Buckeye Breed Thread

[knox_co]

Quote:
Beta Carotene is a precursor to vitamin A. Chickens store it in one of the skin layers and it gives the skin a yellow color. Laying hens will draw upon the stored reserves of Beta Carotene and deposit it into the egg yolks. Over time, as those reserves are depleted, the skin fades from yellow to white or pinkish in color. The rate of depletion is dependant upon the amount of Beta Carotene in the diet. So the question is - are you talking about laying hens when you say the leg color has changed from yellow to pink? If you are and they have been laying heavily for some time, this could explain what you are seeing.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Quote:
Beta Carotene is a precursor to vitamin A. Chickens store it in one of the skin layers and it gives the skin a yellow color. Laying hens will draw upon the stored reserves of Beta Carotene and deposit it into the egg yolks. Over time, as those reserves are depleted, the skin fades from yellow to white or pinkish in color. The rate of depletion is dependant upon the amount of Beta Carotene in the diet. So the question is - are you talking about laying hens when you say the leg color has changed from yellow to pink? If you are and they have been laying heavily for some time, this could explain what you are seeing.

That would make sense for the Buckeye hens, which are a couple to several years old. But the roosters and my Delawares legs have also changed and they are just a year old.

Kim

 

[Sparklee]

Quote:
What I've seen is medium. I think it's what nature intended for this style of chicken.

What other breeds besides the Buckeye are you thinking about ordering?

I am seriously thinking about the heritage RIR's, and favorelles, marans, sussex and dorkings all catch my fancy.
I keep tossing around in my head my intermittently bitter cold winters and don't want to get a huge comb that gets frost bitten. That is one reason that the buckeyes catch my attention.
I am wanting to get birds that do lay but are good table birds too. We are a small farm, raise our own beef, and I am looking at heritage pork breeds too for sustainability.

From your signature it looks like you already have a lot of chickens, so if I chat about stuff you already know, just ignore it. I'm just feeling chatty. Hope you don't mind.

I have a few Black Copper Marans and really don't think they lay enough eggs per month to be a "great" dual purpose bird, ??? plus in winter mine have been the last to start back up laying. One hen does lay consistently well, but the others are a little less than average at probably 140/year (my line only, of course, can't speak for others). Of course, you can find someone else who will tell you different, so take what I've said with a pinch of salt. And their combs (males and females) got frostbitten quickly, before I could even get used to the fact that it was fall. As for the other Marans varieties (Cuckoo, White, Wheaten), I'm clueless on their laying abilities. Surely someone will put a pea or rose comb on these birds soon, right?

I guess the French wouldn't let anyone call them Peacomb Marans, but I'd like to have a few of them if the egg color could be kept up.

Dorkings, though, come in rose comb varieties. I think they may be a little difficult to get your hands on. I had drooled over them for a while. Sandhill Preservation, and, no, I'm not recommending them, carry them, but they're all sold out for this year and likely into next year (even if you order right this minute). They might have them in a heavy assortment or some of those end of the season batches they sell in September, but I wouldn't hold my breath on getting what you want in an assortment ... or even getting an assortment from them. And the Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds (you mentioned you wanted RIRs possibly) they carry were caught in a predator attack, so those are not available right now or are in very low supply.

Buckeyes are probably a really good bet. Pea comb, can't beat it for cold weather. I especially like the foraging ability, while it isn't going to make a great big dent in the feed bill, it's going to make some difference if you can let yours run a bit spring through fall. Plus Buckeyes are easier to get right now and get started with right away.

 

[Quirky]

Hi everyone. I have a question about culling and rate of growth.

I have 5 Buckeyes right now who are all 7 weeks old tomorrow. Two of them are half the size of the other three, and they are not feathered out all the way. Also, these littlest two are very light- a tan color, really. The big three are mahogany already. Am I jumping the gun or what? Thoughts?

 

[cgmccary]

Quirky: I have 5 Buckeyes right now who are all 7 weeks old tomorrow. Two of them are half the size of the other three, and they are not feathered out all the way. Also, these littlest two are very light- a tan color, really. The big three are mahogany already. Am I jumping the gun or what? Thoughts?

No, you are not jumping the gun. The smaller ones will probably remain small. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on color at 7 weeks of age-- not the feathers they are going to have as adults. On growth, I'd wait a bit before deciding anything. Sometimes, they catch up some in growth. Also, a lot depends on the purpose of your Buckeyes (i.e. why you keep them and your goals). Sometimes a smaller hen lays a little better (depending more on her pelvic bone width, etc. more than her overall size). I like breeding with the bigger hens because I breed for size & form but the smaller hens I just sometimes keep in the laying / egg eating group & they can be great layers.

If it is a real small cockerel / a midget one, I grow them up, put some fat on them and they taste just as good as the bigger cockerels but would NEVER keep for breeding. I have a midget now I was saving if Punky wanted him for his Bantam Buckeyes -- he is actually small enough to breed to a bantam and the smallest I have ever had & he has the color, form and slate bar -- Punky is not doing Bantam Buckeyes so if anyone wants to try him with Bantam Buckeyes to try and put some real Buckeye blood in the their Buckeye bantams, let me know -- he is free; otherwise, he is going in the freezer at next slaughter time.​

 

[Quirky]

Thank you, Christopher. The little gals seem thriftier to me and more eager to forage. The big girls are waiting at the hopper for me to fill it. I have two Jaerhons (egg layers with nice little personalities, for those not familiar with them), and they are the same way; they seem to prefer to dig and scratch for their food. I need eggs (we eat 6-7 per day here), but I would also like some birds for meat, so we'll see how things shake out.

I am getting chicks from Dave, and I can hardly wait to compare them to these guys as they grow.

 

[BuckeyeDave]

How about them buckeyes???

 

[punky rooster]

Mine are doing great. My older ones are 7 weeks old and I just got five, month olds.

Mitch

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Folks, due to an issue with a neighbor (he has complained to our land owner) we need to disperse of one breed. Sadly, it is the Buckeyes. We are keeping a pair for Jahdan to raise and show. Please contact me at [email protected] or 870/723-3724 if you wish to acquire our flock. We are keeping all bantams and our large fowl Orpingtons.

Neighbor also thought we have too many dogs (two adults and one pup) and the children are too loud! We have found a buyer for sheba. Still looking for good homes for the kids.

Actually, our mobile home has been on the market for about 2 years, but we have added a For Sale sign out front. We are on two plus acres and it runs up to about 6 feet from the neighbors deck. One friend suggested we order a load of fresh chicken fertilzer for our garden and place it as near that deck as possible. Wife reminded me WWJD!

 

[punky rooster]

NO JIM!!!!!!!!!!!! Buckeyes are better than orps! Come on!

Oh well, you keeping the Bantam Buckeyes..... Right?