Among all breeds of chickens there are special, elegant, well-fed and excellent laying hens. This Sussex is a breed bred in England. The name of the chickens speaks of the county where they were bred. The breed has different subspecies, but each of them occupies a worthy place in the poultry industry. If you choose a breed of chickens for home breeding, then the birds of this breed will definitely not disappoint their owners.
The fleshy, silvery-white Sussex is a breed of hens with a black mane and tail braids, large wing wings, strong pinkish legs and red ear lobes. The breed has spread from England quite widely. She is bred both on poultry farms and in small private farms.
Silver color is transmitted through the maternal line, but its boys have it. Therefore, day-old chicks can be divided by gender, taking into account the color of fluff. Sussexes are often used for crossing. As a rule, the purpose of crossing is to obtain hybrid breeds - broilers.
Breeding
Sussex poultry is a breed of chickens that quickly adapts to any climatic conditions. It tolerates low temperatures quite well. This bird is unpretentious, so it is quite easy to grow. Colombian, silvery, white, motley, lilac, lavender, wild-brown, motley, yellow-Colombian, porcelain sussex are colocated in color. The breed of chickens from the eponymous English county is very old. Even in the forties of R. H. this bird could be found in the Roman Empire. She gained great popularity and all this thanks to her qualities.
These chickens were initially bred solely for meat. After a while, people engaged in breeding poultry realized that Sussex was a chicken-and-chicken breed, and with very high rates in both areas of the poultry farming. On the territory of the former USSR, these chickens appeared in 1961, thanks to which domestic producers in the field of poultry farming, by crossing, received the May Day and Adler silver breeds.
The Sussex Club in England was formed in 1903. Dwarfs appeared in 1924. The English dwarf Sussexes had a Colombian (white-black) color, while the Germanic ones had a porcelain (brownish) color.
Characteristics of the species Sussex (breed of chickens)
Description of the bird should begin with the skin. She is white. The head of a chicken is small but wide. Sussex has a slightly curved and strong beak. The base of the beak is dark, and the tip is bright. Scallop bright red color, leaf-shaped and straight. Scallop teeth can be from 4 to 6. They are low and have the correct shape. The eyes of the chicken are round and reddish, may be orange. The earlobes are also red and round. A small neck tapers to the head, which has an excellent feather cover.
The bird's body has a rectangular shape, a broad back narrowed slightly towards the tail. Belly in Sussex large. Chicken breast has powerful and wide forms. The wings are high and very tightly pressed to the body. They are short in size.
Distinctive qualities
Calm, reaching for the contact, knowing perfectly their owner - these are the qualities of representatives of Sussex. Breed of chickens, reviews of which can be heard only positive, can please their owners with excellent litter and high-quality product. Poultry meat has a delicate structure with high protein content. By weight, birds in adulthood reach 3 kg (hens) and 4 kg (roosters). Already in half a year the hens successfully lay eggs. Egg production rates for the Sussex breed are 160–250. By weight, eggs reach 60 grams. Their color is from light beige to yellow-brown. Birds have a high survival rate of 90–98%. Already by seventy days, the mass of chickens reaches 1.5 kg.
Virtues
Of course, this breed of domestic chickens has its advantages in breeding:
- she rarely gets sick
- peace loving
- easy to feed her - she is picky,
- bird content does not require special conditions.
Keep chickens sussex preferably outdoor method. It requires a deep irremovable bed and the possibility of walking in winter. It is important to monitor the humidity and temperature. It is advisable to warm the coop for the winter, despite the fact that the breed is unpretentious and tolerates cold. Moms of this breed are caring. They have a highly developed incubation instinct. The owners do not have problems with the expectation of offspring.
Types: Porcelain, Colombian and Sussex Dominants
The breed of chickens recommended for breeding in large poultry farms is brown and white dominant. In the household - dominant gray-speckled, black, silver and blue. Chickens of this species have virtually no drawbacks. This is a universal egg-bearing breed. Dominant chickens are able to carry up to 300 eggs in the first year. The breed has a high immunity and is able to live up to 10 years. A thick plumage keeps the bird in the cold.
Chestnut-colored sussex porcelain is a breed of black-tailed chickens, which happens to be with black feathers in small numbers and on the neck. She lays eggs light brown. Differs stamina, calm temper and is great for free content.
Most of all in Russia and in the countries of the former Soviet republics, Sussex is Colombian. Breed of hens of this type very nice. Its distinguishing feature is the color, which is known to us more by such breeds as Adler silver and May Day. Initially the ancestors of the Colombian colouration were calico Sussexes. And today they can be found at exhibitions in England. Calico sussexes for breeding are light species.
Light Sussexes are carriers of the silver gene, which, as mentioned above, is linked to the floor. This allows, when crossing with breeds that carry the golden gene in themselves, to get chicks, distinguished by sex in a day. Purebreds have a light yellow color, and hybrids are dark yellow.
Chicken nutrition
As mentioned above, this is an unpretentious type of poultry. Even when fed with low-grade food, the kritsa will get everything necessary for full development. With the free content, they are perfectly get their own food, especially dominants. Therefore, food can be given in small portions. Novice poultry farmers can easily wind up this breed for themselves, since there will not be any special troubles with it. The only feed requirement is adequate amounts of calcium and protein. It is advisable to use feeders, drinkers, which significantly reduce feed consumption.
Despite the fact that chickens are unpretentious, it is still better to pay some attention to the quality of food, especially wet. Ready factory feed - a great solution for adult birds. This is a balanced product, where there is everything you need. In the absence of such feed, the chicken is fed grain mixtures, add mineral supplements. Chicks are given starter feed or chopped millet, cottage cheese, boiled egg, gradually adding chopped greens and mineral additives. In the morning, the chicks are given fish oil - 0.1 gram per individual.
Sussex breed of chickens
In the formation of a unique type noted:
Sussex is also related to the ruling dynasty of the Old Woman of Britain. When King George ascended the throne, he was presented as a gift with a gorgeous Royal Sussex with incredible appearance. A proud bird could boast of a mane of lilac outflow, a snow-white feather and a tail of bright lilac overflow. This family has become the progenitor of such crosses as: May Day and Adler Silver. Modern American ornithologists set a goal to replenish the gene pool based on Sussex chromosome, which would have a lavender plumage coloring.
Product orientation
Sussex breed of chickens is a beautiful, powerful bird of meat and egg type, which, thanks to the richness of its colors, is able to adorn any yard. First, the task was set to breed Sussex as a meat-profile type, but then the result of the work of breeders led to a wider format, and the chicken became meat-and-egg.
They have a high coefficient of productivity, have exclusive features and are very popular among home farmers. In England, fans of the breed have organized clubs dedicated to this bird. Many owners of poultry farms, seeing the famous quots, made the decision to acquire such a livestock.
Choosing this breed, they did not lose: in the cross-country combined functional characteristics and non-trivial appearance.
The main types of color
- Pale yellow,
- Royal,
- Silver,
- Brown Wild,
- Colombian,
- Porcelain (Calico).
According to the statements of breeders, the individuals of this breed cause the first impression - it is massive and thorough.
Breed signs of the head of the family
- The size of the head is relatively small, but at the same time it is wide enough,
- Earrings in red, round and smooth,
- Red or orange eyes with splashes,
- Stomach: voluminous, soft, clearly visible,
- The buds are underdeveloped, tightly pressed to the head,
- The steering feathers are almost completely covered with braids,
- On the legs are four smooth fingers of light pigment,
- The tail is short, wide at the base, moderately raised,
- The back is wide, narrows to the waist, where the magnificent outfit is located,
- The light horny or pinkish beak is rather strong, slightly curved,
- Not very long wings planted high and tight to the calf,
- The body of a horizontal setting, folded harmoniously and proportionally, in the shape of a rectangle, a soft, smooth feather adjoins the body,
- A comb of small size, simple, upright on a strong base, has up to 5 small teeth,
- The neck of medium length is decorated with rich plumage, massive at the base, sharply tapering to the base of the skull,
- Hocks of medium length, whitish shade, with permissible stripes of light red tinting,
- Medium-long tibiae with well-developed muscles, no typical pads,
- The chest is powerful enough, planted almost vertically from the throat down and passes arcuately into the horizontal lower line of the body.
Description of the Sussex layer
Mummies of this nationality look somewhat more modest than their leaders, their description is typical for their make-up:
- Paws are stocky, strong,
- The tummy is voluminous, soft,
- The neck is much shorter than that of the rooster,
- The head is tiny, the comb is delicate,
- Stocky body, rectangular, set horizontally,
- Cover tail feathers cover the helmsman more than half,
- Soft plumage resiliently fits the body. In the lower part there is a lot of white fluff.
Proud creatures, nevertheless, are capable of friendship, willingly in contact, not aggressive to children and feathered relatives. They perfectly recognize the owners in the face and literally - they follow their trustees on the heels of them everywhere.
The combination of these qualities makes this Englishwoman an interesting and promising special for the diversity of the monastery around the world.
Efficiency and egg production
Practical properties. Bird productivity indicators have always been an important factor for poultry farmers. Most breeders prefer to breed those birds that ripen quickly and at the same time well and long rush.
Experienced ornithologists find these chickens universal due to the optimal combination of three main indicators:
This feathered brethren - quick-shooters: the young growth is well fed and intensively gains a mass of goods, weighs about one and a half kilograms by two and a half months.
With proper care, the young layers are ready for reproductive performance at the age of six months.
In numbers, it looks like this:
2.5-2.9 kg egg
57-59 grams, Egg production:
160-190 pcs / year, color - light brown / dark brown, sometimes it can be a greenish tint.
In the cold season, the egg-laying activity of chickens is experiencing a decline, which is standard for most classes.
Sussex breed of chickens description of the characteristics of crossing and hatching.
The exclusive silverness of the Sussex plumage is related to gender and is a hereditary property, passing from the laying hen to offspring along the line of males. A unique feature of the breeders used for crossing sussex with relatives.
The hens of this family are neat and patient moms: to hatch babies, they can be planted on eggs up to three times per summer. Despite the impressive mass of their bodies, they do not spoil the eggs, do not peck, and treat the process delicately.
Separate cases when the maternal instinct breeders do not need - it is easily overcome.
Progeny. What is it?
Chickens have excellent immunity, they have a high survival rate.
95%. In the first couple of weeks, fluffs are in dire need of stable lighting, but over time, the supply of artificial light can be gradually reduced, bringing its quantity to match the dose of natural light.
The diet of young livestock approximately 50% should consist of feed inherent in their age category. Note that the young fledgling slowly.
Content, diet, place of stay
The British Sussex breed of chickens to the conditions of life and care is unpretentious, it quickly adapts to different climates, patiently endures the cold. Being rather large, massive individuals, they are happy with territorial conformity, therefore it is important to create for them a spacious dwelling in which they will feel comfortable.
With a lack of lighting, a decrease in egg production is observed. Keep in the perimeter more than fifty heads is not recommended. Nevertheless, if it is not possible to build spacious poultry houses, the nobility does not prevent these birds from Foggy Albion from transferring content to medium-sized rooms.
As a result, breeders come to the conclusion that it is better to follow the rule: the freer the grazing, the tastier the meat. An ideal solution for these beauties will be the feeding of standard combi-mixtures containing the full range of essential trace elements.
The question of shedding a cross of English origin corresponds to similar selections; females endure stress and reduced tone, a decrease in the intensity of metabolism, and need special diet and care.
Specific Diseases
When breeders began breeding this bird, one of the tasks was also to promote health and develop resistance to most avian diseases. They partially succeeded in accomplishing this task, and the wedge rarely suffers from illnesses. But this does not exclude the risk of infection with those infections that are not provided for vaccination.
In addition, it is worth remembering such a typical problem of all birds - about parasites. They can be really dangerous and even threaten the life of the herd.
Preventive measures, regular treatment, disinfection and disinsection of premises will help prevent problems associated with infection by parasites.
Benefits
- Rarely get sick
- Peaceful nature,
- Unpretentiousness in nutrition and breeding,
- The possibility of breeding hybrids with gender differences already at day old.
Breeders include the following violations of the regulations to the culling:
- Light eyes,
- Whitish lobes,
- Squirrel tail,
- Beak yellow pigmentation,
- Yellowness and plumage of the metatarsus,
- Flat, noticeably narrowed sternum,
- Uneven color of hyper-developed scallop,
- The back is flowing or with a pronounced hump,
- A narrow, triangular carcass or shaped like Orpington.
Sussex breed of chickens worthy of attention! As a conclusion, I would like to note that, as often happens, British breeding and cross-country chickens are becoming the flagships of the poultry industry around the world, having rightfully won this place. We sincerely hope that the material impressed you and was informative and useful information.
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The history of the breed
The history of the origin of the breed is the main difference from other species. The first mention of these birds are found in historical annals of the Roman Empire. Based on the available materials, it can be assumed that Sussex is one of the most ancient rocks.
Chickens got their name thanks to the English county of the same name Sussex. The story says that during the coronation of King George, his subjects brought as a gift a bird of amazing beauty to the newly-made ruler. She hit the eye with her gorgeous white plumage, bright purple tail and gorgeous mane of lilac hue.
There are many versions of what breeds were used in the selection of a new species of Sussex. Representatives of Dorking, Cornish, Brahma, Orpingtons, White Cochinchins and others were used at different stages of elimination. There is no exact information about the predecessors of these birds.
По официальным данным на территории СССР Суссекс впервые появилась в 1961 году. Советские селекционеры на основе этой породы вывели еще две: Первомайскую и Адлерскую серебристую. To this day, they are popular among poultry farmers who do not cease to note their similarity with representatives of the Sussex species. Today, in Russia, English birds are actively bred on private farms, farmsteads and non-specialized farms.
Interesting. In modern Britain, there is a special club of the breed Sussex, whose members promote the breeding of these chickens.
Breed description, appearance and photos
Despite their pride, the chickens of Sussex are friendly and non-aggressive.
They are endowed with a calm disposition, willingly make contact with their neighbors and recognize their masters by sight. In addition, the birds are endowed with durable immunity and completely unpretentious to weather conditions.
Initially, the breed was bred for the purpose of obtaining tasty meat, but over time, thanks to the incessant breeding work, the birds turned into meat and egg. At first glance, these English chickens look massive and solid. Exterior signs of males and females are markedly different.
Roosters have the following breed characteristics:
- Small wide head. The beak is slightly curved, rather strong, has a pinkish or light pink shade, on top slightly darker. Eyes are red or orange with small patches. The lobes are red, poorly developed and tightly abut the head. Red earrings have roundness and a smooth surface.
- A small crest is located straight. It has 4-5 small proportional teeth. The surface of the ridge to the touch is rough, the base is strong and dense.
In the photo rooster breed Sussex.
The appearance of Sussex chickens is much more modest than that of a rooster.
They are characterized by the following symptoms:
- small head with a small crest,
- the neck is significantly shorter than that of the gentleman,
- solid body, rectangular shape and horizontal setting,
- legs are strong and stocky,
- the abdomen is soft and round,
- cover feathers cover the helmsman more than half,
- the plumage is soft and dense, in the lower part of the body there is an abundance of white down.
Thanks to careful selection work, the breed has a rich palette of colors: silver, calico (or porcelain), white, variegated, yellow-Colombian. But the most popular coloring is considered to be Colombian: the body is endowed with white color with splashes of dark color on feathers, and black spots adorn the neck, forming the so-called “necklace”.
Currently, experts from the American Association of Breeders are in the process of creating Sussex lavender, cuckoo and brown chickens. Two colors have already managed to get and fix in future generations.
The most popular coloring of the Sussex breed is considered Colombian.
With proper care, young Hods reach sexual maturity by the age of six months. Young animals are rapidly fattening and rapidly gaining muscle mass. The live weight of an adult rooster is about 2.7-4 kg, and the hen - 2.5-2.9 kg.
Productivity Characteristics
The meat of these chickens has excellent taste, very tender and juicy, and also contains an increased amount of protein. Breed Sussex refers to the early maturity, because the young individuals at a rapid pace reach slaughter weight: at the age of 70 days they weigh already 1.5 kg.
With proper maintenance, pullets begin to rush at the age of 5-6 months, in winter, the laying intensity decreases. About 160-190 eggs can be produced per chicken per year. There were cases when a hen gave up to 250 pieces. The color of eggs varies from light beige to dark brown, rarely a greenish tint. Egg weight is 56-60 grams.
Maintenance and care
British chickens do not require special conditions of detention, quickly adapt to new climatic conditions and tolerate cold.
For the maintenance of English chickens preferred floor method on deep litter.
Since the representatives of this breed are characterized as large and massive birds, it is necessary to equip a spacious hen house for them to live. If it is not possible to provide the birds with a large house, they can be kept in more intimate conditions. In the same room is not recommended to contain more than 50 individuals.
Attention. Experienced poultry farmers engaged in breeding chickens Sussex, note that the long stay of the bird on the free range directly affects the taste of its meat.
For the maintenance of English chickens preferred floor method on a deep litter with the possibility of walking in the winter season. In the hen house it is necessary to maintain an optimum level of humidity and temperature. Despite the fact that birds perfectly tolerate low temperatures, it is better to warm the walls of the house in winter.
It should also be remembered that an insufficient level of illumination can adversely affect the intensity of egg production. And to combat parasites, birds need to systematically organize ash and sand baths.
In the henhouse where Sussexes live, it must be dry and warm.
Features of feeding, and what is necessary diet
For feeding Sussex chickens, as well as for other breeds, it is advisable to use special feeders and drinkers, which will minimize the excess feed consumption. The quality of wet mash must be monitored with the utmost care.
In general, the basis of the diet of these birds is a ready-made combined feed, which has a properly balanced composition, which includes all the elements necessary for healthy growth. If there is no opportunity to feed the birds with factory feed, the main products of their daily diet should be cereals: wheat, corn, oats, barley.
Periodically it is necessary to dilute the menu with wet mash. Do not forget the benefits of mineral supplements, which are especially needed laying at the stage of laying eggs. As calcium-containing products and mineral components, you can use chalk, grated egg shells, crushed shells, meat and bone meal. The proper functioning of the digestive tract will provide sand and gravel.
In the diet of chickens Sussex includes: grain, mash, vitamin supplements.
Reproduction and cultivation
It is possible to breed English birds in two ways: buy ready-made young stock from reliable vendors, or take out chickens with your own efforts.
Chickens breed Sussex are excellent chickens, caring and attentive mothers. The instinct of egg incubation is well developed among them. Planting eggs on eggs is advised closer to summer, because at such a time born babies get used to the new habitat more quickly. On average, the hatching period lasts 21 days, and the safety of chickens is about 98%.
About 13-15 eggs are laid under each hen. With all its massiveness, the chickens are sitting very neatly on the eggs without damaging them. After chicks hatching, it is extremely important to ensure the correct light and temperature conditions in the room.
In the early days, it is possible to feed chickens with ready-made starter feeds, as well as with crushed millet, boiled egg and cottage cheese. In the future, finely chopped greens and mineral supplements are added to the diet. In the morning feeding, the chicks are given fish oil in an amount of 0.1 grams per 1 individual.
Sussex chickens can be purchased from breeders or bred independently from eggs.
Important. Purchase eggs for laying in the incubator should be from one trusted farmer. Thus, one can be sure that eggs are fertilized and that various kinds of infections are excluded.
Farmers reviews about the breed
Sergei. My English birds of the Sussex breed have excellent health. In times of continuous rain and a cold snap, birds crawl in a muddy puddle and feel great. I would like to note the good productivity of these chickens: the adult hen gives eggs of a light cream shade every other day. I get great pleasure from intercourse with these chickens: I go to the aviary, my girl comes up to me and gladly goes into the hands. I stroked her, and she quietly clucked something. I would very much like these surprisingly tender birds not to disappear from Russian farmsteads.
Lyudmila. Today a black Sussex one-year-old chicken was beaten - the dog was bitten. Gutted carcass weight was 1500 grams. I want to say about this breed only the most positive. Very calm and nice birds, with beautiful appearance and good productivity. One record holder in the eggs several times laid testicles weighing about 115 grams. She rushed well - 2 days out of 3. The truth came quite late.
Appearance
They are distinguished by a broad article, short neck, square-type Sussex body, squat. The wings are small relative to the body, the legs are thick and medium in length, the head is small.
In the photo, a lightweight version of the Sussex chickens surrounded their cock.
The comb is leaf-shaped, relatively small, upright. Beak light, with a darker root. The shins are painted in a light pink color (this is the main difference from other breeds with a light Colombian color).
Content Features
Poultry farmers around the world have noted good breed productivity, unpretentiousness and resistance to cold.
Chickens of the Sussex breed retain the stability of egg laying during the cold season, and, as farmers note, also during the molt. Eggs are large (some reach 100 grams or even more), even oval in shape. Pullets begin to rush at 5.5-7 months, some at the beginning of egg-laying place two-yolk eggs.
Layers by weight reach 2.7 kg (in foreign sources 3.2 kg), roosters 3.5 kg (4.2 kg). Egg production average 160-190 eggs, but can reach, especially in the first year, up to 260 pieces. Eggs are light brown.
And here - a heavier version, closer to the broiler type.
It is best to feed ready-made feed for chicken meat with a protein content of 22% to 24%. According to the poultry farmers, this is exactly the mode of feeding that allows to reveal the full potential of the breed. (How to provide protein supplementation, we wrote here).
At the same time, chickens are excellent foragers, they are constantly looking for food on grazing. This has earned them the reputation of being economical in the content of the pizza, despite the quality requirements of the feed. There is an opinion that it is foraging and captive content that allows to achieve the best taste of meat, with a slight taste of game. Cellular content does not reveal its full potential.
The best option for keeping chickens Sussex will be aviary also because of the massiveness of individuals. Cellular content is possible, but the birds must have a flat place, in addition to the grid, on which you can fit. Moreover, the roost and other equipment is best done massive, able to withstand their considerable weight.
Another reason to keep livestock in cages is their friendliness and curiosity. With a good attitude, they become almost tame, affectionate, "talk" with their owner. It is not recommended to keep a herd of over 500 heads in the same room.
Useful tips
- Due to the fact that Sussexes are good chicks, the poultry farmers who decide to start them will have to think about the joint maintenance of chickens and chickens. And because chickens can start hatching in the autumn-winter period, a warm brooder should be provided. Chicks also need good lighting, for the first two weeks it can be around the clock.
- You can afford to raise young animals not at the ready, and at home poop. In this case, we recommend to abandon the curd at least for the first time, up to two weeks of age. Then give it mixed with semolina or corn grits, bought in a regular store. In other cases, a good choice would be high-quality feed for chickens.
- You need to be prepared for the fact that the hen with chickens contained in the common aviary, even while caring for its offspring, may begin to lay eggs. Therefore, towards the end of this period, it is necessary to check the nest for the presence of eggs laid.
The history of breeding in short is known to all lovers of birds. The first mention of them dates back to 43 AD, when the future British empire was still a hazy and distant future, and with it the county of Sussex. It is reliably known that Calico was bred on its territory, but for other, more ancient varieties, breeding in the county has not been proven.
Dorking, Orpington, Brahma and Cochinchins of white color, as well as numerous local representatives of chickens participated in the creation of the breed at different times. By careful selection, a bird was bred, which now delights breeders around the world with a variety of colors.
In total, there are eight standardized colors (according to the English clubs):
The last colors appeared in 1920-1940, therefore the continuous development of the breed took place over 1900 years!
In the Soviet Union, they appeared in the 60s of the last century in the form of chickens of bright Colombian coloration and took part in the creation of May Day and Adler silver chickens.
Sussexes are very cute, sociable and calm birds. Their good temper, unpretentiousness and excellent productivity made them suitable for breeding even by inexperienced poultry farmers. It is necessary to observe the simple conditions of their maintenance, and they will please their owner with a good weight gain and an egg.
Origin of chickens sussex
In the UK is the county of Sussex, hence the name of the hens. As mentioned above, this is a very old breed. Birds could be found on the territory of the Roman Empire in 44 AD.
The breed was bred by crossing white Kohinquin, Dorking, light brahms, orpingtons and other birds with local chickens. Initially, the bird was bred for the meat direction, a little later, by breeding, they received meat-oriented orientation. On the territory of the USSR, Sussex appeared in 1961. Soviet scientists derived May Day and Adler silver chickens on the basis of the taken breed.
Sussex Hens: description and photo
For the Sussex breed is characterized by a very diverse color. Often found silver, calico, white and chocolate representatives. The most popular color is called Colombian.
In birds, the body is painted white, and a necklace of black feathers is on the neck. There are dark blotches on the rest of the feathers.
Specialists from the USA derive Sussexes of an unusual color. They have a lavender suit. The plans cuckoo and brown colors. The young stock is born with a yellow color that is more familiar to everyone. In chickens, the color is darker, and cockerels have a lighter color.
Adult males have not very large, when compared with the body, the head. Beak powerful, curved, pinkish colors. On the head there is a comb of small size, having 5 proportional teeth. The comb is straight.
The color of the eyes of the cockerels is red and orange. Ear lobes are developed poorly and strongly pressed to the head. Earrings scarlet, without folds, smooth.
Sussex hens, the description and photo of which is presented in this article, have a rectangular body. The back gradually tapers to the back. Cocks are characterized by a very presentable appearance, due to the large chest and a very voluminous abdomen. The wings have a high yield, but not very long.
Characteristic of the breed is a small head, topped with a scallop, a stocky, rectangular body. The cervical part of chickens is noticeably shorter compared to roosters. The abdomen is clearly visible, soft, from below it is decorated with lots of white snow.
Sussexes have a calm, contact character. They know their master well.
In the exterior there are shortcomings, according to which a bird can be rejected:
- the body has the shape of a triangle
- back with a hump,
- breast insufficiently developed
- the tail is cool set,
- metatarsus yellow,
- eyes have a light color.
Productivity Chickens Sussex
Initially, the breed was divorced for meat and only then it began to have a meat-bearing direction. Chickens Sussex are universal birds, which have a close to ideal combination of three main characteristics: meat with excellent taste, excellent egg production, elegant appearance.
Males gain a live weight of 3.0-4 kg, chickens 2.5-2.9 kg. For 365 days, you can get almost 200 eggs with light brown hulls. Sometimes there is a shell with a greenish tint. The average egg weight is 57 g.
Meat products have very good taste properties. Poultry meat has a gentle, fairly juicy, with a high content of protein. Breed refers to early maturity. Young animals can be fattened very quickly, and get the desired slaughter weight.
At the age of 2.5 months, chickens weigh about 1.5 kg. Если создать надлежащие условия содержания, то молодняк начинает нестись, достигнув 5-тимесячного возраста. С наступлением холодов яйценоскость становится ниже.
Как кормить, ухаживать, содержать суссексов?
Суссексы очень легко могут приспособиться к разнообразным условиям климата и содержания. For chickens the most suitable floor method of keeping with deep non-replaceable litter. Well equip a place to walk in the winter. Wet factors are the temperature and humidity in the bird room. Despite the fact that chickens are frost-resistant, it is recommended to warm the walls for the winter.
Many breeders arrange dry bathing bags filled with ash and sand for birds. This helps the chickens to fight with possible parasites.
Preference should be given to special feeders, from where food will not wake up. The same applies to drinkers. The quality of the wet mash must be regularly monitored so that it does not deteriorate.
Adult chickens are often fed ready-made feed. Such feeds are perfectly balanced in composition and have all the necessary elements for birds.
Very often, farmers prepare their own food, this is also applicable to Sussex. The basis of the diet are cereals, you can give a wet mash and do not forget about mineral supplements.
Sussex chickens are very good and attentive chicks. They are distinguished by a well-developed incubation instinct.
Hatching chicks require strict adherence to temperature and light conditions. Egg fodder, small millet, boiled eggs (do not give if egg fodder is fed), cottage cheese are suitable for the first feedings. After a week, you can enter finely cut grass, small shell rock and sand, and fish oil is mixed with morning food - 0.1 g per chicken.
Chickens with a light suit have a silver gene. It is linked to sex. When crossed with a breed that carries the genes of golden color, you can get young, which will vary by sex immediately after birth. Chickens will have a darker suit, unlike cockerels.
