Buckeye Breed Thread

[retiredwithchicks]

cgmccary, thanks for the reply. I lost another today with it and have been kept busy trying to stay ahead of the problem. I had added my 19 chicks with a broody and her 6 in an outside pen with a heatlamp so not as accessible as normal. I was trying to get ready to have room in the house for my buckeyes+others due tomorrow. I will just try to make more trips outside to the pen and check them. Of course, the broody isn't too happy I am picking up the chicks to clean them up. lol I may mix the high protein with regular starter for the first few days to see it that helps.

 

[cgmccary]

Quote:
With my Game hen and her chicks, so far, I have only given them their starter (30%) feed though she seems to be finding bugs in the small pen they are in. In the past (and soon with these I have now), I will introduce them to some multi scratch grains and rolled oats. In the past, I have started them from day 1 on that too -- I think it is fine if they are outside and have access to some form of grit. Mine have sand available to them. I noticed they won't try and eat anything to big; large bugs-- they run around with while the others chase them for it. The cracked corn, the hen shows them, they will eat on Day 1. Mixing some other foods in there or putting a clump of grass in the pen may help your problem. Usually when they are outside & foraging some with a mother hen, I don't see any pasty butt. I also have not noticed any less growth in chicks that foraged and those brought up penned and solely on their 30% feed. The foraging chicks always have better color in their shanks.

 

[jenjscott]

I have found that even in the brooder, if they can have a little sand, it seems to help with the pasty butt. I'm going to try that quinoa too next time I have a problem. My latest batch are all nice and clean, no problems so far.

 

[retiredwithchicks]

With my Game hen and her chicks, so far, I have only given them their starter (30%) feed though she seems to be finding bugs in the small pen they are in. In the past (and soon with these I have now), I will introduce them to some multi scratch grains and rolled oats. In the past, I have started them from day 1 on that too -- I think it is fine if they are outside and have access to some form of grit. Mine have sand available to them. I noticed they won't try and eat anything to big; large bugs-- they run around with while the others chase them for it. The cracked corn, the hen shows them, they will eat on Day 1. Mixing some other foods in there or putting a clump of grass in the pen may help your problem. Usually when they are outside & foraging some with a mother hen, I don't see any pasty butt. I also have not noticed any less growth in chicks that foraged and those brought up penned and solely on their 30% feed. The foraging chicks always have better color in their shanks.

That explains why some are doing better than others. They have a small house with 12x12 run outside. Some are foraging with hen and some are not allowed by hen.Guess I will remove hen if it keeps up. I will try adding other foods.

 

[retiredwithchicks]

My buckeyes are hatching!!!! Wish me luck!

 

[bigshawn]

Congrats, and wishing all the luck I can to ya...........

 

[cgmccary]

Buckeye Cockerel (11 months old)

 

[bigshawn]

nice

 

[tandersphoenix]

My buckeyes are hatching!!!! Wish me luck!

Hope you have a good hatch!

 

[heritagebirds]

My buckeyes are hatching!!!! Wish me luck!

Good luck, how many, how many?