Many owners of bird houses, after seeing the chickens of the famous breed of Sussex (they are sometimes called Susex), decide: I want to be just as handsome and beautiful as myself.
They choose this breed and do not lose: in Sussex, functional qualities are combined (egg production, tasty white meat) and an extravagant look.
And still Sussex is a part of history, one of the most ancient breeds of hens. The first mention of these birds are found in the annals of the Roman Empire. At various times in the creation of the breed, Dorkings, Corniches, White Cochinchins, Orpington, Brama were noted.
The name of the breed was given by the English county of Sussek, it was there that these hens were bred. In England, there is a club of fans and breeders of Sussex breeds.
Respectability of this breed gives one historical episode: subjects to the day of the coronation of King George bred Royal Sussex - with a magnificent purple mane, former plumage and purple tail.
According to official data, in the USSR, Sussex was introduced in 1961, and Soviet poultry breeders bred on the basis of this breed of May Day and Adler silver (these breeds are quite popular among Russian breeders, there is an external similarity).
Breed description Sussex
In Russia, Sussexes are divorced in private homestead and in non-specialized farms.
The most popular color is Colombian (this color is characterized by a white background of the torso of the bird with a lush black necklace around its neck, and black is also present at the ends of the flight and tail feathers).
Thanks to breeding work, this popular breed wide palette of colors: Colombian, Yellow-Colombian, silver, motley, porcelain (otherwise it is called calico), wild brown, white.
The American Association of Chicken Breeders Sussex is working on plumage colors such as lavender, cuckoo and cinnamon. Two colors have already been received and they were able to “fix” in subsequent generations (this is not so easy to do).
Thoroughbred chickens of Sussex breed are painted in soft yellow color. Daily hybrids have a dark, rich yellow color of down in chickens and a light color in cockerels.
Species signs of a rooster
At the forums of breeders of this breed of chickens, one can often find opinions that the first impression of the chickens of the Sussex breed is their massiveness, solidity.
- Head: small in proportion to the rest of the body, broad.
- Beak: slightly curved, strong enough, the color of the beak is pinkish or light horny, the top of the beak has a darker color.
- Comb: simple, erect, small; On the ridge are 4-5 small teeth. Proportional teeth: their height is equal to half the height of the ridge. The surface of the ridge is delicate, to the touch is rough, if you look closely, you can see small "grains" on the surface, the base of the ridge is strong and dense.
- Eyes: red or orange, interspersed.
- Lobes: red, underdeveloped, tight to the head.
- Earrings: red, round, the surface of the earrings is smooth, delicate to the touch.
- Neck: medium length, tapering sharply in the upper part and massive at the base, the neck is adorned with rich plumage.
- Body: proportional body, rectangular in shape, horizontally set.
- Back: wide, tapering towards the rear; rather lush plumage is located on the back.
- Tail: short, wide at the base, moderately elevated; characterized by lush cover plumage and short tail feathers. Steering feathers are almost completely closed with braids.
- Chest: massive, from the throat almost vertically falls down and passes in the form of a smooth arc into the horizontal bottom line of the body.
- Abdomen: bulky, soft, clearly visible.
- Wings: set high, tight to the body, not very long.
- Lower thigh: Average length of the lower legs, well-developed musculature, soft plumage, no pads.
- Hocks: Medium length, whitish shade, stripes of light red shade on plus pad are possible; Four smooth smooth fingers of a light shade.
- Plumage: soft, smooth, tight to the body.
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Appearance of chickens
Chickens of Sussex breed look much more modest than a rooster, for their appearance such description is characteristic:
- The head is tiny, the comb is small;
- The body is stocky, rectangular, horizontally set;
- The neck is much shorter than that of the cock;
- Legs are stocky, strong.
- The belly is voluminous, soft to the touch.
- Cover tail feathers cover the tail feathers more than half.
- Plumage: soft, tight fit. In the lower part of the body a lot of white fluff.
Breeders believe defective individuals, characterized by such disadvantages:
- a narrow body in the shape of a triangle or like that of Orpington;
- falling back or back with a clearly visible hump;
- flat, narrowed chest;
- squirrel tail;
- yellow, feathered feet;
- light eyes;
- lobes whitish tint;
- beak yellow shade;
- hyperdeveloped comb uneven color.
Photo
In the first photo you see a rooster with two white females:
And here - chicken Sussex unusual color, walking in the yard:
Yellow female near her trough:
And here a yellowish individual appears before our eyes:
White rooster pecks milled corn:
Two lovely white Sussex hens:
Specifications
First, Sussexes were bred like meat chickens, then, as a result of the work of breeders, they became meat-egg breed.
Experienced breeders consider chickens of this breed to be universal, as they optimally combine three main characteristics: tasty meat, egg productivity, and a bright appearance.
- Live weight of the rooster: 2.8-4 kg.
- Live weight of the chicken - 2.4-2.8 kg.
- Egg production: 160-190 eggs, egg coloring from light brown to dark brown. Sometimes there can be eggs of a greenish shade.
- The mass of eggs is 56-58 grams.
Sussex meat has good taste (tender, white, juicy), rich in proteins. This breed is precocious: they sayOne Sussex well fattened and quickly reaches a slaughter weight, at 70 days of age weighs 1.5 kg.
With proper care, young Sussexes begin laying at the age of five months, and during the cold season, egg production decreases.
Breeding points
Sussex chickens are neat and tough chickens: they can be planted 2-3 times per summer for chicks.
Despite the rather large body mass, the eggs hatch carefully. But if the breeders do not need this, then the instinct of brooding is easily overcome.
The silveriness of the plumage of Sussexes is sex-related and is inherited from the hen to the male offspring. This feature is used by breeders when crossing with other breeds of chickens.
Chickens have good immunity, they have good survival. (up to 95%). Chickens in the first two weeks need constant lighting, which can be gradually reduced and eventually adjusted to natural light.
Approximately 50% of the diet should contain feed for the relevant age group. Juveniles of Sussex breed fowls slowly.
Content
To the conditions of breeding hens of the Sussex breed are unpretentious, they quickly adapt to climatic conditions, tolerate cold weather well.
If you are just starting to engage in poultry farming and are not yet confident in your abilities and talents, feel free to stop your choice on Sussex. The simplicity in the content of this meat and egg breed is a guarantee that it will be possible to achieve good results.
Sussexes are rather large, massive birds, therefore with the size of the coop and perches for them is not worth saving. If it is not possible to place in a spacious hen house, then it is well tolerated in confined spaces.
Breeders of chickens of this breed adhere to the rule: the more a bird is in free range, the tastier her meat. With a lack of light, egg production can be reduced. Keeping more than 50 birds in one room is not recommended.
The best solution for Sussex is to feed them with ready-made feed for farm birds: it contains all the trace elements they need.
The combination of all these qualities makes chickens meat and egg breed Sussex interesting and promising for breeders around the world.
Analogs
In the poultry yard of Sussex, other breeds of meat and egg chickens can compete in terms of egg production and exterior, but, according to many breeders, the meat of Sussex in its taste properties is beyond competition.
- Rhode Island Chicken Breed smaller than the Sussexes, but they have a slightly higher egg production rate.
- Australorps black larger than Sussexes, ahead of other indicators: egg production is 180-200 pieces.
- The Kuchinsky Jubilee, despite its more modest size, has the same level of egg production as Sussex - 160-190 eggs. The Adler silver and Pervomaiskaya hens are similar in appearance to the Sussexes of Colombian color, but smaller in size.
Where can I buy in Russia?
There are about ten centers in Russia specializing in chickens of various breeds (breeding, collection herd, selection, etc.).
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Contact information for these companies.
- LTD "Hatchery»Is engaged in the supply of high-quality breeding agricultural and decorative birds. Contacts Incubatoria LLC: Moscow region, Chekhov district, Chekhov-5 city, Sergeevo village. Tel: +7 (495) 229-89-35, fax +7 (495) 797-92-30; taking orders: [email protected].
- All-Russian Research and Technological Institute of Poultry (GNU VNITIP Russian Agricultural Academy). VNITIP has a breeding and gene pool herd. The history of the institute has more than one decade, and active scientific work is conducted on its basis. Contact Institute: 141311, Moscow region, proud Sergiev Posad, st. Ptitsegrad, 10. Phone - +7 (496) 551-2138. E-mail: [email protected] Website address: www.vnitip.ru.
