The Sussex originated in the county of Sussex. They were prized table birds more than 100 years ago. The original colours were brown, red and speckled. The Sussex today is still a very popular breed to keep. Bred to be a dual purpose bird, it is one of the most productive breeds we have today. The hen will lay around 260 large eggs that are cream to light brown in colour. The Sussex is one of the oldest breeds that are still in existence today.
The Sussex chicken is an alert but docile breed that can adapt to any surrounding easily. They are good foragers. Whilst they are quite happy to be free range, they will also be fine if kept in a confined space. They can occasionally but not very often go broody. The speckled is the most likely of the breed to do this.
The colours found in Sussex chickens are brown buff, light red, speckled, silver and white. The Sussex chicken whatever its colour should be graceful. The eyes are red in the darker varieties but are orange in the lighter ones. They have a medium sized single comb. The earlobes are red and the legs and skin are white in every variety. The brown and red varieties are rare now with the other colours being quite common.
Please Note: All Chickens listed here are for collection only. They cannot be delivered by the Seller or by Omlet. Once you have purchased the Chickens you will be emailed the Seller's contact address details.
Tilly, our speckled sussex is really friendly, great in the garden and hardy, she is lovely!!!
I think that they have a very nice apperance and they do lay very beautiful eggs to eat
I have light sussex in my flock for several reasons. One, they get broody and make good mums. Two, they lay quite well during the colder/darker months and three, they amke a good starting point for a hybrid hen (in my opinion). They are lazy birds and don't tend to forrage for themselves and if food is adlib, they can get overweight. They don't like bad weather much and will only venture out if they have to. If you can put up with the lack of eggs while they are broody (one of mine gets broody in spring and dosen't get out of it until autumn!), then they are worth having if only for the eggs come winter and to see these matronly girls finding the only patch of sunshine in your garden and blissfully sunning themselves.
I have really enjoyed my Light Sussex. I have had them for three years, raising from my own stock. I now have nine pullets and one rooster and they have been laying for about a month. I have been getting 8-9 eggs per day for the last two weeks. I think mine would be hard to beat except with one of the hybrids (Golden Comets etc.) and possibly not then.
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