Sussex chicken facts for kids
Light Sussex hen
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| Conservation status | FAO (2007): not at risk |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Use | Dual-purpose, eggs and meat |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
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| Skin colour | White |
| Egg colour | Tinted |
| Comb type | Single |
| Classification | |
| APA | English |
| EE | Yes |
| PCGB | Heavy, soft feather |
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The Sussex is a popular British chicken breed. People raise these chickens for two main reasons: for their meat and for their eggs. This makes them a "dual-purpose" breed.
There are eight different colors of Sussex chickens. You can find them in both standard sizes and smaller "bantam" sizes. A special group called the Sussex Breed Club was formed in 1903 to support and promote this chicken.
Contents
History of the Sussex Chicken
The Sussex chicken comes from the historic county of Sussex in south-east England. It is one of the oldest chicken breeds in Britain. Chickens similar to the Sussex were shown at the very first poultry show in London in 1845. They were called "Old Sussex or Kent Fowl" back then.
The official rules for the Sussex breed were written in 1902. At first, there were three main color types: light, red, and speckled. The speckled variety is thought to be the oldest. Over time, new colors appeared. The buff variety came out in the 1920s. After that, the white Sussex appeared. It was a natural change from the light Sussex. The newest color is silver.
Before World War II, the Sussex chicken was one of the most important breeds for meat in the United Kingdom. This was before new types of chickens were created for large farms. Farmers developed special Sussex chickens that were good at producing eggs and meat. These chickens were often smaller than those raised for shows.
What Makes a Sussex Chicken Special?
The Sussex chicken is known for its elegant look. It has a long, wide, and flat back. Its breastbone is long and straight, and its shoulders are wide. The chicken has a rectangular body shape. Its tail usually sticks up at a 45-degree angle.
The color of their eyes can vary. Darker Sussex chickens have red eyes, while lighter ones have orange eyes. All Sussex chickens have a single comb on their head. Their earlobes are red, and their legs and skin are white. Male Sussex chickens, called cocks, weigh about 4.1 kilograms. Female chickens, called hens, weigh around 3.2 kilograms.
Sussex Chicken Colors
There are eight main colors of Sussex chickens recognized in Britain. These include brown, buff, coronation, light, red, silver, speckled, and white.
- The light Sussex has a white body. Its tail feathers are black, and it has black on its wing feathers. The feathers around its neck are white with black stripes.
- The buff Sussex looks similar to the light, but its body is a golden-buff color. It has greenish-black markings.
- The silver Sussex is like the light, but it has grey thighs. Its chest is dark with silver edges on the feathers.
- The red Sussex has the same markings as the light, but its body is a rich, dark red.
- The speckled Sussex is a deep, dark reddish-brown. Each feather has a white tip, making it look speckled.
- The white Sussex is completely pure white.
The coronation Sussex has special markings. It looks like the light Sussex but has lavender instead of black. This color was created for the coronation of King Edward VIII. However, the coronation never happened, and this color disappeared by World War II. People thought it would have the same red, white, and blue colors as the Union Flag. A smaller "bantam" version of the coronation Sussex was brought back in the 1980s.
In the United States, the American Poultry Association recognizes three colors: light, red, and speckled. The red and speckled colors were added to their official standards in 1914, and the light color in 1929.
How People Use Sussex Chickens
The Sussex chicken was traditionally raised for its meat. In the early 1900s, it was one of the main breeds for this purpose. Later, new types of chickens were developed for large-scale farming.
Today, the Sussex is still a great "dual-purpose" bird. Hens can lay about 180 to 200 tinted eggs each year. Some special egg-laying types can even lay up to 250 eggs! Each egg weighs about 60 grams. Sussex chickens are also popular for chicken shows because of their beautiful appearance.
See also
In Spanish: Gallina sussex para niños
