Buckeye Breed Thread - Page 423

Removed pictures, so we could stay on topic. 

BUCKEYES!

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The only advice I can give is if you're able to let the birds out, they'll find their own cool spot. My young birds (this year's hatch) are still in pens, and I've noticed the ones that are doing the best (eating the most, etc) are in wire bottom cages set up about 2 feet off the ground in the deep shade as opposed to the youngsters that are in pens with dirt floors like an ordinary run. The ones that are old enough to be turned loose are crawling under shrubs and lawnmowers and vehicles to wait out the hottest part of the day, so we have to be careful before we start anything. I suspect if i loose any birds, it's going to be from not looking underneath and behind the wheels. But at a certain point (temp+ humidity) you're going to have losses no matter where the birds are. We're currently enjoying the effects of a "cold front" ( it's 85 here); maybe it will eventually move east and bring some relief.
 

We've been in the 100's and I haven't lost anyone due to heat. I turn them out at sunup every day to range. They thunder out of the coop and attack the lawn with a will until about 10:00 a.m. After that, they hide out under the sheds, flower beds, tall weeds, and wherever they can find shade and fresh dirt. I also have a flock of six week old Silver Spangled Hamburgs that range in their own separate flock (they don't like like it when the big chickens get too close) and they roost in a mulberry tree at night. They don't coop as well as the Buckeyes and I worried about them for a while, as they seem very opinionated about where they want to sleep at night. However, since they like being out of reach, I guess they're safe from most predators. I let the dog sleep underneath the tree to keep the coons away. Haven't lost a chicken yet to heat since everyone is free to find the solution they like best. 

On the hottest days last week, I lost a rooster one day and a hen the next day. I brought in a 6 year old hen for a few days and put her in the basement when I noticed she was in heat distress. I turn mine out too but can't turn out all the roosters at the same time. The rooster was penned and farthest from the fan. The hen was an older one who stayed more in the coop. My old hens retreat to the coop during the heat of the day, despite having fans on, ice in the water, wetting down the dirt floor, it is still atrociously hot in there (102 and 104 F on those days in the coop!). I even tried spraying the top of the barn and putting ice down for them to lay against. The barn is shaded by trees too. 

The young ones fare best as they go in the woods, forage farther and find the coolest places.

Good luck to all!

Chris

I turned my buckeyes out of their A-frame into the big run that is covered because of hawks and owls. They are so different from other breeds. They come running when I go into the pen.

I let most all the chickens out to forage a few days but the hawks got one for two different days of my mutts, so back inside they are staying. The buckeyes liked it out of the pen but didn't go far and didn't stay out long before heading back into the pen and the dust bath areas.

I can tell I am going to enjoy my buckeyes. Just hope I can keep my 6 to adult age to start raising some new ones and expanding my flock.

Tomorrow is chicken processing day at my house in case anyone wants to join us! I have 30 roosters from this spring's hatching that are going to find cool temps in the freezer. I am sure we won't get them all done tomorrow but hopefully at least a third to half of them.

We have been using the mister to help lower the temps during the middle of the day. I too have three broodies that insist on staying in the house on the nest. Tried everything and they go right back after turning them lose after being in other pens so just gave them eggs to hatch.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredwithchicks 

I turned my buckeyes out of their A-frame into the big run that is covered because of hawks and owls. They are so different from other breeds. They come running when I go into the pen.

 

I let most all the chickens out to forage a few days but the hawks got one for two different days of my mutts, so back inside they are staying. The buckeyes liked it out of the pen but didn't go far and didn't stay out long before heading back into the pen and the dust bath areas.

 

I can tell I am going to enjoy my buckeyes. Just hope I can keep my 6 to adult age to start raising some new ones and expanding my flock.

 

Tomorrow is chicken processing day at my house in case anyone wants to join us! I have 30 roosters from this spring's hatching that are going to find cool temps in the freezer. I am sure we won't get them all done tomorrow but hopefully at least a third to half of them.

 

We have been using the mister to help lower the temps during the middle of the day. I too have three broodies that insist on staying in the house on the nest. Tried everything and they go right back after turning them lose after being in other pens so just gave them eggs to hatch.
 

Buckeyes are nice birds!!!

I am new to this site and to chickens. I am slowly getting through all of the posts on Buckeyes. Before joining the site I had emailed Chris and Laura about the breed and my many questions. What I got was a fast informative reply which was amazing.  I am still waiting to hear back from other breed organizations in which I contacted months, and in one case over a year, ago. The breed is very lucky to have such stalwarts who are doing such a great job of helping new people get involved and promoting their breed. I am now  sold on Buckeyes and hope to obtain my first birds next spring.  Due to their help I have even found a quality breeder fairly close to my area which I might not have found through just internet research. So I wanted to post and thank them for their work and devotion to the breed. If anyone has been involved in other breed organizations of other livestock you will know that often isn't the case