The Rooster's Tail, Comb, and Wattles: Evaluating Male Type in Speckled Sussex

Choosing which cockerels to keep is where a flock's future gets decided, and where most beginners feel least sure. A good Speckled Sussex male is not simply the biggest or the loudest. He should carry the breed's type, show the right markings and have a sound, healthy frame. This page offers a systematic way to look him over, relying on published descriptions of the breed.

A caution before we begin: breed standards are updated, and a written description is no substitute for an experienced pair of eyes. If you can, have a breeder or a judge handle your birds. For the flock-management side of keeping males, see our page on roosters and fertility.

Start With the Body

The USDA bulletin Standard Varieties of Chickens describes the Sussex as having a long, broad and deep body with a very prominent breast, giving it a meaty appearance. It is comparatively low set on the legs, and the tail is carried moderately low. Wikipedia's description is similar: a long, broad, flat back, a long, straight breastbone, wide shoulders and a rectangular build.

Look at your cockerel from the side and from above. Does he look like a rectangle? Is the back flat from neck to tail? Is the breast full without being pinched? A rounder or more upright build points to another breed in his ancestry.

Tail Carriage

Tail carriage is one of the first things you notice. Hobby Farms describes the Sussex tail as set at about a 45-degree angle from the body. The USDA bulletin says the tail is carried moderately low. A squirrel tail, which sits high and tight, is out of character for the breed. A tail that droops, or sits flat, may also deserve a closer look. Watch him when he is relaxed and when he is alert, since stress changes how any bird carries himself.

Comb, Wattles and Head

The comb is single and of medium size in the USDA bulletin. The Livestock Conservancy adds a rich red, five-pointed comb, a horn-colored beak, reddish-bay eyes and red earlobes. Mother Earth News describes the Light Sussex's comb and wattles as bright red.

Practical Checks

• Comb shape: a single comb that stands upright with distinct points, without extra growths or a split.
• Comb color: bright red and glossy in a healthy male. A pale, dull or shriveled comb can signal a health problem, and a vet or experienced keeper can help you work out why.
• Wattles: evenly matched, smooth and clean.
• Beak and eyes: a horn-colored beak that closes evenly and bright, alert eyes.

Winter can complicate this. In cold climates, large combs and wattles are exposed to frostbite, which can damage the points. Our guide to winter care for heavy breeds explains how to protect them. A cockerel with a frostbitten comb is not necessarily a poor specimen, but the damage can make judging his original shape harder.

Plumage

For the Speckled male, the USDA bulletin describes a brown or reddish-brown hackle and back, each feather striped with black and ending in a white tip. The main tail feathers are black and white, and the sickles and coverts are black tipped with white. The rest of the plumage is brown or reddish brown, each feather ending in a white tip separated by a black bar. The undercolor is slate shading to white.

Young males are not finished. A first-year cockerel may have less white than he will carry later. Cackle Hatchery notes that Speckled Sussex tend to become more speckled with each yearly molt. Judge him as a young bird, and check again after his next molt. More on this in the molt article.

Legs, Feet and Skin

The legs should be white or whitish, clean and free of feathers, with four toes per foot. Straight toes, strong hocks and legs set squarely under the body matter for a heavy breed, since he will carry about 9 pounds when mature, according to both the Conservancy and the USDA bulletin.

Weight and Condition

Measure	Standard figure
Mature cock, American standard	9 pounds
Mature hen, American standard	7 pounds
Bantam cock	36 ounces (Hobby Farms)

Do not expect a cockerel to hit mature weight early. The Livestock Conservancy warns that the breed puts on fat easily, so a heavy bird is not always a well-conditioned one. Feel the breast and keel. You want firm muscle, not a layer of fat.

Temperament Counts

The Conservancy describes the breed as calm and curious, and the Hobby Farms profile calls it unusually docile and friendly. Any male who is aggressive toward people is a poor choice, whatever his markings. Cull for temperament as firmly as you cull for type.

A Simple Evaluation Routine

1. Observe him standing in natural light. Note body shape and tail carriage.
2. Handle him gently. Feel for a full breast, a straight keel and firm condition.
3. Check comb, wattles, beak, eyes and earlobes against the descriptions above.
4. Check legs, toes and skin.
5. Look at feather pattern, and compare with last season's photographs.
6. Score temperament, then decide.

Keep notes. Over several seasons, you will learn what separates a decent male from a good one. If you plan to show him, see junior chicken showmanship for handling tips, and for a lighter look at the show circuit, try farm.fm's page on county livestock fashion week. Resources for finding breeders and clubs are listed at agriculture.directory.