- Jul 21, 2010
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they are both great mear birds and good layers and i love their color they are my favorite chicken breed for sure
Buckeye Breed Thread
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Punky, You're the one who has to decide, but if you can I would keep a least one of the roosters until you get some chicks, in case something happens to your cockerel. Not being able to see them it is difficult to say, you have to look at their weight, their build, the comb, their color, even things like temperment, and put it all together to decide which to keep..
- Jul 21, 2010
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I have been having problems with one but I will hang on to one of Jason's cockerels and mine from Mr. Rhodes
I have been having problems with one but I will hang on to one of Jason's cockerels and mine from Mr. Rhodes
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Chris, do you feed differently in the fall/winter? I didn't realize the flock raiser only had plant protein in it. Mine have all been on regular Layena since about 5 months but I would be willing to switch them over to the Game Bird Layena but going into fall/winter I wasn't sure if there was someting different you did. I am not looking to reinvent the wheel or feed my chickens the cheapest feed I can. I want to feed them the best that I can afford and the purina products are reasonable around here. I did have mine on the game bird starter for the first 10 weeks and then switched them to flock raiser then on to the layena.
Chris, do you feed differently in the fall/winter? I didn't realize the flock raiser only had plant protein in it. Mine have all been on regular Layena since about 5 months but I would be willing to switch them over to the Game Bird Layena but going into fall/winter I wasn't sure if there was someting different you did. I am not looking to reinvent the wheel or feed my chickens the cheapest feed I can. I want to feed them the best that I can afford and the purina products are reasonable around here. I did have mine on the game bird starter for the first 10 weeks and then switched them to flock raiser then on to the layena.
I didn't want to write a book on my previous post but had to let you all know that I will be going to the Ohio National with 2 birds. My kids will each be showing in the youth show as well. I am really looking forard to it! Do you guys that show coop train your chickens and when do you start. I have a large dog crate that I will be putting the chickens into and taking them out of starting this weekend. I will also have the kids practice it.
I hatched out a bunch in March from the Roo I got from Chris and the hen I got from Jay last year. 2 of the cockerels from that group go to freezer camp tomorrow as I don't need 4 and I want to see how they dress out. I also have 2 cockerels that I hatched from JamesA that will also be making an apperance at freezer camp. They are mean, mean, mean and I will not tolerate that. They both don't like my kids and jump at them so they don't go into that pen anymore. But the roo (Brutus) that I got from Chris will knock them around and kick them out of the coop if they get too rowdy. He is such a good boy and I am so happy I got him from you Chris. But after tomorrow things will be much calmer in that coop and I will only have Brutus, and Rufus (the kids named them). Rufus is the boy I hatched from Laura's eggs in December last year and he is a good co-rooster with Brutus.
Sorry for rambling, I really enjoy these chickens and am so glad I got started with this breed.
I hatched out a bunch in March from the Roo I got from Chris and the hen I got from Jay last year. 2 of the cockerels from that group go to freezer camp tomorrow as I don't need 4 and I want to see how they dress out. I also have 2 cockerels that I hatched from JamesA that will also be making an apperance at freezer camp. They are mean, mean, mean and I will not tolerate that. They both don't like my kids and jump at them so they don't go into that pen anymore. But the roo (Brutus) that I got from Chris will knock them around and kick them out of the coop if they get too rowdy. He is such a good boy and I am so happy I got him from you Chris. But after tomorrow things will be much calmer in that coop and I will only have Brutus, and Rufus (the kids named them). Rufus is the boy I hatched from Laura's eggs in December last year and he is a good co-rooster with Brutus.
Sorry for rambling, I really enjoy these chickens and am so glad I got started with this breed.
cgmccary wrote:
The Game Bird Chow (Startena; Conditioner; Layena) always has cost more ($$$), but it may just be me, and this is just my opinion (so not saying someone else is wrong because other folks do it different), but TO MY EYE, the Buckeyes seem to do best on the Game Bird Chow (and I have tried other brands). I think it has to do with the constant source of animal protein (look at the tag, it says it has both animal & plant protein). You used to be able to use the Poultry Press Coupons for the Game Bird Chow but they must have been losing profit somewhere because they took it off a couple of years ago. I use the coupons for the Flock Raiser. ----- again, just my opinion and I wouldn't argue with someone who believes differently. My local feedstore thinks I'm crazy-- but feedstore people . . . & everyone should note this: they know the LEAST of all the experts about poultry, period.
I never feed the Game Bird Chow-Layena to pullets not yet laying nor to young cockerels. Roosters only get it when they are in a breeding pen with some hens who are all laying-- this is usually in the Spring & Summer. The other times of the year I have them on the Game Bird Chow Conditioner (like right now that is what they are eating). I then occasionally put them out some oyster shell, free choice, and it is usually all gone the same day.
However, geese are vegetarian so I give them Purina Flock Raiser, for now. And the Buckeyes are always raiding the Geese food. I have one hen that heads right to it every morning to eat their whole kernal corn. The others eat the Flock Raiser as well as some of the corn-- I'm not sure WHO is eating most of the whole kernal corn. The Flock Raiser has always bothered me as a permanent food though because (at least the bags here) ALL are the medicated variety. And the Purina Sunshine series (Startena; Flock Raiser & Layena)-- all those contain only plant protein -- look at the tags. I'm not saying plant protein is bad; all feeds have it-- I just think they do better, what I notice, on some % of their protein being from an animal source.
I see, he looks like he is possible carrying recessive single comb trait; looks pinched in the saddle area too. where did he come from? his age?
I feed mine Purina Game Bird Chow Startena (30%) the first 8-10 weeks and then I switch to Purina Game Bird Chow Conditioner (19%). During Spring hatch season when the hens & pullets are all laying, I use Purina Game Bird Chow Layena (Breeder's ration) (20%).
The Game Bird Chows all contain both animal and plant protein. Sometimes my feedstore fails to keep supplies in. If I run out of Conditioner, I mix the Startena half and half with Purina Flock Raiser. If I run out of the Game Bird Chow Startena during the first two months of the chick's life & the feedstore doesn't have it in, I will drive a distance to find it.
The Game Bird Chows I get are not medicated (not even the Startena). Note though that Purina's Flock Raiser is medicated. And the drawback: Purina's Flock Raiser contains only plant protein and no animal protein. I feed it to my geese & EVERYTHING ELSE helps themselves to it (dogs, Buckeyes, Guineas). I supplement in heavy laying times with crushed oyster shell. Also, contrary to what most do, I treat mine every morning to something called "Fightin Scratch" around here. It is just a morning treat but it contains cracked corn, popcorn, milo and sunflower seed-- to this, I add more black oiled sunflower seed and some whole kernal corn. I keep the whole kernal corn for the geese which like the Flock Raiser, everything helps themselves to.
sekinkead wrote: Chris, do you feed differently in the fall/winter? I didn't realize the flock raiser only had plant protein in it. Mine have all been on regular Layena since about 5 months but I would be willing to switch them over to the Game Bird Layena but going into fall/winter I wasn't sure if there was someting different you did. I am not looking to reinvent the wheel or feed my chickens the cheapest feed I can. I want to feed them the best that I can afford and the purina products are reasonable around here. I did have mine on the game bird starter for the first 10 weeks and then switched them to flock raiser then on to the layena.
I feed mine Purina Game Bird Chow Startena (30%) the first 8-10 weeks and then I switch to Purina Game Bird Chow Conditioner (19%). During Spring hatch season when the hens & pullets are all laying, I use Purina Game Bird Chow Layena (Breeder's ration) (20%).
The Game Bird Chows all contain both animal and plant protein. Sometimes my feedstore fails to keep supplies in. If I run out of Conditioner, I mix the Startena half and half with Purina Flock Raiser. If I run out of the Game Bird Chow Startena during the first two months of the chick's life & the feedstore doesn't have it in, I will drive a distance to find it.
The Game Bird Chows I get are not medicated (not even the Startena). Note though that Purina's Flock Raiser is medicated. And the drawback: Purina's Flock Raiser contains only plant protein and no animal protein. I feed it to my geese & EVERYTHING ELSE helps themselves to it (dogs, Buckeyes, Guineas). I supplement in heavy laying times with crushed oyster shell. Also, contrary to what most do, I treat mine every morning to something called "Fightin Scratch" around here. It is just a morning treat but it contains cracked corn, popcorn, milo and sunflower seed-- to this, I add more black oiled sunflower seed and some whole kernal corn. I keep the whole kernal corn for the geese which like the Flock Raiser, everything helps themselves to.
sekinkead wrote: Chris, do you feed differently in the fall/winter? I didn't realize the flock raiser only had plant protein in it. Mine have all been on regular Layena since about 5 months but I would be willing to switch them over to the Game Bird Layena but going into fall/winter I wasn't sure if there was someting different you did. I am not looking to reinvent the wheel or feed my chickens the cheapest feed I can. I want to feed them the best that I can afford and the purina products are reasonable around here. I did have mine on the game bird starter for the first 10 weeks and then switched them to flock raiser then on to the layena.
The Game Bird Chow (Startena; Conditioner; Layena) always has cost more ($$$), but it may just be me, and this is just my opinion (so not saying someone else is wrong because other folks do it different), but TO MY EYE, the Buckeyes seem to do best on the Game Bird Chow (and I have tried other brands). I think it has to do with the constant source of animal protein (look at the tag, it says it has both animal & plant protein). You used to be able to use the Poultry Press Coupons for the Game Bird Chow but they must have been losing profit somewhere because they took it off a couple of years ago. I use the coupons for the Flock Raiser. ----- again, just my opinion and I wouldn't argue with someone who believes differently. My local feedstore thinks I'm crazy-- but feedstore people . . . & everyone should note this: they know the LEAST of all the experts about poultry, period.
I never feed the Game Bird Chow-Layena to pullets not yet laying nor to young cockerels. Roosters only get it when they are in a breeding pen with some hens who are all laying-- this is usually in the Spring & Summer. The other times of the year I have them on the Game Bird Chow Conditioner (like right now that is what they are eating). I then occasionally put them out some oyster shell, free choice, and it is usually all gone the same day.
However, geese are vegetarian so I give them Purina Flock Raiser, for now. And the Buckeyes are always raiding the Geese food. I have one hen that heads right to it every morning to eat their whole kernal corn. The others eat the Flock Raiser as well as some of the corn-- I'm not sure WHO is eating most of the whole kernal corn. The Flock Raiser has always bothered me as a permanent food though because (at least the bags here) ALL are the medicated variety. And the Purina Sunshine series (Startena; Flock Raiser & Layena)-- all those contain only plant protein -- look at the tags. I'm not saying plant protein is bad; all feeds have it-- I just think they do better, what I notice, on some % of their protein being from an animal source.
Do you guys that show coop train your chickens and when do you start. I have a large dog crate that I will be putting the chickens into and taking them out of starting this weekend. I will also have the kids practice it.
I worried about this last year because those cockerels (including yours) were all raised by the hens outside, and I had never handled them until about a month before the show -- they lived outside in a good size pen & acted wild. They were a very hardy bunch. as newly hatched chicks, I saw them running around outside with it in the 30s & 40s in the mornings-- I thought, "if they survive, they are going to be some tough birds!"
About two weeks before the show last year, the City had given me an ultimatum and said my roosters had to all go. I talked with the Code Enforcement Officer and told her I was taking the 5 cockerels I had to Columbus in about 3 weeks. She agreed to let me keep them if I moved them to a place that "muffled" their crows until the Ohio Nationals -- so they lived three weeks in my basement. I set up moveable pens and put about 6-8 inches of pine straw on the basement floor with one cockerel per little pen-- each had their own gallon waterer & a couple of feed cups one for fightin scratch and one for their regular feed. As show day approach, I feed them almost exclusively the fightin scratch to harden their poop. They got a little more accustomed to me moving about them but when I took them to Columbus, honestly, I thought the Judge would not be able to reach in there and get them easily because they were so jumpy and wild. But Don Schrider told me not to worry . . . he said the Judge who was going down the row raised LF Cornish and would not think anything about them-- & he said, the Judge was accustomed to handling strong birds. To me, if anything, the 3 of them seemed more spirited than a lot of the birds at the show-- but they had been pretty free most of their lives-- so don't worry so much about this-- OK?
I bathed mine one week before the show-- they didn't get dirty again because they were on that pine straw in the basement-- their feathers need about a week to get back their natural oils and sheen so don't wait too soon before the show BUT DO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE DIRT after their baths. I use Vet-Rx on their legs and combs at the show. (I experimented with glycerin (from the drug store), bee wax lip balm & a couple of other things before the show on the combs and decided I liked the VetRx the best.)
I hope this helps you.
Good Luck Sekinkead at Columbus. I hope your birds do well! I would love to be there. Ya'll please take some good pictures.
I have the occasional mean cockerel/rooster too. I don't punish a rooster for running to the aid of a hen, but the ones that will always come after you, they should just be your dinner/supper.
I worried about this last year because those cockerels (including yours) were all raised by the hens outside, and I had never handled them until about a month before the show -- they lived outside in a good size pen & acted wild. They were a very hardy bunch. as newly hatched chicks, I saw them running around outside with it in the 30s & 40s in the mornings-- I thought, "if they survive, they are going to be some tough birds!"
About two weeks before the show last year, the City had given me an ultimatum and said my roosters had to all go. I talked with the Code Enforcement Officer and told her I was taking the 5 cockerels I had to Columbus in about 3 weeks. She agreed to let me keep them if I moved them to a place that "muffled" their crows until the Ohio Nationals -- so they lived three weeks in my basement. I set up moveable pens and put about 6-8 inches of pine straw on the basement floor with one cockerel per little pen-- each had their own gallon waterer & a couple of feed cups one for fightin scratch and one for their regular feed. As show day approach, I feed them almost exclusively the fightin scratch to harden their poop. They got a little more accustomed to me moving about them but when I took them to Columbus, honestly, I thought the Judge would not be able to reach in there and get them easily because they were so jumpy and wild. But Don Schrider told me not to worry . . . he said the Judge who was going down the row raised LF Cornish and would not think anything about them-- & he said, the Judge was accustomed to handling strong birds. To me, if anything, the 3 of them seemed more spirited than a lot of the birds at the show-- but they had been pretty free most of their lives-- so don't worry so much about this-- OK?
I bathed mine one week before the show-- they didn't get dirty again because they were on that pine straw in the basement-- their feathers need about a week to get back their natural oils and sheen so don't wait too soon before the show BUT DO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE DIRT after their baths. I use Vet-Rx on their legs and combs at the show. (I experimented with glycerin (from the drug store), bee wax lip balm & a couple of other things before the show on the combs and decided I liked the VetRx the best.)
I hope this helps you.
Good Luck Sekinkead at Columbus. I hope your birds do well! I would love to be there. Ya'll please take some good pictures.
I have the occasional mean cockerel/rooster too. I don't punish a rooster for running to the aid of a hen, but the ones that will always come after you, they should just be your dinner/supper.
- Jul 21, 2010
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ok so I'v decided to hang on to the cockerel in my avatar out of my three from Jason and my one from Bob Rhodes
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Thanks for the great resonses Chris, I really appreciate it. And I really wish you could make it to the National this year to. I really learned a lot from you last year. I hope Laura will be there! I will take lots of pictures.
I would not punish a rooster for coming to the aid of a hen either, these two are just always looking for a fight. They don't like anybody and it has nothing to do with the girls. I hand raised and spoiled them and when they got into the big coop they got mean. The kids can't wait to have chicken and noodles from those 2.
I will be separating my boys from my girls this weekend so I can then feed them all separately and I think I will switch over to the gamebird conditioner and layena. Currently I have 3 coops and I think my husband may mutiny if I ask for another to divide into breeder pens. I just don't have the room or time to build anything else right now anyway, so in spring I may just build a couple of breeder tractors. We hope to buy a bigger place with more land in a couple of years so until then I will just have to keep my numbers small. But I get a chicken barn when we move and then I can really do a lot more breeding and hatching and have room to let some grow out and make good decisions on who stays.
I would not punish a rooster for coming to the aid of a hen either, these two are just always looking for a fight. They don't like anybody and it has nothing to do with the girls. I hand raised and spoiled them and when they got into the big coop they got mean. The kids can't wait to have chicken and noodles from those 2.
I will be separating my boys from my girls this weekend so I can then feed them all separately and I think I will switch over to the gamebird conditioner and layena. Currently I have 3 coops and I think my husband may mutiny if I ask for another to divide into breeder pens. I just don't have the room or time to build anything else right now anyway, so in spring I may just build a couple of breeder tractors. We hope to buy a bigger place with more land in a couple of years so until then I will just have to keep my numbers small. But I get a chicken barn when we move and then I can really do a lot more breeding and hatching and have room to let some grow out and make good decisions on who stays.
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