Sussex
Dual purpose · England · 🌱 Beginner friendly
The Sussex has been feeding England since before there was an England to speak of, with roots often traced to Roman-era Britain. The Speckled variety is a backyard favorite — a mahogany hen splashed with white who follows her keeper around the garden like a small, opinionated dog.
Eggs per year
200–250
Egg color
Light brown
Egg size
Large
Hen weight
6–7 lbs
Temperament
Curious and gentle
Broodiness
Sometimes broody
Did you know?
A Speckled Sussex gains more white speckling with every molt, so the older the hen, the fancier she looks.
Is the Sussex right for your flock?
Expect roughly 200–250 light brown eggs a year from a healthy hen in her prime — production dips during molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as she ages. Planning space? A Sussex hen runs 6–7 lbs, so size the coop with our coop size calculator and estimate the feed bill with the feed cost calculator.
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Keeping Sussexs?
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