Speckled sussex, anything I should know about them?

[ChickenfootDuckbutt]

I was looking on the site called Ideal poultry just a few minutes ago, because I'm an idiot and I have decided I want to get chickens in the future, my soon to be ex wife's mother has some, but she has so many I don't really like hers.

anyways, I found Speckled sussex and I am in LOVE, they are beautiful! I was thinking about getting some, I only want a couple, 1 rooster and 3 or 4 hens to start, then build up my flock with their offspring, just like i did my ducks, started out with 1 drake and a hen, and later another hen, that was almost four years ago now I have 20 or 22 mixed breed ducks.

anyways, how speckled sussex temperments?, what about free-ranging?, what about in the egg laying department?, and MOST OF ALL what about brooding and parenting skills?

I won't be getting any for atleast a month or two, I need to finish up the old shed Itheres two sheds, the old delapidated one and the new one) so i'm going to fix up the old shed and turn it into a chicken coop (it's 15ft wide by about 20ish feet long btw, looks like a rectangle, used to be a goat barn) is that big enough for 4 or 5 chickens? I've never had chickens before.

 

[Stingrayg4]

I only ever had one, a rooster. He was a good flock leader and pretty even tempered. I now have bunch of barnyard mix hens who are 1/2 or 1/4 speckled sussex and are that original rooster's kids & grandkids.

-S

 

[briteday]

I've had three hens. They are pretty nice although they did pick on some RSL's in the same pen for a while. They lay medium sized light brown eggs, consistently but not as productive as a Rhode Island red or a sexlink. By 2 years old they were still laying pretty good in the warmer months but almost nothing during colder months. They loved to forage but maybe that was due to them being in a small pen and we have a nice green back yard with lots of veggie/fruit gardens. I have never seen one of mine go broody though.

 

[LoreenH]

I have a mixed flock....2 Easter Eggers, 2 Silver-laced Wyandottes, and 2 Speckled Sussex (one is a rooster so soon will only have one). The Sussex are super friendly, have been from the first day I got them; they were days old. They are very curious about everything. Mine are 13 weeks old and are given the run of the fenced backyard during the day. They are all wonderful at foraging. I have noticed the Sussex will eat more than then other; my pullet didn't get the name 'Miss Piggy' on a whim...LOL!. That's all I can tell you for now since they aren't old enough to lay yet....that's not totally true....I can tell you they are absolutely gorgeous chickens!! It will help if you handle them a lot when they are little to get them acclimated to you. They all follow me around the yard but the Sussex almost get stepped on, can't tell you how many times one has been accidently kicked. Hope this helps.

 

[goldeneggtees]

my speckled are a little flighty but i find them funny. i have no roo but do have 1 broody ss right now, i'm thinking she caught the broody hen thing from my buff orps, which if you want very good egg layers and excellent brooders and mothers, i'd highly recommend them.

 

[kichohana]

I have 2 SS. I fell in love with their coloring, which is why I got them. Their speckles are distince so I can tell them apart - unlike my Columbian Wyandottes. Out of my 4 hens, they are the least dominant. They don't really like to be handled or touched much. They consistently lay a medium sized light brown/pinkish colored egg. I have 4 distinct seasons (currently HOT) and they've done well in all. The few inches of snow didn't bother them and their coop is not insulated or heated. Our lowest temp might have been 15 degrees. We'll see about the highest.

Overall I recommend the breed.

 

[Daphne16]

I have a 17 week old Speckled sussex and she is my favorite (just don't tell my other favorite which is an ee). She is super friendly and is the dominant chicken.

 

[caspaintcountry]

These guys are by far my favorite. I've had many birds off and on growing up and 2 years ago I got hatchery lf(large fowl) ss. They are a good duel utility bird(meat & eggs) they didn't care to be handled much but you could walk amongst them and they didn't flip out. Did well cooped up but of course loved to free range. I live in illinois and they seemed to lay well all year. Of 7 hens I only had 1 go broody so if you are wanting broody birds you will be gambling. Now this year for some reason showing appealed to me and I sold all of my LF SS and went on a search for the bantams. They are so much more enjoyable than the LF! I started with a trio and then made contact for som chicks straight from Ashbrooks line! The trio has always been friendly, although the ro can be protective of his girls so I alway catch him first if need be. The chicks are going on 4mo old and are a lot nicer in all aspects! Type, color, and personality.

 

[magicpigeon]

I'd say speckled sussex are a good member of the flock but definetely not favourites. I won't be buying any more - they're pretty placid and calm but I've only had hens. As chicks they can be flighty and unadventuruos as such. I like light sussex much better if you are still considering

 

[Chick named Lola]

I have one SS hen, she will be one in August. She has always been very sweet, very curious and a total pig with food. She's the one that get's beat up by my SLW but will still follow the bully around like her best friend....

I agree, she doesn't like to be handled but isn't flighty. Her eggs are the smallest of all my girls, kind of pinkish and always bumpy...dunno why?