet, his writings are very rare and hard to find. Such a rare treat!!

The Feathered World Year Book and Poultry Keepers' ... 1921.
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b2979304;view=1up;seq=202
Pages 202 thru 209
The Sussex
By Clem Watson.

 

[3riverschick]

Here it is. One of the things I have been looking for , stated by Watson. I know all the hallmarks intertwine their purposes to create a fowl both for meat and eggs. But which relate to what? Here it is:
"
The actual breeding of Sussex should not present any difficulty
to the man who follows the work among any other variety. It is
essential to observe certain points, and the Standard sets the points
forth very clearly so that all who run may read. Without shape
you do not get a Sussex. Make this a very important feature,
then you can work on colour and marking without fear. There
must be length and depth of body, otherwise you lose the table
points, then with the width of back and a good head you can
maintain the laying properties. Many of the Sussex to-day are
carrying an ugly comb which is not very attractive, although I
Page 209
know that this does not alter the body shape. But a coarse comb
denotes coarseness of body, and you will find the skin and flesh coarser than one with a fine-grained comb."
Happy, Happy,
Karen