Origins: Sussex is a county in south-eastern England where this chicken is originally from. The bird was used for their tasty meat and excellent egg production. 

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Purpose: Dual Purpose (Meat & Eggs)

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Egg Laying: Dependable layers, they lay an average of 5 large brown eggs per week, or about 240 eggs per year. They will continue laying even into the colder winter months where others breeds may stop.

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Hardiness: Known especially for their cold tolerance, but they do okay in warmer climates as well.

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Temperament: Calm, docile, curious, and friendly personalities make them great homestead birds and great with kids. Many even like to talk to you and follow you around. They do well in both large and small spaces, but every chicken is most happy when they can free range. 

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Size: Heavy (Hens 7 lbs, Roosters 9 lbs)

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Plumage: Their plumage is great for the mountains and helps to camouflage them for predators. They range from a mahogany color to a lighter orange color. Each year when they molt the get more and more of those pretty speckles all over. 

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Broodiness: They tend go broody and make excellent mothers. 

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What We Feed . . .

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In addition to the birds free ranging and having free

choice oyster shell/ grit, we feed them a sprouted mix

of organic: corn, field peas, barley, oats, wheat, BOSS,

flax seed, millet, & sorghum. On occasion I'll add

kelp, nutritional yeast, and sesame/chia seeds. We've

also raised our own meal worms for that extra bit of protein. 

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