HERITAGE POULTRY STUD 
Sussex Book
Sussex Book
This second book in the "Doyens of Poultry" series is on The Sussex, a breed which boomed strongly in early Australian poultry history and was only replaced as the premier breed by the Australorp craze. Peter Smith is the undisputed Sussex Doyen in Australia.
Peter Smith OAM (Order of Australia Medal) is a first generation poultry fancier. This book on the Sussex breed bears testimony to his fifty years of involvement with poultry breeding and exhibition. His first choice in poultry was the Light Sussex fowl and that connection has remained intact throughout the years.
Noted poultry judge and a keen, successful exhibitor Peter shares his knowledge of the Sussex generously. Tips on judging for the more experienced, genetic information for the breeding enthusiast and management suggestions for the novice fancier. How to understand and utilise the Australian Standard for Sussex, this book is a must for any lover of the breed.
$34 - Soft cover version, at much less than the price of one good show bird this book should be regarded as essential reading for anyone serious about breeding, showing and understanding the Sussex.
$100 - Hard cover version, SOLD OUT, the collector's choice, green cloth hard cover with a dust jacket as shown above. 100 numbered and signed copies.
To order your copy please contact us by whatever means suits you. If you have any queries or need further information about this book please feel free to email.
Book Review (from Australasian Poultry Vol12 No 3 Aug/Sept 2001)
We are pleased to present the second book in the Doyen Series, The Sussex, as seen through the eyes of master breeder Peter Smith OAM.
Peter is well known in NSW for his community activities, support of agriculture and involvement with a number of businesses in the Tamworth-New England district. He has been particularly active in the agricultural show scene with a 35-year association with the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW plus long-term involvement with several rural show societies. This busy individual assisted by wife Rhonda reared three children, enjoyed competitive bike riding when younger and has replaced this activity with leisurely golf.
Peter was honoured with the Order of Australia medallion as recognition of his service to primary industry in areas of purebred poultry, horse breeding and racing, and in the show movement and RAS of NSW.
Sussex fowl have many followers because the breed can hold its own on the show bench or provide meat and eggs as a placid smallholder fowl. New breed admirers can learn about the Sussex and its numerous varieties in an Australian generated book......Peter Smith has been a successful breeder and judge and so the book has been written around these topics.
The Sussex is the outcome of in-depth discussion, interviews and consultation between Peter and writer Adrian Kuys. Chapters cover a short history of the breed, Peter's experiences over a fifty-year period, detailed explanation of the standard, examination of the colours and desirable and undesirable points. Black and white, and colour plates accompany this section to facilitate understanding. Next follows show preparation then breeding, which covers putting a pen of breeders together plus advice on achieving the right colour and pattern for each variety. Further chapters look at management, buying and selling, judging and colour genetics. Both the chapter on Sussex history and material on genetics were contributed by writer Adrian Kuys, the rest of the book coming from Peter Smith.
Breeders of the rarer colours will find much to help them produce bigger birds of good type as well as improve existing faults in colour and pattern. Varieties discussed in addition to the more popular Light include Speckled, Silver, Buff, along with White, Red, Brown and Coronation.
This doesn't mean the Light breeder isn't well catered for. Peter has achieved much success with this variety and so when discussing the breed it's often the Light he has in mind. Of course once good breeding stock are obtained it is management, feeding and selection that makes the difference between individual breeders and Peter hasn't stinted in sharing the simple everyday things he does. It's up to the reader to derive what they need or want from this book and to put it into practice. This book is a good read with heaps of helpful information.