The Sussex chicken breed was bred in England in the county of Sussex, where, in fact, the name came from. Initially, these were birds of a meat direction. However, repeated selection has led to the fact that chickens are currently classified as meat and egg breeds.
The productivity of Sussex laying hens is 180-200 eggs per year from one individual. Egg weight from 55 grams. Shell color may be yellow or yellow-brown.
Chickens of this breed are distinguished by endurance. They are easy to fatten, but it should be borne in mind that fattening significantly affects egg production, which decreases in proportion to the bird’s weight gain. The body of laying hens is large, massive, wide, has a rectangular shape. Adult chickens weigh two and a half – three kilograms, roosters gain up to four kilograms.
The plumage of the Sussexes is very lush, plentiful, especially in the lumbar region. The tail of the bird is small, the rooster has braids that perfectly cover the short tail feathers. The wings of chickens are short, tight to the body and set high. Light metatarsus are of medium length.
The Sussexes have a small but wide head, on which there is a leaf-shaped crest, represented by four, five and even six high teeth. The eye color of this breed of chickens is orange-red. Earrings and lobes are red, as is the face. But the beak is a light horn shade or the color of meat. It is slightly curved and dark at the tip. The plumage of birds is lush, soft, adjacent to the body. Despite the great similarity between laying hens and roosters, it is not difficult to distinguish between them. Roosters have a much larger head and comb, and hens look sleeker and stockier.
Sussexes have a different color: mottled, silver-maned, yellow and red Colombian and others. But the birds of light Colombian plumage are the most common.
