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
