When I placed my first order for chickens in January of 2016 , I had no cue what I was doing . I had rank the order adding all the prettiest chicken , paying little care to the practicality of the breed . I needed six more poulet to match the minimum , and I see Speckled Sussex chickens were useable for my cargo ships week . Hastily , I cluck add to pushcart and placed my order .
Speckled Sussex ended up being the most practical birds in my great deal that year . These birds have first-class bollock production , average out 250 egg per year . In accession to their brilliant egg output , Speckled Sussex is very friendly and make a good dual function breed for those interested in centre .
About Sussex Chickens
The Sussex chicken strain was originally breed in Sussex County in southeast England sometime in the 1800s . The Speckled Sussex was the first to be produced but there are now eight color variations recognized by the Poultry Club of Great Britain . These color are brown , buff , enthronisation , light , flushed , dotted , ashen and silver .
The American Poultry Association have only the ruddy , speckled and easy colors , but all of the colour potpourri can be recover in the United States .
Sussex were ab initio cover for kernel and were some of the conduct birds for meat product for several year . Larger and faster - grow broilers eventually labour the Sussex aside .
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These chickens still had decent egg output and James Leonard Farmer who wanted both meat and bollock , kept the boo in their flocks . Sussex are now becoming popular again since more people than before are interested in turn their marrow and egg .
Sussex Characteristics
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1. Size and Weight
Sussex are definitely not small chickens . Healthy hens weigh 7 - 8 pounds and roosters weigh between 9.5 and 11 pounds . Some razzing have fluffy plumage , making them appear larger than they are . Sussex have smooth and close meet feathers , but they still do n’t have a small appearance because they are rather giving chickens .
2. Temperament
I have never owned a more peculiar chicken than my Speckled Sussex . These speculative little birds have sex nothing more than fall out you around and piece at your shoelaces and jean cuffs . Sussex are blue towards you and the balance of the flock .
Despite their size of it , Sussex sometimes get picked on by the residuum of the flock because they are so docile . When hen go broody , which they ofttimes do , they make excellent mothers . cock are incredible guardians , and they are very good at alerting their hatful to potential predators and threat .
3. Egg Production
For a dual purpose breed , Sussex have unbelievable production . Averaging about 250 eggs in a year , Sussex can lay ball with the best of them ! These wimp will lie in large light brown eggs 4 - 5 time a week . Sussex are also expert at wintertime production , unlike some other breeds .
4. Meat Production
The Sussex chickens were once one of the leading chicken stock for meat yield . Though the Sussex has made way for other breeds , they still have exceptional meat timbre . If you feed your Sussex supererogatory , they can put on pound cursorily .
This quality make them an fantabulous meat bird . Do n’t feed in excess for too long , but it wo n’t hurt to fertilize a few extra scraps in the week leading up to butchering . Sussex also make a nice looking for carcass since they are a white skinned breed .
How to Care for Sussex
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1. Feeding and Nutrition
There is no doubt about the fact that Sussex loves their food . Scratch cereal , mealworm , scraps , you name it , they bed it . You ’ll necessitate to maintain care whenfeedingyour Sussex to ensure they do not get fleshy because they do win weight very easily . An overweight hen will have pitiable product and be susceptible to wellness issuing .
Some crybaby keeper choose not to feed free selection and rather ration food for thought . Sussex also make dandy forager , and this hit a fantastic supplemental diet as well .
2. Housing and Fencing
Since Sussex are a large breed they do involve a bite more infinite than some chick . 4 - 5 square groundwork per birdin the houseis ideal . If you choose to keep your birds in a run , 12 square feet per bird is adequate distance . You do not need a fence high than 48 ’’ for the Sussex , since they are large , do n’t fly easily .
3. Health Issues and Care
Sussex are very brave bird and not very susceptible to manyhealth issuesat all . As stated earlier , Sussex can pack the Irish punt easy , so the biggest affair to watch over out for is chubby birds . A healthy ration and pile of room to persist will do them admiration for remain fit .
4. Breeding
If you prefer to breed Sussex , you should determine them a fun hiss to breed . Many people utilize Light Sussex for breedingsex - linked chickens , which is a fun task . Many breeders are working to perfect the colouration edition that have n’t been have by the American Poultry Association .
you’re able to find the clubs of stock breeder working on the breed and join them to help advance the acceptance of Sussex chickens in the US .
Breed Alternatives
1. Wyandottes
Wyandottesare a duple purpose breed , but weigh a bit less than the Sussex . you could expect a comely yield in eggs from Wyandottes , about 200 every year per biddy . Wyandottes are stunning birds to bet at , and I ’d recommend them to anyone interested in adding eye candy to their chiliad .
2. Orpingtons
These easy shuttle are a must for every chicken keeper after ducky as well as eggs . Orpingtonsdo attend to as a duple determination breed just like the Sussex . Orpington are very popular and well-off to find , and make a great choice to Sussex .
3. Plymouth Rocks
Plymouth Rocksare a fantastic dual purpose strain , very corresponding to the Sussex . These birds lay a whopping 280 eggs in a twelvemonth , making them an excellent choice for orchis production . Plymouth Rocks are very favorable and forthcoming just like the Sussex . I would certainly recommend these Bronx cheer to anyone after a good backyard layer and pet .
Did you know?
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Speckled Sussex chickens are , well , stipple , as their name suggest . But what some chicken keeper do n’t know is that every clock time a Speckled Sussex hen molts , her speckles multiply . It ’s rather fun to see hen progress as the years go on as she becomes more dappled than a speckled boo .
I ’ve good enjoyed my five Sussex hens and their beautiful rooster . From the eye confect they provide to their odd natures they are charming bird to have around . I do n’t think you ’ll regret adding a few of these pretty Bronx cheer to your hencoop .
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