Speckled Sussex

Speckled Sussex
Beginner Friendly: Yes.
Lifespan: 8+ years.
Weight: Hens (6lb) Roosters (8lb).
Color: Mahogany with speckles.
Egg Production: 4-5 per week.
Egg Color: Light Brown.
Known For Broodiness: Yes.
Good With Children: Yes.

## Why We Love This Breed
Pros:
• They are well known for their calm and docile temperament.
• She loves to be with humans and will let you cuddle her.
• Sussex are dependable egg layers.
• They are very friendly and will get along with other breeds.
• Speckled Sussex chickens are well suited to live in cold climates.
• They love to forage so their feed bill is not too expensive.

## Appearance

This is a large breed that has wide shoulders and a curvy but rectangular shaped body.
Their body is long and deep and their tail is held at 45 degrees to the body.
You will notice they have a single 5 pointed comb – in addition they have wattles and ear lobes. All three should be a lovely deep red color.
Their eyes are a shade between red and orange and their pointed beak is a horn color.
Finally their skin should be slightly pink and their shanks should be white.
Be careful if you see one with yellowish shanks because this is not a pure speckled Sussex.

## Size and Weight

As previously mentioned the Sussex is quite a large bird.
Roosters will weigh around 8 pounds and hens will be 6-7 pounds.
You can also find bantam varieties which weigh 36oz (rooster) and 30oz (hen).

## Color

Whilst the Sussex comes in several color variations the Speckled Sussex is a beautiful rich mahogany color.
Their feathers have a deep green barring closer to the tip and each tip has a white or buff coloring. When the sunlight hits these feathers they have a beautiful iridescence too.

## What Is It Like To Own A Speckled Sussex Chicken?

You will often find the Speckled Sussex outside foraging.
The love to free range and this exercise helps to prevent obesity (which they can be prone to).
If you do have to keep them confined make sure there are various things like perches and tree stumps to keep them occupied.
Of course you can expect lots of eggs too as this breed is a dependable egg layer.
Overall this is a beautiful family chicken that likes human attention and is very friendly.

## Personality

The Speckled Sussex is a gentle and friendly bird.
She is well suited to a family setting as they are usually great with kids – the only exception here is the roosters who can have aggressive streaks.
Hens have a steady and dependable temperament and are not prone towards panicky or flighty behaviors.
They will like nothing more than to have a chat with you while being held and petted.
You will find they like to follow you around the garden if they think you have treats.
All of these traits make them a perfect fit for an urban backyard where the consideration of neighbors will guide your selection of hens.

## Egg Production

As the Speckled Sussex belongs to the Sussex family they will be good layers.
You can expect around 4-5 eggs each week or around 250 eggs each year (depending on the exact strain).
These are a slightly tinted or light brown color and she will usually start laying at around 20 weeks old.
She does have a tendency towards broodiness though so the exact number of eggs they lay will depend upon how broody your ladies are. Other than broodiness the Sussex is a dependable layer and will only stop laying during the molt.

Egg Production
Eggs Per Week: 4-5 Eggs
Color: Light Brown
Size: Medium

## Noise Levels

This breed is fairly quiet so they are well suited to urban backyards.
The only time you hear this chicken will be during the egg song or when a predator is close.
She is a quiet, steady and docile hen that is not prone to flightiness or nervousness. They do like to talk to their owners but they really are not loud or obnoxious.

## Facts About This Breed
1. The Speckled Sussex comes from England.
2. During the second world war they were an an essential source of food.
3. They come in other colors too such as white and red.
4. Roosters will weigh around nine pounds and hens around seven pounds.
5. The speckled is the oldest color variation of the Sussex chicken.
6. They are chatty and sociable which makes them perfect for families with children.

## Health Issues

This is is a hearty and robust hen.
They can tolerate a wide variety of climates from snow to heat as long as they have suitable accommodations.
Fortunately they are not prone to any particular diseases other than the usual common ailments associated with chickens. Parasites (both internal and external) can cause problems so check regularly for lice, mites and worms.
Also they are known for being fairly broody – whilst this is not a health issue it is something you should be aware of. Sussex hens will usually sit diligently and then become good mothers to their chicks teaching them everything they need to know to be a chicken.

## Feeding

Laying hens can be given a generic 16% layer feed.
In addition to this they will need calcium in the form of oyster shell.
When she starts to molt you need to increase the protein content of their feed to 20%. This will help them feather up quickly without depleting their protein store.
Also if they are kept in a pen you will need to add some chicken grit to help with their digestion.
Free range chickens will not need added grit except for the winter months when the ground is frozen.

## Coop Setup

Each one of your Speckled Sussexs will need at least 4 square feet of coop space.
They are not known for pecking or squabbling but during the long cold winters boredom will inevitably set in and mischief may ensue.
Making sure to have enough space inside will help reduce this behavior.
As for perch space make sure they each have 8-10 inches.
If they share roosting space with more assertive breeds then make sure there are separate perches so they can keep to themselves.
Finally for nesting boxes that standard 12×12 inch box will be fine (any larger and they will share nests).
You should have one nesting box for every three hens.
Although there will always be one favorite box that they all want to use!
Run and Roaming
Speckled Sussex love to free range and their color helps to camouflage them from predators.
She is an efficient forager and will find lots of snacks to supplement her diet. If you have problems with ticks in your area then chickens like the Sussex will quickly reduce the population.
If you cannot let them free range then they will tolerate being in a run.
Make sure they each have 8 square feet of run space.
You will also need to give them variety of toys to stop them from getting bored. Think about plenty of perches at various heights, tree stumps, swings and quiet areas for the more timid members of the flock.
If you can allow them free range for a few hours this will keep them happy and fit.

## Speckled Sussex Breed History

The origins of this breed are truly lost in the mist of time.
When the Romans arrived in Britain in 43AD they found a chicken breed in the southern areas of England along with the old 5 toed bird (possibly the Dorking).
These birds may have been traded by the Phoenicians who were known to have traded all along the south coast of England as far as Cornwall.
The Romans eventually taught the local English population to farm and eat chickens.
Of course it was the hen crazy Victorians that really elevated the speckled Sussex to the pinnacle of their fame!
The breed was refined and polished over the years and was introduced as a Sussex or Kentish fowl in the first poultry show in London in 1845. It was here where the first of the Sussexs (the Speckled Sussex) was shown.
Victorians loved to experiment and improve the current chicken breeds. It was because of this hen fever that certain poultry lovers became alarmed that the heritage breeds (such as the Sussex) were in danger of extinction.
One such man was Edward Brown a noted writer of the time. His speech before a group of poultry enthusiasts inspired E.J Wadman to form the Sussex Club and start to preserve the breed.
As factory hens were introduced the speckled Sussex fell from favor as it was not able to keep up with the egg production and growth of the newer birds and thus began a slow but steady decline.
Fortunately this was noticed by the Livestock Conservancy and very successful efforts were made to save the breed.
These days she is enjoying new found popularity in backyards all over the world!