The Speckled Sussex is a beautiful chicken that becomes more decorative with age. They are ideal for backyard chicken owners who need to impress neighbors, yet they still produce a fair number of eggs, and are good for eating when the time comes. However, they are not commonly used in the meat industry, because they develop slowly, but they a good choice for those who are not burdened by time. - Appearance:
- Male: These birds are extremely beautiful and ornamental, they have a mahogany base with many feathers having a black bar, and ending in a white tip. The reason I say that these chickens become more beautiful with age is because with each molt the amount of white on the tip is a little more. So, eventually you have these fancy, white-speckled chickens. For males in particular they have very impressive sickles and the white and mahogany make a beautiful contrast on their hackle.
- Female: A hen is what is shown above, at an older age, and is equally beautiful, however, and will camouflage easily as will the male. If well-tended these can become very proper, and regal looking birds.
- Face: Red
- Comb: Single-Medium
- Earlobes: Red
- Skin color: Pinkish white
- Beak color: Horn
- Eyes: Red-Orange
- Legs: Pinkish white
- Weight: Rooster-9 Hen-7 Cockerel-8 Pullet-6*
- Purpose: Dual-purpose
- Origin: Sussex, England
- Common: Yes
- Egg color: Light Brown
- Egg size: Medium to Large
- Eggs a week/year: 4 or so a week/200 a year
- Broody: Yes*
- Confinement: Great, but they are good free-range, as they are well camouflaged from predators.
- Compatibility: Good, they are more mellow, and will be closer to the bottom of the pecking order.
- Hardy: Yes, they are actually quite good winter layers, but as with almost any chicken, you want a small source of heat for them.
- Bantam:Yes *
- Personality: Mellow, and easily tamable, they are a good starter breed for new chicken owners. They are also commonly quite smart for a chicken.
- Available from:*
- eFowl.com
- Day Old: (Min. 5 in total) SR: $2.25, F: $2.60, M: $1.42
- Welp Hatchery
- Day Old: (Min. 1) SR: $2.30, F: $2.76 , M:$1.90
- McMurray Hatchery
- Day Old: (Min. 1) SR: $2.25, F: $2.72, M: $1.53
Information courtesy of: http://www.efowl.com/Speckled_Sussex_Chickens_p/1091.htm
http://www.poulacapplepoultry.com/html/sussex.html#speckled_sussex
You're right, Anthony! These ARE beautiful chickens. :-) I will have to add this breed to my list of most wanted. :-)
ReplyDeleteThey are very nice, my grandfather just got a few, and recently got his first egg! Even now, they are absolutely beautiful, if a bit shy.
ReplyDeleteThis is disgusting but my Sussex has very loose stool and has for two months since I got her at 3 months old. She has a great appetite, looks good and has plenty of energy. Could this just be her plight; her makeup??
ReplyDeleteFrau's: I don't have a good answer for you, but this link may help you figure out if it's normal, or if she has some problem:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0%20
The thing about chicken shit is as they say "chicken shit". I would not worry too much about "it".
ReplyDeleteI have just gotten 6 of these from efowl and they are the friendliest birds. often walking right up as if to say "pick me up" which i oblige. Sweet birds at 8 weeks. I will see how they mature. Got Brahmas and Wellsummers too. Beautiful but skittish. I will be sure to get more Speckleds if they are like the current batch.
ReplyDeleteI have three beautiful hens. I love them! I spend a lot of time outside gardening and I usually have to scoot one out of the way. They follow me around like, well, baby chicks.
ReplyDeleteI regularly have to scoot at least one away from my project. They are very curious and willing to help.They of course each have a name and come when called.
DeleteWe have one Speckled Sussex hen in our small flock. She's more like a dog than a bird; she follows us everywhere and loves to "supervise" whatever task we are working on. She's so curious, I keep expecting her to ask a question one of these days.
ReplyDeletelooking for fertile Speckled Sussex eggs to hatch out for delivery around 3/2013 - got any?
ReplyDeletebarryATmuddyhillfarmDOTcom
I do. I live in westeren North Carolina. jlkanipe81@gmail.com
DeleteI have 5 speckeld sussex hens in my backyard in town. My neighbors have no complaints, they are quiet, and follow me around when I'm outside, warbling and singing. They each have their own personality and we have plenty of eggs for my family of 5, with some to give away when they're laying well. My question is, what is their lifespan? Will they stop laying at some point and become pets only?
ReplyDeleteMine are almost 2 years old now and very well tended. They get time to free range whenever I am home with them and the weather allows.