Sussex at a glance
| Egg production | 250–300 eggs/year |
|---|---|
| Egg color | light brown, brown |
| Size | large; hen weight 7 lb |
| Temperament summary | Calm, alert/curious |
| Housing class | large chicken |
Strongest documented traits
Temperament
Very calm and easy to handle
calm
Source confidence: High
Cold tolerance
Excellent cold tolerance
USU cold-weather recommendation
Source confidence: High
Foraging
Excellent forager
excellent foraging
Source confidence: High
Family friendliness
Excellent family-friendly choice
USU children/family recommendation
Source confidence: High
Dual-purpose value
Excellent dual-purpose breed
eggs and meat
Source confidence: High
Egg production
Strong egg production
250-300 eggs/year
Source confidence: High
How the planner uses this breed
The flock planner does not rank Sussex from a single overall score stored in the database. Instead, it weights individual traits differently for each household. Cold hardiness matters more in harsh winters; heat tolerance matters more in hot climates; docility receives additional weight when children will handle the birds; and housing size can prevent a breed mix from being recommended even when its preference score is strong.
Sources used for this record
- Utah State University Extension: Managing Chickens From Chicks to Peak Egg Production
- The Livestock Conservancy: Quick Reference Guide to Heritage Chickens
Last database review: 2026-10-03. Trait values are normalized to a 1–5 planning scale; see the methodology for how uncertainty is handled.