If you are trying to find a chicken breed that is attractive and also beneficial, you may wish to think about raising the Speckled Sussex chicken.
Not just is this bird good to take a look at. However, it also can be an efficient member of your flock, balancing a reputable 250 eggs yearly.
Not just that, however, the Speckled Sussex is a great alternative for individuals who wish to raise dual-purpose chickens for both meat and eggs.
Here’s what you need to learn about the Speckled Sussex chicken breed.
History of the Speckled Sussex Chicken Breed
There is some mystery surrounding the origins of the Speckled Sussex, despite the breed’s long existence. During the Roman invasion of England, some 2,000 years ago, there were drawings of a speckled chicken that are now thought to have been the Speckled Sussex.
It wasn’t until the Victorian era that a specific set of chickens known as the Sussex or Kentish fowl were exhibited at the inaugural poultry show, which took place in 1845 at the Regent’s Park London Zoo.
The Romans had taught the English how to raise this old chicken breed.
You may think this from the name of the breed alone; however, the Speckled Sussex originally came from Sussex County in the southeastern part of the United Kingdom.
It was first bred into presence at some point in the 19th century, with the Speckled Sussex the very first of this line to make its way onto the scene.
Today, this chicken has several variations, consisting of brown, coronation, buff, red, light, white, speckled, and silver versions of the breed.
The Speckled Sussex was first displayed in 1845 during the first poultry exhibit at the London Zoo.
Known as Kentish fowl, these chickens were part of the early chicken trend in Great Britain, where a big portion of the population revealed an interest in raising chickens.
Surprisingly, the Speckled Sussex was not included in the first poultry standard. A document referred to as the Standard of Excellence in Exhibition Poultry.
Its breed standard wasn’t established till numerous years later on.
These chickens were originally bred for meat– and ultimately ended up being leaders in meat production in the United States for many years– bigger, faster-growing broiler hens dominated the scene. They pushed the Speckled Sussex to the side.
In their prime time, chicken breeders could not push out chicks quickly enough– the roosters were fattened up and offered as roasters, and even the capons were force-fed oats and milk to assist them to acquire weight more rapidly.
Later on, throughout World War II, the chickens were raised by droves to assist satisfy the need for both meat and eggs during wartime shortages.
Today, the Speckled Sussex is still valued for its dual-purpose nature and its docile behavior.
The breed fell out of appeal for a couple of years. It is quickly acquiring popularity among chicken keepers all over the world.
In the United States, the American Poultry Association accepts the breed’s speckled, light, and red colors. In the United Kingdom, the acknowledged variations are:
Speckled
Silver
White
Red
Light
Coronation
Buff
Brown
Look and Appearance of Speckled Sussex Chicken
With hens weighing in at approximately 8 pounds and roosters tipping the scales at eleven, the Speckled Sussex chicken breed is not one of the tiniest!
This belongs to what makes it such a fantastic chicken for the table.
The very first breed requirement for the Speckled Sussex was developed in 1902.
These chickens have dark mahogany plumes, with each plume tipped in white and separated by a black and rainbow-like green bar.
This pigmentation pattern supplies exceptional camouflage, as does the comb, earlobes, and wattles of the bird– all of which are red.
The chicken has a single comb and a horn-colored beak together with short, muscular legs.
Speckled Sussex chickens have broad, flatbacks and chests along with white feet, legs, and skin.
Their tails sit at 45-degree angles, and their legs stay bare instead of growing plumes.
A fascinating feature of the Speckled Sussex chicken is that, as it molts, its speckles increase.
Every year, your flock of Speckled Sussex hens will have increasingly more areas for you to observe.
There are bantam Speckled Sussex chickens, too.
However, these are exceptionally unusual and hard to find as many hereditary lines of this version have underlying problems.
When they are younger, Speckled Sussex chicks have dark chestnut-colored markings around their eyes.
They look much like chipmunks! Some chicks will be paler in color. However, the majority have stripes of light and dark brown along their backs.
As soon as the chickens begin to age, their adult markings will start to emerge.
As they take part in each successive teenage molt, they will get a growing number of white tips and more speckles, too.
Behavioral Characteristics of Speckled Sussex
Speckled Sussex chickens are known for being extremely analytical and curious.
They aren’t shy in the slightest and will rather follow you around the chicken lawn.
They do, however, sometimes get teased by the rest of the flock. This is because they are so calm and docile and will not head out of their way to fight with the others.
As a result, you might need to watch on them when you initially present them to the flock to make certain they aren’t being bullied.
Hens sometimes go broody and make wonderful moms, while roosters guard and secure the flock with intense attention.
These qualities become part of the reason that the Speckled Sussex is thought to be among the very best heritage breed for you to raise.
Speckled Sussex chickens are noted for being chatty, too! They are not the quietest birds you will find.
However, they aren’t aggressive in any way, either– consider them friendly, however loud neighbors!
Efficiency and Productivity of the Speckled Sussex
This area explains the egg and meat production that you can anticipate out of speckled Sussex chickens.
Egg Production
When you select to choose a dual-purpose chicken breed, you frequently need to make sacrifices.
Egg production will not be as good as it would be if you were strictly raising an egg-laying chicken. The very same applies to meat.
That is not the case with the Speckled Sussex chicken. It is a dual-purpose chicken. It still has exceptional egg production.
The typical hen will lay up to 250 eggs each year, or about 4 or 5 eggs weekly.
Hens mature at approximately twenty weeks old. This is not as early as the hens of some other chicken breeds.
However, it’s not late or delayed by any means. They are versatile and foreseeable when it pertains to their laying patterns.
The birds lay big, pale brown eggs throughout the whole year. Often, instead of being light brown, the eggs might seem tinted.
These chickens are understood for their extraordinary production during the winter season, which is a function that assists set this breed apart from other types that are more conscious of the modification in seasons.
Meat Production
As one of the first commercial broiler types, the Speckled Sussex is likewise an excellent chicken breed for meat production.
It is no longer the bird of option for a lot of industrial poultry farms. It still has good meat production, specifically if it is raised in the best method.
Thought about a medium-sized breed in the heavy types class, the Speckled Sussex is a reputable bird for the supper table.
The typical rooster will dress out at around 8 to 10 pounds, and it just takes a couple of months to raise the bird to maturity.
A premium feed can provide a large, sufficient carcass.
It would help if you prevented overfeeding your Speckled Sussex chickens.
However, at the same time, supplying a lot of food (particularly healthy veggie scraps) in the week before butchering can assist in a fine-looking carcass.
As a white-skinned chicken, the Speckled Sussex produces tender meat that adheres perfectly to the concept of “chicken meat” that you most likely have in your head, too.
Not just that, however, the Speckled Sussex reaches maturity quickly. It’s all set for the table in a little bit of more than twenty weeks.
Common Issues & Concerns of Speckled Sussex
Speckled Sussex is a healthy bird that is not susceptible to many health concerns.
They tend to load on the pounds, so you’ll yearn to enjoy them for indications of weight problems thoroughly.
Many individuals breed their Speckled Sussex chickens. Since these birds are so healthy and strong, this is an easy job to do.
You can await for a hen to go broody, or you can hatch your eggs in an incubator.
This chicken is reasonably cold-hardy. Since it has a single comb, it can sometimes be more prone to frostbite during freezing conditions.
You can avoid this by ensuring your cage is well-ventilated and by using a small layer of petroleum jelly to the combs of your chickens.
It succeeds despite whether it is raised in confinement or enabled to free-range.
It is not the best chicken breed when it pertains to enduring the heat. This is because of the bird’s thick feathering and its big body size.
You will desire to make sure you provide your Speckled Sussex chickens with adequate food and cool water throughout the summer months.
Great deals of shade are also perfect.
Besides that, the Speckled Sussex isn’t vulnerable to any other distinct health problems or disorders.
Watch out for mites and lice, which like to hang out in the glamorous feathers of the chicken, and you must do simply great.
Speckled Sussex Chicken Care
Speckled Sussex chickens like food, and they love to have a lot of it! These chickens are not picky eaters, and they put on weight fast.
They can soon become being obese. So you must keep an eye on their feed intake to prevent this and any other associated concerns.
Obese chickens will not just perform inefficiently. However, they’ll be most likely to build numerous health concerns, too.
You might want to prevent feeding free-choice and, rather, provision out their food.
These birds are amazing foragers, so it might make good sense to raise them in a free-range environment.
Not just will you have the ability to save money by providing your Speckled Sussex chickens space to wander.
However, they’ll also be healthier as they’ll get lots of exercises, too.
Even if you allow your Speckled Sussex chickens to stroll around for a couple of hours a day, they’ll benefit almost right away.
As bigger birds, they require a bit more area than other breeds. Preferably, a minimum of 5 square feet per bird in the cage is perfect.
If you select to keep your chickens in a run, go for 12 square feet per bird. They aren’t supposed to fly high, so you need a fence of about 4 feet high or two.
Do not ignore your roost bars and nest boxes, either! Go for one nest box for every three hens, and keep your roosts at about 2 to 4 feet high.
You do not want them to be fancy, as these heavy birds might have a tough time leaping to taller heights.
Preferably, it would be excellent if you raised your Speckled Sussex flock at a ratio of 10 hens to each rooster.
This will offer you an excellent reproducing population and also assist keep concerns associated with the chain of command at a minimum.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Breed
This area covers a few of the most distinct advantages and downsides of raising the speckled Sussex chicken breed.
Advantages of Raising Speckled Sussex Chickens
In the United States, the Speckled Sussex chicken is among the most popular chicken breeds you can raise.
It’s extremely easy to find at hatcheries or local farm shops. The chicks remain in great supply and are usually available.
Plus, Speckled Sussex chickens can be raised as dual-purpose birds, a significant advantage for individuals who want to get a bit more for their money and time.
Not just does the Speckled Sussex lay a lot of eggs, however, the bird can also produce fine-tasting meat for the table.
You will not need to do much additional when it pertains to raising the Speckled Sussex chicken.
This bird is an excellent, active forager who will assist decrease your feed costs as she continually grazes your land.
The bird is also excellent with children and functions as a wonderful lap chicken if you remain in place for a pet.
Also, Speckled Sussex chickens have distinct feathering that enables them to camouflage themselves if and when predators appear.
They blend in well with the background, assisting in securing themselves from coyotes, foxes, and hawks.
With a stunning look and a calm attitude, the Speckled Sussex is a popular option for 4H tasks or other exhibits, too.
Disadvantages of Raising Speckled Sussex Chickens
There are a couple of drawbacks to raising Speckled Sussex chickens that you’ll need to bear in mind.
The most significant relates to the truth that these birds tend to hang out at the bottom of the chain of command.
That’s through no fault of their own– although these chickens are extremely friendly, their docile nature frequently results in them getting bullied.
Instead of continuing a fight or dispute with another chicken, these chickens would rather take a beating.
Fortunately, their plus-size can avoid injury most of the time; however, you might often need to separate them from other members of a flock for their security.
Keep this in mind if you intend on raising a Speckled Sussex chicken within a flock of bigger birds, like Cornish Crosses or Jersey Giants.
You will also need to bear in mind where you obtain your Speckled Sussex chickens.
There are great deals of respectable breeders out there. However, there are just as numerous who will attempt to pass off a hybrid bird as a pure-blooded Speckled Sussex chicken.
Suppose a pure-blooded family tree– and all the timeless characteristics of a Speckled Sussex chicken– matter to you.
In that case, you’ll need to ensure you select a breeder that produces healthy, energetic birds from reputable breeding stock.
If you’re new to purchasing chickens, you might seek advice from the American Sussex Association or the American Sussex Breeders Association.
The last note to remember is that you will need to know what you are feeding your Speckled Sussex chickens.
If you raise just hens and wish to raise them for egg production, a layer feed is best.
This will include all the calcium your chickens require to lay healthy, sumptuous eggs.
If, nevertheless, you have a couple of roosters blended into the flock– or if you wish to raise your Speckled Sussex chickens as meat birds, too– you will need to provide a broiler feed.
Do not feed roosters layer feed, as the excess calcium can kill them.
Rather, provide calcium individually to your laying hens in the form of oyster shells.
Is a Speckled Sussex Chicken Right for Me?
The Speckled Sussex breed practically disappeared entirely in the early 20th century.
A current revival has made this chicken breed one of the most popular in modern-day American backyards.
Not just it is an enduring chicken that produces sufficient quantities of meat and eggs.
However, it’s one that your household is almost ensured to like having as a family pet, too.
While you will want to observe this chicken’s feed intake to prevent extreme weight gain, it is otherwise among the most convenient backyard chicken breeds you can raise.
References:
- Rassetafeln: Sussex (in German). Bund Deutscher Rassegeflügelzüchter. Accessed November 2017.
- Victoria Roberts (2008). British poultry standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognized by the Poultry Club of Great Britain. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 9781405156424.
- Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, an annex to The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed October 2017.
- APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
- Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
- Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
- Chickens. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 9 November 2018.
- “Sussex.” Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- David Scrivener (2014). Popular Poultry Breeds. Ramsbury: Crowood. ISBN 9781847979711.
