Buckeye Breed Thread

[knittychickadee]

Quote:
I tried to get some pics but they didn't turn out very good.
See how red those 3 on the bottom are getting?

 

[cgmccary]

Could someone expand on this and provide growth rates and age at POL????

Buckeyes grow moderately; they are not slow or fast -- in-between.

Point of Lay (POL) depends upon when you hatch them. Chicks I hatched in May one year did not reach POL until January & February the following year (so 8-9 months old due to the shortest daylight at the time in December & simultaneously when would have been their normal POL). Some chicks I hatched October 22, POL was April 1 so only 5+ months old (the opposite effect). I sometimes like a later POL because the hen seems to develop better body before laying. It has seemed to me that POL has nothing to do with laying longevity and size of eggs and all that.​

 

[knittychickadee]

Here's a pic of one of my broodies when she finally came of the nest with her chicks the other day. She has been a great mom.

 

[cgmccary]

Here's a pic of one of my broodies when she finally came of the nest with her chicks the other day. She has been a great mom.

They do make great mothers; they are very gentle & seem to know when to cover them (even in this colder weather). I have a hen with 9 right now & no extra heat or anything -- just the hen. She has been so good, and the chicks look so robust. I also like it that I can go in the pen and she runs to me with chicks in tow -- they learn early not to be afraid -- she doesn't flog me if I pick them up like a game hen will do; they do run and hide under her and she will take them in their box.​

 

[JAHVREM]

my 4 yr old girls still lay a couple of nice eggs a week. i agree with previous lady, they've earned their keep, and been loyal. its still all about the chickens.

 

[kstaven]

Quote:
It could very well be a function of all the server upgrades, system rests, and new software that is doing this.

 

[bunnibird55]

Thanks Knittychickadee - I see yours have some much bigger combs......so far I don't see any like that on my chicks. Hmmmm, I will try to get some pix when I get home from work tonight and see what you think!

 

[BuckeyeDave]

Quote:
I just click "Subscribe to this topic" after I post, it keeps the emails coming!!!

 

[BuckeyeDave]

knittychickadee those are some good looking buckeyes!!!!!

 

[Arielle]

cgmccary---

I sometimes like a later POL because the hen seems to develop better body before laying. It has seemed to me that POL has nothing to do with laying longevity and size of eggs and all that.

Could you expand on this? Why is a more developed body more important--is it a percentage of their adult weight? So for example , some of the super egg producing hens are about 4-5 pounds adult wt, then in 4 months of fast growth their are almost full grown. Where as a buckeye is a heavier bird of moderate growth and need 6-7 months . . . ?????​