Sussex

A Sussex hen is a hardy, friendly, and dependable dual-purpose chicken breed known for both its egg-laying and meat qualities. Here’s a description:

• Feathers: Smooth, dense, and close-fitting.
• Color Varieties: Most commonly seen in Light Sussex (white body with a black tail and black neck feathers with white lacing), but also comes in red, speckled, buff, silver, and other colors.
• Size: Medium to large; hens usually weigh around 6 to 7 pounds.
• Comb: Single comb, upright and bright red.
• Skin and Legs: White skin with clean (featherless) legs.
• Eyes: Bright and alert, usually reddish-bay.
• Temperament: Curious, calm, and very friendly—great for backyard flocks and families.
• Egg Production: Excellent layers of large, light brown eggs—up to 250 or more per year.