The Sussex is a charming breed which descended from the Old Sussex Fowls popular with the Victorians who kept them for their meat and eggs. In 1903 the Sussex Breed Club was formed and breeders developed several colours and varieties such as the Light, Buff, Red etc.

Print from Feather World 1912 showing Brown, Light & Red Sussex with the Speckled shown in the centre

I keep only the Speckled variety which, incidentally is the oldest variety, they have excellent temperaments which makes them suitable as children's pets and garden birds. They are an extremely eye catching bird with beautiful speckled markings which makes them attractive to have around the place.

My line of Speckled Sussex comes from several sources and are a mixture of utility and show stock. My aim is to breed typical healthy stock of good colour with excellent laying ability and in particular good egg size of around 2½ ounces. We will continually introduce new and select lines to improve our small flock, as we have a great interest in this lovely breed.

The Speckled Sussex changes feather pattern enormously as a young bird and can often look very different when it is an adult. Generally they get more pattern as they get older, there are always exceptions to the rule though, as I have had some very "overmarked" youngsters that ended up with lovely even feather pattern as adults - Therefore it is best not to make rash decisions on juvenile birds if eliminating them from your breeding programme!

Speckled Sussex chicks about 6 weeks old

They lay around 180 or so cream eggs a year, they are a utility breed and make excellent table birds the cocks making around 9lb and the hens about 7lb

Newly hatched Speckled Sussex

The youngstock  are usually reared  indoors until about 6 to 8 weeks and then, depending on the weather they go out in arks on grass. Once they know the routine and their surroundings and know where to roost,  they are then allowed to free range unless in a breeding pen for a short time.

Our birds are wormed regularly and are fed a quality diet, they have free access to grass and are allowed to forage and dust bath as the mood takes them, they are pets first and foremost - they are very much a hobby not a business!

Our birds are allowed to free range and have 5 acres at their disposal, plus several acres of our neighbours.

After they are fed in the morning they go under the gate and head off up the fields to forage all day - What a life!!