I found this and thought it was informative and from a different source -
"The Silver Sussex is one of the best general dual purpose breeds for producing meat and eggs. It originates in Sussex England and it truly is a mutant that was thought to be originally bred by the Romans. The orginal Sussex chicken was either brown, red or speckled and bred for eating. It has been in existence for over 2000 years and is considered to be one of the oldest and hardiest breeds of chickens raised in the United Kingdom.
This sliver variety is the most recent developed breed of Sussex and was developed as a table fowl just 100 years ago. The breed was then further developed to be a good laying bird as well in the 1930s. However its real roots are very ancient and are a cross between an Asian Malay and old English Game bird. As a rule they are a heavy, soft-feathered bird with a single cocks comb.
It is charming looking fowl with a silverfish black feathers covering the entire body, black tail and black wing tips. Normally a Sussex has a bright white body so the black body of the Silver Sussex is definitely a variation. However the feet, legs and toes are both bright white.
Hobby farmers love the distinctive good looks of the Silver Sussex variety of chicken, which includes a ginger breast and a white neck that is striped with black. This lighter colored variety has orange-rimmed eyes rather than red rimmed ones. Like the Rhode Island chicken the Silver Sussex must be kept out of strong sunlight or it can lose its color.
The best of the dual purpose chickens is a good all-around farm fowl. A cock grows to about 9 pounds and a hen a pound less than that. A cockerel weighs about 7 ½ pounds and a pullet six pounds. It lays large brown eggs.
The Silver Sussex has general purpose breed for producing meat and eggs. One of the best of the dual purpose chickens, a good all-around farm fowl. Not many people realize this but it actually descends from an older type of Sussex which had all black bodies. The all white body with the black crest that is more typical of a Sussex is a more recent development. The black body of the Silver Sussex that is laced with white feathers is more unusual.
Sussex are alert, attractive and good foragers. They have rectangular bodies; Sussex hens go broody and make good mothers. A person owning a member of this breed should expect approximately 240 to 260 large cream to white colored eggs a year, although the light and white varieties are the best choice for layers. Recently there has been an olive green colored egg introduced to some Silver Sussex breeds, although these green egg layers are very rare.
Today they are a popular breed for exhibitions as well as a backyard breed. The breed has made a huge contribution to the poultry industry and is even considered to be an ancestor of the modern broiler chicken. Sussex is one of the oldest breeds of chicken that still exists today with the Sussex being a bit of a trophy bird. All breeds of Sussex chickens are especially proper in great Britain and Canada but not so much in the U.S. where the Rhode Island Red is more popular for hobbyists and small farmers to raise.
In 1903 the Sussex Poultry Club was formed to preserve and standardize the breed. The main colors of the Sussex are Light, Buff, Speckled and Silver with White or Light being the dominant and most popular colour lately."
"The Silver Sussex is one of the best general dual purpose breeds for producing meat and eggs. It originates in Sussex England and it truly is a mutant that was thought to be originally bred by the Romans. The orginal Sussex chicken was either brown, red or speckled and bred for eating. It has been in existence for over 2000 years and is considered to be one of the oldest and hardiest breeds of chickens raised in the United Kingdom.
This sliver variety is the most recent developed breed of Sussex and was developed as a table fowl just 100 years ago. The breed was then further developed to be a good laying bird as well in the 1930s. However its real roots are very ancient and are a cross between an Asian Malay and old English Game bird. As a rule they are a heavy, soft-feathered bird with a single cocks comb.
It is charming looking fowl with a silverfish black feathers covering the entire body, black tail and black wing tips. Normally a Sussex has a bright white body so the black body of the Silver Sussex is definitely a variation. However the feet, legs and toes are both bright white.
Hobby farmers love the distinctive good looks of the Silver Sussex variety of chicken, which includes a ginger breast and a white neck that is striped with black. This lighter colored variety has orange-rimmed eyes rather than red rimmed ones. Like the Rhode Island chicken the Silver Sussex must be kept out of strong sunlight or it can lose its color.
The best of the dual purpose chickens is a good all-around farm fowl. A cock grows to about 9 pounds and a hen a pound less than that. A cockerel weighs about 7 ½ pounds and a pullet six pounds. It lays large brown eggs.
The Silver Sussex has general purpose breed for producing meat and eggs. One of the best of the dual purpose chickens, a good all-around farm fowl. Not many people realize this but it actually descends from an older type of Sussex which had all black bodies. The all white body with the black crest that is more typical of a Sussex is a more recent development. The black body of the Silver Sussex that is laced with white feathers is more unusual.
Sussex are alert, attractive and good foragers. They have rectangular bodies; Sussex hens go broody and make good mothers. A person owning a member of this breed should expect approximately 240 to 260 large cream to white colored eggs a year, although the light and white varieties are the best choice for layers. Recently there has been an olive green colored egg introduced to some Silver Sussex breeds, although these green egg layers are very rare.
Today they are a popular breed for exhibitions as well as a backyard breed. The breed has made a huge contribution to the poultry industry and is even considered to be an ancestor of the modern broiler chicken. Sussex is one of the oldest breeds of chicken that still exists today with the Sussex being a bit of a trophy bird. All breeds of Sussex chickens are especially proper in great Britain and Canada but not so much in the U.S. where the Rhode Island Red is more popular for hobbyists and small farmers to raise.
In 1903 the Sussex Poultry Club was formed to preserve and standardize the breed. The main colors of the Sussex are Light, Buff, Speckled and Silver with White or Light being the dominant and most popular colour lately."
