Speckled Sussex Chickens

 Sussex chickens are a large, dual-purpose breed with a rectangular shape, wide shoulders and deep broad body, close fitting feathers, white skin, whitish shanks and four-toed feet. They have a rich red, five-pointed comb, horn-colored beak, reddish-bay eyes, and red earlobes. The breed will put on fat very easily, making it well suited for market poultry. Males weigh 9 lbs., females weigh 7 lbs. The hens are fair-to-good layers of between 200-250 large tan/brown eggs a year; they lay best if not allowed to get overly fat. They can be broody and are good mothers. This could be a wonderful breed for a small farm or homestead, and are a suitable breed for beginners. They are curious and like people, and are a good choice for a family with children who might enjoy being involved in showing or 4-H programs. They are confident, but they are not aggressive with other breeds, so you might need to monitor them to make sure they are not bullied if there are other more assertive breeds in the flock.