Are you considering raising chickens in your backyard, but not sure which breed to choose? Sussex chickens are a popular choice for backyard chicken keeping due to their friendly personalities, good egg production, and attractive appearance.
With a variety of feather colors and patterns, Sussex chickens are a favorite among hobbyists and homesteaders alike.
In this article, we will go through an in-depth guide on Sussex Chickens. By the end of this article, you will know if they’re a worthy addition to your flock!
Sussex Chicken Quick Overview
| Characteristics | Information |
|---|---|
| Origin | England (Sussex) |
| Egg Color | Light Brown |
| Weight | Hens: 6-7 lbs, Roosters: 7-8 lbs |
| Temperament | Docile and Friendly |
| Broody | Often |
| Eggs Per Year | 180-250 |
| Ideal Climates | All Climates |
| Free-Ranging Capabilities | Excellent |
| Lifespan | 5-8 Years |
Where Did Sussex Chickens Come From?
The Sussex chicken is a breed that originated in England, specifically in the historic county of Sussex. While the exact origins of the breed are unclear, it is believed to have developed from a mixture of different breeds, including the Dorking, the Cochin, and the Brahma.
The breed was first recognized in the mid-19th century, and quickly became popular for its dual-purpose qualities – that is, its ability to produce both meat and eggs. Today, the Sussex chicken remains a popular breed around the world, valued for its hardiness, docile temperament, and attractive appearance.
What Color Are Sussex Chickens?
Sussex chickens are known for their beautiful and varied color patterns, with each variety having its own unique look.
One of the most distinctive color varieties is the Speckled Sussex, which has a base color of white or creamy white, with black or dark brown speckles all over the body. The speckles can vary in size and distribution, but the overall effect is a mottled, earthy appearance that is both eye-catching and rustic.
In addition to the Speckled Sussex, there are other color varieties of Sussex chickens as well, including the Light Sussex, which has a white body with black feathers on the neck, tail, and wings, and the Silver Sussex, which has a white or creamy white base color with black feather tips that give the bird a silvery appearance.
How much do Sussex Chickens Weigh?
Sussex hens generally weigh between 6 to 7 pounds when fully grown. Roosters may weigh slightly more than hens, with an average weight range of 7 to 8 pounds. These weight ranges make the Sussex chickens a medium-sized chicken breed.
Are Sussex Chickens Friendly?
In total, Sussex chickens are known for their friendly and sociable personalities. They are often described as being curious and outgoing, which makes them a popular choice for backyard chicken keepers who enjoy interacting with their birds. Additionally, Sussex chickens are known for their gentle and docile nature, which makes them a good choice for families with children or other pets.
Sussex chickens also integrate quite well with other breeds. You shouldn’t have many issues putting these chickens with other breeds.
Are Sussex Chickens Broody?
Sussex hens have been known to go broody quite often with the Speckled Sussex going broody more often than the other variety of Sussex hens.
Like all other breeds that go broody, Sussex hens will make excellent mothers and will raise their young quite successfully. This will make expanding your flock quite easy!
Having a hen go broody can be bothersome for some people, especially those focused on egg production, as it can interfere with the nesting area and cause the broody hen to stop laying eggs.
According to a study published in Poultry Science, Sussex chickens have a higher tendency to exhibit broodiness compared to other chicken breeds. The study, conducted by Charles W. Knox, C.D. Gordon, and N.R. Mehrhoff, investigated the incidence of broodiness in Sussex chickens, as well as other breeds such as Rhode Island Reds, White Leghorns, and Barred Plymouth Rocks.
The study’s findings also suggest that Sussex chickens should not be used in crossbreeding programs if broodiness is a concern.
If you’re looking for another broody hen, you should look into my article on Buff Orpingtons! I’ve raised many types of chickens and am convinced they are the broodiest breed of chicken.
Are Sussex Chickens Good Layers?
Sussex hens are great layers, laying anywhere from 200-250 light brown eggs per year. This is roughly 4-5 eggs per week. While they don’t lay as much as some hybrid breeds, for a purebred breed, their egg-laying capabilities are quite good. If you’re looking for a productive egg-laying breed, Sussexes are worth considering.
To see a list of the 15 best egg-laying chickens, check out my article on The 15 Best Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds! Spoiler alert, Sussexes made the list!
Are Sussex Chickens Cold Hardy?
Sussex chickens are known for their excellent cold hardiness and ability to thrive in cooler climates. These chickens have a thick layer of feathers that helps to insulate them from the cold, and they can adapt to a range of temperatures.
One thing to consider is the Sussexes medium to large single comb. Unfortunately, this comb type is susceptible to frostbite if the temperature gets in the extreme cold ranges. To help protect your Sussexes cones from frostbite, apply some petroleum jelly periodically during the winter months when temperatures get near 32° F.
Although they originated in Sussex where temperatures averaged 41° F in the coldest months, the Sussex chickens are quite capable of surviving even the harshest of winters.
While there are quite a few breeds that can handle cold weather, always provide them with adequate shelter and protection from extreme weather conditions to ensure your flock stays happy and healthy through the winter months.
I wrote an article on the 10 best chicken breeds for cold climates, check it out to see if Sussexes made the list!
Are Sussex Chickens Good in Hot Climates?
In total, Sussex chickens are great warm-weather chickens. I’ve seen these chickens raised in the south where temperatures got over 100° F quite often during the summer and these chickens just truck along living the dream.
If you live in a hot climate and are looking for a breed of chicken that can handle the heat, the Sussex would be a fine addition to your flock. Just provide them with shade, plenty of cool, fresh water, and a well-ventilated coop to help them stay comfortable.
Check out my article on the Top 5 Chicken Breeds for Hot Weather to see if Sussexes made the list!
Are Sussex Chickens Good Free-Range Chickens?
On average, Sussex chickens are known to be good free-ranging chickens. They are active birds that enjoy foraging for their food, and they are also good at fending for themselves when left to roam.
As long as you provide them with a safe and secure area to free-range, they will happily spend their days exploring and finding food on their own. Free-ranging is quite healthy for them and allows them to get plenty of sunlight and exercise. Chickens are natural free-rangers and it’s good for their physical and mental well-being.
Additionally, because Sussexes are excellent foragers, they can help to reduce the amount of feed you need to provide, which can save you money in the long run. However, it’s important to keep in mind that free-ranging chickens are more susceptible to predators and diseases, so you’ll need to take steps to protect your flock if you choose to let them roam freely.
Some things to strongly consider are when, and how long you should let your chickens free-range. To see a guide free-ranging, check out my article on How Long You Should Let Your Chickens Free-Range.
What’s the Lifespan of a Sussex Chicken?
On average, Sussex chickens usually live for 5-8 years. The lifespan of a Sussex can vary depending on factors such as diet, living conditions, and overall health. However, with proper care, some Sussexes have been known to live for 10 years or more.
To keep your chicken happy and healthy, consider a high-quality laying pellet or layer crumble. To help you decide on pellets vs crumble, check out my article on Laying Pellets vs Layer Crumble!
Where to Get Sussex Chickens
On average, the best place to get Sussex chickens is through an online hatchery such as Hoovers or Mcmurray. These sites are trusted and have a great selection of chicks for you to choose from!
Generally, you can buy chickens locally but you’re at the store’s mercy on what breeds they have at the time. I went to my local Tractor Supply and they had 4 breeds available at the time. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any Sussexes and weren’t sure they were going to get any this year.
The store representative instructed me to go online to their website and buy them there. Their website just redirected me to Hoovers Hatchery!
Although Sussexes are a popular breed, there are even more popular breeds, such as the White Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds. It may be difficult to find Sussexes at your local farm and ranch stores, and it’s possible that you may never be able to acquire them.
If you can find Sussexes locally, I recommend that you take advantage of the opportunity and acquire as many as you need, as purchasing them online could result in a minimum shipping fee that varies per online hatchery site.
Incubating Sussex Chickens
Incubating is a fantastic way to get a Sussex flock started. If you know someone near you with some Sussex chickens, ask if you can buy some eggs from them (provided they have a rooster in with their hens). You can then buy an incubator and hatch as many as you want! Simply raise the hens and roosters from your first purchase, then once they start laying, use their eggs to keep hatching more hens.
However, if you start looking for an incubator to purchase, I’ve written an article on Still air vs Circulated air to help pick out which type would be best for you!
Conclusion
I hope this guide helped you learn all about Sussex Chickens and to determine if they’re right for your flock. If you liked this guide be sure to check out some of my other articles!
This article was originally published on farmapt.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.