Here is an excellent write-up on the breed. They keep quoting Clem Watson
because he was a premier expert n poultry and the breed in his time. Still held
in very high regard by Sussex folk. If he said it, you can take it to the bank.
Handbook and souvenir of the British Section,
World's Poultry Congress and Exhibition
by Sidney H. Lewer. Published: London, 1921.
http://tinyurl.com/ohb2xkq
SUSSEX
Old English Game, Dorkings, and Sussex make up a trium-virate
of typically British fowls, and of the three for table purposes
the Sussex has proved prime favourite, especially in the London
market, where the Surrey or Sussex fowl is looked upon as the
ideal table bird. As Mr. Clem Watson says, " Their size and
shape make them a fine fowl for fattening, so that where good
quality stock is kept and bred in big quantities all the wasters
can be killed off at an early age, and they bring back the highest
price on the market, their white flesh and legs being appreciated
by the best poulterers.
" The weights obtained by some Sussex are enormous. At
the Dairy Show (London), 1919, a pair of Light Sussex pullets,
fed by Mr. William Hodges, of Addlestone, reached 22 lb. Length
of body is a great point, and absence of offal is considered another
feature when the size and weight are taken into consideration.
As layers, Sussex equal some of the record layers among the light
breeds, and as their eggs come mostly in winter, they are doubly
valuable. The breeding for ideal exhibition type and colour has
not detracted one bit from their utility qualities, because the
Sussex Club has carefully guarded these points when considering
its beauty for the show bench."
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The Sussex can be kept on free range or in restricted pens,
remembering in the latter case the tendency of the breed to fatten
readily, and thus, if eggs are required, to feed accordingly and
afford the birds plenty of exercise so as to keep them in laying
condition.
There are four recognized varieties of Sussex—Light, Speckled,
Red, and Brown—and their popularity may be taken in the same
order. As becomes a breed of which the motto, we hope, will
always be " Utility First," exhibition birds of both sexes can be
bred from one pen, and we hope that the Sussex Club will
resolutely set its face against any interpretation of its standard which
is likely to lead to the necessity of breeding from two pens. As
Mr. Clem Watson wrote: " Being essentially a table breed, it is
only reasonable to expect that the birds will be judged partly
on these lines, hence there must be the long breast and back with
good width, fine texture in skin and face, and a white leg." The
breastbone must be straight, and no crooked toes, feathers on
shanks, or red legs are permissible.
As to the history of the breed, next to Old English Game and
Dorkings the Sussex is perhaps the oldest established breed of
British poultry, its origin being lost in the mist of antiquity. It
is par excellence a. utility fowl, and, as already noted, is very largely
used for fattening for the London market; in fact, a large pro-
portion of the " Surrey " fowls sold in restaurants come from
Sussex, and are " Sussex." As layers, too, they are by no means
to be despised, for instances have been recorded of a Sussex pullet
laying as many as 240 eggs in the twelve months ; further, they
very often come on to lay at a very early age. It will thus be seen
that the Sussex is entitled to every respect as a utility fowl, though
perhaps hardly as adapted as some lighter breeds for the small
" back-yard."
The Sussex lays a brown or tinted egg, and makes a good
sitter and mother, and from her size can cover a large batch of
eggs.
As an exhibition bird, too, the Sussex is very popular, and
classes are generally very well supported. This is no doubt largely
due to the lavish support accorded the breed by the Sussex Poultry
Club, founded in 1903, of which Mr. S. C. Sharpe, Meadham, Lewes,
is secretary.
For exhibition purposes the Sussex should be as large as possible
consistent with quality, the cock weighing at least 9 lb. and the
hen 7 lb. The head should be of medium size, with a short, strong
curved beak, which should be of a white or horn colour, this latter
feature not being quite correctly shown in our coloured plate.
The comb should be single, very evenly serrated, and of medium
size, as also should be the lobes and wattles. The neck should
be nicely curved, and have a fairly full hackle. The breast is
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97
described as broad and square, with a long, deep breast-bone.
The shoulders should be wide, with a broad, flat back, and the
wings carried close to the body. The skin and flesh should be
white and of a fine texture, the shanks and feet should also be
white, and free from feathers, with four toes. The thighs should
be short and stout, and the tail of moderate size.
Light Sussex
Taking the colours in the order already mentioned, we may
briefly describe them, remembering that in all the same true
A WINNING LIGHT SUSSEX.PULLET
The property of Major J. A. Morrison, D.S.O.
Sussex type is aimed at, the difference in the varieties being one
of colour only.
The Light Sussex is a bird of strong contrast, having a pure
white body colour with a clean, black-striped neck hackle and
solid black tail. Not an easy combination to attain without
undersmut or surface ticking. The frequent failing in the past was for
the hackle to be grey or for the black to run right through the
98 BRITISH POULTRY
feather, making the appearance of a black collar, instead of a
black feather with a fine white lacing all round. Of recent years
careful breeding has largely overcome this fault, and birds are
now staged with wonderfully clearly defined hackles and tails
combined with soundness of body colour.
As a layer, perhaps the Light holds first place among the Sussex,
and as an all-round purpose fowl it is difficult to rival. It is seen
to singular advantage upon grass, the plumage showing up well
against such a background, and it well deserves the place it holds
with British poultry-keepers. With the Speckled variety it has
now a considerable following in the United States, and being a
hardy fowl has found admirers all over the world.
Two pens of Light Sussex are entered for the British Section
at The Hague, a trio of exhibition birds from Major J. A. Morrison,
D.S.O., Basildon Park, Reading, Berkshire, and a trio of utility
birds from Mr. Marcus Slade, Mallards Court, Stokenchurch,
Oxfordshire.
Speckled Sussex
A good idea of the handsome appearance of these can be derived
from the coloured plate given in this little book. As a variety
the Speckled are the oldest of the family and possibly the hardiest
of a hardy race, and in appearance, though not always in reality,
a trifle larger than the others. Moreover, the tricolour markings
give them a singularly distinctive appearance. Writing of this
colour, Mr. Clem Watson says : " There is a hesitancy about
taking up Speckled by some people because of the mixing of colours.
But this should be easily understood. The ground colour must
be a rich chestnut-red, with just a black patch, say, about a quarter
of an inch wide at the end of the feather, and then the end tipped
with white. When seen to perfection the Speckled Sussex look
very handsome, and form an attraction to any poultry farm."
Dark or slate undercolour is now required by the Standard in all
colours of Sussex save the Lights, as against the self-undercolour
formerly prescribed.
The variety is represented in the British Section at The Hague
by an exhibition trio from Mrs. M. A. Grant, Horley, Surrey.
•
Red Sussex
Substitute red for white in the description of the Light Sussex,
and then apply it to the Red Sussex, and the same notes will hold
good. Though not perhaps so widely kept as the two preceding
varieties, the Red Sussex has yet many friends, and is steadily
making headway in standard properties. It has all the good
qualities of the other colours, but is perhaps a little overshadowed
just now with lovers of the colour by the extraordinary popularity
of the Rhode Island Red. Fashion, however, is a fickle goddess,
SUSSEX
99
and with its solid claims for recognition both on utility and ex-
hibition grounds the Red Sussex should yet come into its own.
The exhibition trio of Red Sussex on view at The Hague in the
British Section are from Major J. A. Morrison, D.S.O., Basildon
Park, Reading, Berkshire.
Brown Sussex
The Brown Sussex was for a time catered for by a club of its
own, but is now happily included in the same fold as the Light,
Speckled, and Red. It is the youngster of the family, and when
A WINNING RED SUSSEX HEN
The property of Major J. A. Morrison, D.S.O.
seen with the other members, as on a coloured plate of all the
Sussex before us as we write, its effect is decidedly pleasing, the
golden-red, black striped neck hackle, combined with the black,
brown, and reddish-brown body plumage of the male making a
striking contrast to the more sober hues and wheaten breast of
Ms mate.
ioo BRITISH POULTRY
In type and general characteristics the Brown Sussex is the
same as the other standard colours. It is, however, unfortunately
not represented in the British Section at The Hague.
Buff Sussex
At the show of the National Utility Poultry Society of England
in December, 1920, Mr. J. Raine exhibited a pen of birds designated
by him as Buff Sussex. The breed was then, and is still, in the
making, and has not yet been recognized by either the British
Poultry Club or the Sussex Club as a distinctive variety of the
Sussex fowl.
It has thus yet to make good its title to the word " Sussex,"
but remembering the popularity of the buff colour it is not sur-
prising to learn that several fanciers are at work upon a fowl of
this description to combine the utility and standard properties of
the Sussex.
The exhibitor of the trio of birds of this new colour in the
Utility Section of the British exhibit at The Hague is Mr. J. Raine,
Headcorn, Kent, and, asked for some particulars of the objective
of its breeders, he writes : " Our aim is ' Utility plus Exhibition.'
First-class table poultry are undoubtedly coming into demand
again, and the market will be worth catering for. There will be
nothing better than a Buff Sussex. Exhibition birds of distinctive
and striking character will always find buyers, and the Buff Sussex
hopes some day to meet with approval from the most exacting
fancier.
" Replace the white of the Light Sussex with rich buff, and you
will have a ground colour in which the black hackle will stand out
in attractive relief. Add a black tail and a beak not dark, but
buff, to a bird of the best Sussex type and size, and you will have
a show bird that will fill large classes at exhibitions of the future."
These are the hopes of its promoters ; whether they will be
fulfilled or not visitors to The Hague will be able to form their
own opinions upon after seeing the trio of Buff Sussex on view
thereat.
