THE REALITIES ABOUT POULTRY The Modern Farm - The Realities About Poultry_Seco | Page 11

orange eyes, reddish-brown beaks, and yellow feet and legs, often with a bit of reddish hue on
the toes and sides of the shanks. Chicks are a light red to tan color. The roosters usually weigh in
at about 8.5 pounds (3.9 kg), the hens average slightly less at 6.5 pounds (2.9 kg). Rhode Island
Reds are good layers of brown eggs. Hens lay 5–7 eggs per week. The hens lay approximately
312 eggs in their first laying season and 223 in the second.
 Sussex chicken: The Sussex chicken is a dual purpose breed of chicken that originated in
England around the time of the Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43 that is a popular garden
chicken in many countries. The Sussex chicken is an alert, docile breed that can adapt to any
surroundings. They are comfortable in either free range or confined spaces and in the presence
of humans, although they will mate and breed better in larger spaces. The breed frequently goes
broody in the warmer months. They are good foragers and are generally vigorous and hardy as a
garden fowl.
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