Buckeye Breed Thread

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
Don't know of any Buckeyes near you. Roy Autry is in DeQueen, Arkansas near Texarkana. He has some of the same line we do. His website is http://www.affgoats.com/home.html Roy also delivers equipment all over Texas, Oklahoma etc area. He possibly could meet you somewhere with some chicks. His contact onfo is on his website.

ETA: Roy goes by cowboygormet on BYC.

 

[Arielle]

I want to have my own breeding Buckeyes. How do I get started? Do I buy 50 chicks , raise them and then cull? Or find a breeding trio that are top quality ? Or 2 or 3 set of breeding trios? From following this Buckeye thread, there are a number of very good breeders of Buckeyes. That the number of birds, and quality of birds is such that I should be able to start with really good birds. Please advise!

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
What ever is best for you. I think any of the ways you suggested would work well.
Edit: I, personally, would get the chicks.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

We started with eggs and a few chicks from a local breeder (Jenscott). Now we have more adults than she does! She has us beat on chicks.

You could start with eggs (several of us sell eggs) or chicks (a few sell chicks) or talk someone out of a trio. Just steer clear of hatchery birds. The type and quality is not there on hatchery Buckeyes.

 

[Arielle]

Punky Rooster wrote:

What ever is best for you. I think any of the ways you suggested would work well.
Edit: I, personally, would get the chicks.

I'm still considering the chicks! really I am!

Jims FarmStand Wrote:

We started with eggs and a few chicks from a local breeder (Jenscott). Now we have more adults than she does! She has us beat on chicks.

You could start with eggs (several of us sell eggs) or chicks (a few sell chicks) or talk someone out of a trio. Just steer clear of hatchery birds. The type and quality is not there on hatchery Buckeyes.

I'll skip the hatchery stock. ANd go to a breeder. If I started with chicks, and eggs, how many is reasonable to start with? 25-30? And my goal is 2 roosters (one backup in case top one becomes unavailable) and 3 hens? Is this enough genetic diversity, or will I need to raise another hatch and select again? THen combine the stock.

I am soooo appreciating the hard work and effort good breeders put into their birds!! My brain is tired just planning this !​

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
I'm still considering the chicks! really I am!

Jims FarmStand Wrote:

We started with eggs and a few chicks from a local breeder (Jenscott). Now we have more adults than she does! She has us beat on chicks.

You could start with eggs (several of us sell eggs) or chicks (a few sell chicks) or talk someone out of a trio. Just steer clear of hatchery birds. The type and quality is not there on hatchery Buckeyes.

I'll skip the hatchery stock. ANd go to a breeder. If I started with chicks, and eggs, how many is reasonable to start with? 25-30? And my goal is 2 roosters (one backup in case top one becomes unavailable) and 3 hens? Is this enough genetic diversity, or will I need to raise another hatch and select again? THen combine the stock.

I am soooo appreciating the hard work and effort good breeders put into their birds!! My brain is tired just planning this !​

25 would be a good start. I can set you up with a couple, but I would some from another source too.
Good luck!

 

[jenjscott]

I showed at the Big Bird Classic in Pine Bluff, Arkansas today. I have culled very heavily and continue to do so with my upcoming birds trying to improve the quality of my birds. I turned down $100 dollars for a pair of young Buckeyes today. I just couldn't do it, they are the best of their generation. Maybe someday I'll be able to turn em out like clockwork, but right now I have to raise too many to get the quality I want.

 

[Arielle]

I turned down $100 dollars for a pair of young Buckeyes today.

Nice Job! As a breeder you want to keep your best for your flock. I keep my best ewe lambs for my flock too and sell the rest. For adults, I would be looking for the birds that almost made the cut . It seems that people usually start with eggs or chicks though. I was thinking that by the time I raise up about 25 chicks, select the top few, the expense is back up to buying a trio. ANd I'm a generation ahead. But maybe there is a learning curve to experience as I watch and evaluate the growing chicks.​

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Quote:
Jen has a rooster pen that the guy could have had his choice out of. I would have let him have one of our hens for that price. But he did not want to drive another hour to pick them up. Guess he will go another season until he gets any. With Jen culling as heavy as she has, it will be tough to beat her Buckeyes this fall! Anf mine are out of her flock!

 

[vmdanielsen]

Quote:
Now that make sense! This is interesting stuff!
Thanks,
ginny