Speckled Sussex

Pros:

• They are well known for their calm and docile temperament.
• She loves to be with humans and will let you cuddle her.
• Sussex are dependable egg layers.
• They are very friendly and will get along with other breeds.
• Speckled Sussex chickens are well suited to live in cold climates.
• They love to forage so their feed bill is not too expensive.

Temperament & Behavior

When it comes to friendly chicken breeds, you really can’t beat the Speckled Sussex. Calm, docile, and friendly birds, these chickens are happy to trot along behind you in the garden as they forage for grubs and other tasty morsels.

They are known to be a bit mischievous due in part to their naturally curious dispositions. They are resourceful and active, happy to spend their days scratching around in your garden. However, they do take well to confinement, making the breed a good option if you decide to keep chickens throughout the cold winter months, too.

Speckled Sussex chickens are relatively quiet, just chattering along with the usual backyard chicken noise of the egg-laying song or the alert call. You will find that the Sussex hen tends to go broody, too, something that’s beneficial if you want to hatch your own eggs. They set well, and the Sussex hen makes wonderful mothers.

The only downside to the Speckled Sussex’s peaceful disposition is that it can sometimes fall low on the pecking order. Since it’s not the largest chicken you might have in your chicken coop, nor is it the most assertive, it may fall victim to some bullying from other, more assertive chickens.

Nonetheless, the Speckled Sussex is a friendly breed that’s great for chicken keepers with other pets, chickens, and even small children. It’s also a good option for beginners since it has few breed-specific medical concerns or care issues.

Breed Specifics & Traits

Type

More often than not, Speckled Sussex chickens are raised for egg production, but they can also be raised as meat birds. When raised as meat birds, the meat is somewhat lighter than what you might expect from a backyard chicken. It’s incredibly tender, particularly when the bird is young. On average, Speckled Sussex chickens dress out at around 6-7.5 lbs, an excellent sized carcass for the dinner table.

They’re also great as layers, making them an excellent dual purpose breed. These chickens will lay plenty of medium-large, pale brown eggs for you all year – even in the dead of winter. Because they are friendly and easy to train, they also make good companions as pets or show birds.

Summary

This breed is very well suited for backyard chicken keepers.

They are a reliable egg layer that will keep you well supplied with eggs and if you wish to raise your own chicks the girls are good broodies and mothers.

If you let them free range they are economical to feed as they will supplement their diet from natural sources too.

She also has a lovely temperament (like the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte and will tolerate being picked up and held.

Overall they are a lovely heritage breed that has survived many ups and downs over the years and have have proven that they still has a place in the modern world.