[Psalm 73]

Thanks for the heads-up on the Speckled Sussex - very pretty birds.
We know they're a dual-use hen, so we'll get fewer eggs - we were looking for a larger hen with a little longer life-span.
We're sort of "suburban preppers" and learning as we go. The RI Red crosses we had/have were/are great birds, but just too many eggs for the three of us.

[Ladysforest]

Oh, I forgot to mention that they tend to be VERY broody. They will barely get off the brooder box/nest for weeks while they try to hatch eggs. They will get pretty pissed and peck at you when you collect those eggs - usually in spring. Mine lived a good long time, but got taken out by a soil-borne nasty.