Light Sussex Chickens
Meet the Light Sussex: Calm, hardy, and in our opinion one of Australia's best backyard dual-purpose chicken breeds.
Light Sussex chickens are a calm, hardy, dual-purpose breed and one of the most popular backyard chickens in Australia. They lay 200 to 250 pale brown eggs a year, cope well in both heat and cold, and are gentle enough for kids and beginners. We breed backyard quality Light Sussex on our farm, with well-started birds available from day-old chicks through to point of lay. Join our waitlist to find out when birds are ready, or see our Standard Light Sussex exhibition birds if you're after show-quality bloodlines.
Ask a hundred chicken keepers to name a good all-round backyard breed, and a fair few will say Light Sussex. Calm, productive, and famously easy to keep, this English heritage breed has built a reputation in Australian backyards that's hard to argue with.
We breed backyard quality Light Sussex on our farm and work with trusted transport partners to get well-started birds to keepers across the country, from day-old chicks through to point of lay.
After exhibition standard bloodlines instead? Explore our Standard Light Sussex exhibition birds instead.
Light Sussex hens and pullets
Light Sussex hens are some of the most dependable layers you'll find. Calm and curious by nature, they settle well into backyard flocks, especially if you want a breed that gets along with children or other animals.
They lay around 200 to 250 pale brown, medium-sized eggs a year, with a steady output and a long productive lifespan. Our hens are placid birds and typically grow to around 4kg, sometimes a touch more.
Our well-started Light Sussex pullets are raised on our own feed, with plenty of space and sunlight, so they're strong and confident before they join your coop.
Light Sussex roosters
Our Light Sussex roosters carry the same classic white plumage with bold black markings around the neck and tail, and a proud, upright stance. Exhibition-quality males are selected for strong type and excellent feathering, suited to show or stud purposes.
Our males typically weigh around 5kg, sometimes closer to 6kg once fully matured. They can be aggressive during breeding season, particularly when penned with hens, but they're generally gentler than many other rooster breeds.
Exhibition quality or backyard quality: which Light Sussex is right for you?
We breed both exhibition quality and backyard quality Light Sussex, so there's a bird here whatever you're after.
Exhibition quality
Our show line is bred to the Australian Poultry Standards, with strong conformation, correct colouring, and calm temperaments. Offered once a year in limited numbers. See our Standard Light Sussex exhibition birds if you're chasing bloodlines for breeding or the show ring.
Backyard quality
Just want a great dual-purpose and a good-natured bird for the yard? Our backyard Light Sussex are bred to the same care and selection as our show line, though individual birds may show minor variation from strict exhibition standards. A strong fit for hobby farms, families, and first-time keepers.
After maximum egg numbers over a dual-purpose bird? See our Leghorns.
Why choose Light Sussex chickens?
MEAT AND EGGS
200 to 250 pale brown eggs a year, with a steady output across most of the year.
Most CLIMATES
Copes well in both a cold winter and an Australian summer.
Docile
Calm and easy to handle, even for kids and first-time keepers.
Easy to keep
A solid choice for beginners and hobby farmers.
Black and white
Classic white plumage with bold black neck and tail markings.
Ready to buy backyard quality Light Sussex chickens in Australia?
We breed Light Sussex chicks, pullets, and well-started birds periodically throughout the year, from day-old chicks through to point of lay. As with all of our birds, availability depends on hatching season and demand. We'd rather run a waitlist than promise birds we don't have.
If you'd like to be one of the first to know when Light Sussex birds are ready, join our waitlist and we'll be in touch. Got a question before then? We're always happy to talk chooks. Get in touch and we'll help you work out whether a Light Sussex is the right fit for your yard.
Join Our Backyard Waitlist →Frequently asked questions
Are Light Sussex chickens good for beginners?
Yes. They're calm, easy to handle, and forgiving of beginner mistakes, which is part of why they're one of the most popular backyard breeds in Australia.
How many eggs do Light Sussex chickens lay?
Around 200 to 250 pale brown eggs a year, with a steady output across most of the year.
Are Light Sussex chickens good with kids?
Yes. They're docile and easy to tame, and settle well in family flocks alongside children and other animals.
Do Light Sussex chickens go broody?
Occasionally. It's not their defining trait the way it is for some breeds, but a hen will sit given the chance.
What's the difference between backyard quality and exhibition quality Light Sussex?
Both are bred to the same standard of care, but exhibition quality birds are selected specifically against the Australian Poultry Standards for conformation, colouring, and type. Backyard quality birds may show minor variation from that strict standard. See our Standard Light Sussex exhibition birds for show-quality bloodlines.
Are Light Sussex chickens cold and heat hardy?
Yes, they cope well across most Australian climates, which is part of why they're such a reliable all-rounder for backyard flocks.
Where can I buy Light Sussex chickens in Australia?
Join our backyard poultry waitlist to be notified when well-started birds are ready. Pricing for day-old chicks through to point-of-lay birds is in our current backyard pricing guide.
Do you deliver Light Sussex chickens Australia-wide?
We don't deliver birds ourselves. Local pickup is available from our designated pickup point in Bargo, NSW. For biosecurity reasons, the farm itself isn't open to visitors. For keepers further away, we meet your chosen transport company to get birds safely on their way, anywhere in Australia.
Do you sell fertile eggs?
No, we don't sell eggs of any kind, fertile or otherwise. We sell chicks, pullets, and well-started birds, from day-old through to point of lay.
Join Our Backyard Waitlist
Let us know what you're after, and we'll be in touch as soon as Light Sussex birds are available.