Out of the different breeds I have/had (light Brahmas, SLW, EE, golden comets and Speckled Sussex), my speckled sussex are by far the friendliest and most curious. They are a ton of fun. Not my best layers but they're worth it for the cuddle factor.
what can you tell me about speckled sussex?
- Thread starter TK Poultry
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I love my sussex. They are a bit silly compared to my other breeds. They tend to free-range the farthest from the coop, and like to hide their eggs. My biggest roo is not agressive at all, and I love the way they look.
I have 3 Speckled Sussex (the 2 roosters became soup) and they are all nice. It took them second to longest to become friendly but now they enjoy human interaction like the others. They are pretty and seem to love foraging on the outer perimeter of the yard where all the others like to be close to the house.
I also have Black Australorps and they are very pretty birds. Still not my friendliest but not unfriendly either. They lay nicely and seem to go with the flow with anything going on on the place. Pretty quiet as far as vocal goes.
I chose for cold hardy as my main trait, egg production as my second, friendly as my third and heat tolerant as my fourth. I think these breeds fit all those categories. I also have Barred Rocks (very friendly, great layers), Buff Orphingtons (also very friendly and good layers), and Silver Laced Wyandottes (most stand-off-ish birds I have, also the last to lay)
Good luck, can't wait to see what you end up with!
I also have Black Australorps and they are very pretty birds. Still not my friendliest but not unfriendly either. They lay nicely and seem to go with the flow with anything going on on the place. Pretty quiet as far as vocal goes.
I chose for cold hardy as my main trait, egg production as my second, friendly as my third and heat tolerant as my fourth. I think these breeds fit all those categories. I also have Barred Rocks (very friendly, great layers), Buff Orphingtons (also very friendly and good layers), and Silver Laced Wyandottes (most stand-off-ish birds I have, also the last to lay)
Good luck, can't wait to see what you end up with!
greencastle_ducks,
I'm pretty new to chickens but I've had a couple of Buckeyes for two years, and have between 5 and 10 each Buckeye's, Speckled Sussex and Australorps from a July hatch this year. They are all from hatcheries.
I'm from northern Illinois, we just had 8" of snow followed by temps down to -1F, so I can help you with cold hardy. If you don't count frozen combs I believe all three are about equal in cold hardiness. So far none have ventured out into the snow but they all seem comfortable with the temps. My coop is not heated, this past week the young speckled Sussex roos have little frostbitten comb tips, and the parts of the wattles that touch the water when they drink look like they might have a spot or two also. The Australorp pullets have larger combs and wattles so I imagine as the winter progresses they might also have some frostbite. The buckeyes of course have no trouble with combs or wattles and the cold. Last year my Faverolles roos lost the very end tips of their single combs.
The speckled Sussex are the friendliest. When I give them scratch as treats the Sussex are always the ones on my lap. None mind being petted while they are eating, a couple of them will choose to sit on my lap even after the food is gone. They talk to me while I'm getting their food ready. I ended up with three roos. Two are indifferent to attention, the other one used to be my friendliest chick, then testosterone kicked in and he is too busy to sit with me, but he is still friendly and very good with the girls.
The Australorps are next on the friendliness scale. They seem to go through fazes when they are wanting to get petted, then not really interested. One today came up after all the food was gone and snuggled up for a long time. One of them has never been interested in being petted. I don't have any Australorp roos.
The Buckeyes are also wonderful. I only have one pullet that is interested in being on my lap but they are all under my feet when I walk into the coop. They seem very intelligent and are interested in all that goes on but also have this no nonsense air about them. I've been trying to work with the roo a bit more. I want to make sure he is used to being handled. When I pick him up he just sits still. He'll take a bite or two of corn. But I've noticed he is starting to come up and eat off the ground next to me on a regular basis. During the summer the my three Buckeye hens from last year free ranged the farthest from the coop.
All the hens and pullets seem to be compatible. They seem to work out their pecking order without much fuss. I've read the Buckeye are good mousers but I have to say my Australorps win the mousing competitions.
I'm pretty new to chickens but I've had a couple of Buckeyes for two years, and have between 5 and 10 each Buckeye's, Speckled Sussex and Australorps from a July hatch this year. They are all from hatcheries.
I'm from northern Illinois, we just had 8" of snow followed by temps down to -1F, so I can help you with cold hardy. If you don't count frozen combs I believe all three are about equal in cold hardiness. So far none have ventured out into the snow but they all seem comfortable with the temps. My coop is not heated, this past week the young speckled Sussex roos have little frostbitten comb tips, and the parts of the wattles that touch the water when they drink look like they might have a spot or two also. The Australorp pullets have larger combs and wattles so I imagine as the winter progresses they might also have some frostbite. The buckeyes of course have no trouble with combs or wattles and the cold. Last year my Faverolles roos lost the very end tips of their single combs.
The speckled Sussex are the friendliest. When I give them scratch as treats the Sussex are always the ones on my lap. None mind being petted while they are eating, a couple of them will choose to sit on my lap even after the food is gone. They talk to me while I'm getting their food ready. I ended up with three roos. Two are indifferent to attention, the other one used to be my friendliest chick, then testosterone kicked in and he is too busy to sit with me, but he is still friendly and very good with the girls.
The Australorps are next on the friendliness scale. They seem to go through fazes when they are wanting to get petted, then not really interested. One today came up after all the food was gone and snuggled up for a long time. One of them has never been interested in being petted. I don't have any Australorp roos.
The Buckeyes are also wonderful. I only have one pullet that is interested in being on my lap but they are all under my feet when I walk into the coop. They seem very intelligent and are interested in all that goes on but also have this no nonsense air about them. I've been trying to work with the roo a bit more. I want to make sure he is used to being handled. When I pick him up he just sits still. He'll take a bite or two of corn. But I've noticed he is starting to come up and eat off the ground next to me on a regular basis. During the summer the my three Buckeye hens from last year free ranged the farthest from the coop.
All the hens and pullets seem to be compatible. They seem to work out their pecking order without much fuss. I've read the Buckeye are good mousers but I have to say my Australorps win the mousing competitions.
Quote:
Thanks for posting this BEAUTIFUL pic!!! He's dreamy!
Thanks for posting this BEAUTIFUL pic!!! He's dreamy!
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- Thread starter
- #16
sounds like speckled sussex is a good choice my things in order are this
1) Friendliness 4) Egg Production
2) Cold Hardy 5) Heat Tolerence
3) Looks
that's what i look for and im more of a hobbyist than an exibitionist so eye candy is a bigger priority but i still like to go to a show here and there and still active in 4H....... still on the fence with the buckeyes and austrolorps leaning more toward buckeyes tho......... MORE pix please all of you have gorgeous birds and i want to see more
1) Friendliness 4) Egg Production
2) Cold Hardy 5) Heat Tolerence
3) Looks
that's what i look for and im more of a hobbyist than an exibitionist so eye candy is a bigger priority but i still like to go to a show here and there and still active in 4H....... still on the fence with the buckeyes and austrolorps leaning more toward buckeyes tho......... MORE pix please all of you have gorgeous birds and i want to see more
My speckled sussex Delilah sounds JUST like Nelda! She is an absolute pig and will do anything for food--I often find her out in the run alone still scratching around when it is very cold...She gets so excited that her tail wiggles, it is so cute. She is just huge, but not a great layer. She is not the friendliest, but for pure personality I love her! Very pretty chicken that everyone comments on, I would definitely get one.
Well we have beautiful Speckled Sussex and also Welsummers.
Welsummers are calm but not as friendly as Speckled...Our speckled will rub up against me to be fed and never bite me when I poke my hand out....even with red gloves....Here are some photos:
A young one (now older) at Mahonri's from our shipped eggs:
Our latest shipped babies on Dinahmoe's results:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=275274
Our mother flock:
our welsummers:
We're still shipping eggs.... I hope that our flock will be doubled in size by 2010 season...We have some pretty ones coming up! Not bragging just truly blessed. My hubby works so hard and I just get to come behind, feed sometimes (he does the most of it), so I get the treats end and love on them. They are non hatchery and just so healthy....THis farm living is good for them
Have a blessed and happy day.
Welsummers are calm but not as friendly as Speckled...Our speckled will rub up against me to be fed and never bite me when I poke my hand out....even with red gloves....Here are some photos:
A young one (now older) at Mahonri's from our shipped eggs:
Our latest shipped babies on Dinahmoe's results:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=275274
Our mother flock:
our welsummers:
We're still shipping eggs.... I hope that our flock will be doubled in size by 2010 season...We have some pretty ones coming up! Not bragging just truly blessed. My hubby works so hard and I just get to come behind, feed sometimes (he does the most of it), so I get the treats end and love on them. They are non hatchery and just so healthy....THis farm living is good for them
Have a blessed and happy day.
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Bargain has "THE EGGS" if you're up for hatching! My sussex came from her stock,and I think Rareroo said his did too. I've seen them in person- pics don't do them justice!
Everyone that comes by is immediately taken with them.
Everyone that comes by is immediately taken with them.
We really like ours.
Steve in NC
Steve in NC
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