About the Mille Fleur Sussex
Mille Fleur Sussex are striking birds combining the familiar characteristics of the Sussex with richly patterned plumage. “Mille Fleur”, meaning “thousand flowers”, describes the decorative effect created by warm reddish-brown or mahogany colouring combined with contrasting black and white markings.
Like other Sussex, they are generally friendly, curious and good-natured birds suited to backyard and free-range environments. They are valued as practical laying birds as well as for their unusual and attractive appearance.
Mille Fleur is not currently a recognised Sussex colour in the Australian Poultry Standards and should be regarded as a developing colour rather than an established standard variety.
History & Origin
The Sussex is an old English breed originating in the county of Sussex and surrounding areas of south-east England. Fowl of the Sussex type were traditionally valued as practical farm birds and were developed for both meat and egg production.
The breed became established as a recognised exhibition breed around the turn of the twentieth century, with several colour varieties subsequently standardised.
Mille Fleur is a more recent developing colour in Sussex. It is not currently a recognised Sussex colour in the Australian Poultry Standards, although birds displaying the Mille Fleur pattern are bred in Australia. The colour is valued for its decorative combination of rich ground colour with contrasting black and white markings.
Sussex in Australia
The Sussex is well established in Australia and is kept in both large and bantam forms for exhibition, breeding and as a practical backyard fowl. Several Sussex colour varieties are recognised in the Australian Poultry Standards; however, Mille Fleur is not currently a recognised Sussex colour and is maintained as a developing variety by individual breeders.
Characteristics
Egg colour: Tinted – cream to light brown.
Egg size: Large.
Average egg production: Approximately 180–250 eggs per year, averaging around 3–5 eggs per week.
Weekly egg figures are annual averages. Actual laying varies with age, season, daylight, nutrition and individual bird.
Day-old sexing: Mille Fleur Sussex are not an autosexing variety. Day-old chicks generally cannot be reliably sexed by colour or markings alone.
Temperament: Sussex are generally friendly, curious and confident birds. They often become quite accustomed to people and are well suited to backyard flocks as well as free-range environments.
Broodiness: Sussex hens may become broody and can make attentive mothers, although broodiness varies between individual birds and bloodlines.
Notable features: Mille Fleur Sussex are distinguished by their richly patterned plumage, combining warm reddish-brown or mahogany ground colour with contrasting black and white markings. Because Mille Fleur is a developing colour in Sussex rather than an APS-recognised variety, colour and pattern can vary between birds and breeding lines.
Hardiness: Sussex are generally robust, adaptable birds that cope well with a range of Australian conditions when provided with adequate shade, shelter and clean water. Their active foraging ability also makes them well suited to free-range environments.
Rare Breed Status
Sussex is not currently listed on the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia poultry rare breed list.
Current Availability
See what’s currently available from Deb’s Heritage Hens.