Light Sussex with brown feathers!!!!!!!!!!!

silvermissy · **Posted:** Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:12 am

Hi Can anyone offer any suggestions as to why out of twelve chicks one the best rooster out of all would have approximately 6 light brown feathers scattered throughout him?
I know mum and dad where light sussex and even if someone else jumped in their all light sussex.
I'll get a pic of him today if I can catch him!!! Thinking of entering him in endurance races boy can he run. He does have a little too much black but the
other hens have not enough black so was hoping to use him to try and improve their colour. Any ideas please!!!!!!!!!!

Deans' Poultry · **Posted:** Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:50 am

Yer it can happen. Had a group of white leghorns hatch and 1 cockeral had 2 brown feathers. I'm thinking it must be a throwback as all the others came out with beautiful white plumage.
Had an australorp rooster who had a small tuft of white feather near the base of his tail and sure enough his offspring had a white feather ot 2 somewhere on them. Although the white feather would generally fall out.

If it were me, i wouldn't use the light sussex cockeral to breed with because of those brown feathers. IMO a rooster should be brought into a flock to improve a line rather than introduce more faults.

Stt · **Joined:** Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:01 pm **Posts:** 3006

hi i personally wouldnt breed him if you were selling pure breeds

Peter16 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:49 pm

Stuart, did you mean "wouldnt" or "would"

silvermissy · **Posted:** Sat Mar 08, 2008 6:34 pm

I sorta thought I shouldn't breed from him so it's going to be the roasting pan for him.
Now to source a new rooster. oh joy oh joy so hard to get around here!!!!!!!!!!

Stt · **Joined:** Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:01 pm **Posts:** 3006

sorry all im ment wouldnt fixed now

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

Yep ,I'd be definately changing Roosters , As even one brown feather will carry , Get another Roo and the problem should be solved , If not have a look at your hens if they are sisters and don't have enough colour as you say them be crossbreds .

silvermissy · **Posted:** Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:49 pm

I'm sorta getting the feeling I've been had as heard on the grapevine today that this particular instance there's a hidden pen of crossbreeds down the back and I guess they've seen me coming but never mind It's a case of live and learn and never go back!!!!
I'll consign them to the local market as Xbreds and start again next spring.
Guess it's the kids silkies and the xbreds for now.
I swear I gotta move to area with a larger selection of poultry breeders.
Thanks For all Help

Peter16 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:54 pm

silvermissy wrote:

I swear I gotta move to area with a larger selection of poultry breeders.

I hear ya

joc1 · **Joined:** Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:31 pm **Posts:** 35

Good grief Silvermissy.

You are in the middle of some of the best breeders in NSW!

The Tisdells are close to you in Wingham, Silkie wins everywhere, I think Helen Barnes is also up your way, her black silkies took out last years Royal, the oldest Light Sussex stud in Australia is near Killabakh with lines that date back to the last import in 1927 (same family owners, read The Doyans of Sussex, they are in there) bantam and standard, probably one of the best Silver laced wyandotte breeders over near Port Mac.

For ducks you have the Fleming sisters over at Upper Lansdowne, they have been breeding Mallards and their derivatives for over 25 years.

Have a look in the NEEPA book if you can get your hands on one.

Which is why I am looking up around that area for land

J

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