Buckeye Breed Thread

[cgmccary]

Quote: Could it be that because it is colder that they are using energy to keep warm, instead of in a brooder with a heat lamp?
You could be on to it here. Right now, I have all my chicks outdoors in pens or running free with hens so I have no indoor chicks to compare them to. In the past when I have been growing them out indoors as well as outside, I have noticed the phenomenon you describe. It has been atrociously hot and humid here so even my chicks weaned at 5 weeks old running around EVERYWHERE seem to be growing pretty good. One thing I have noticed is that if you do not confine the hen with their high protein feed, they eat very little of it. They will eat bugs, grass, raid the other feeders and only eat a little bit of THEIR feed. They prefer to forage for their food. I find the chicks outdoors are very hardy and vigorous though as you describe & they usually eventually catch up with the others. More to observe and learn though. Please do report what you notice. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Birde]

When I pic up my Bucko & tickle his belly he gives hid dinosaur roar. Actually he gives the roar everytime I pic him up. its the only time he does it. Does he feel threatened?

 

[vmdanielsen]

You could be on to it here. Right now, I have all my chicks outdoors in pens or running free with hens so I have no indoor chicks to compare them to. In the past when I have been growing them out indoors as well as outside, I have noticed the phenomenon you describe. It has been atrociously hot and humid here so even my chicks weaned at 5 weeks old running around EVERYWHERE seem to be growing pretty good. One thing I have noticed is that if you do not confine the hen with their high protein feed, they eat very little of it. They will eat bugs, grass, raid the other feeders and only eat a little bit of THEIR feed. They prefer to forage for their food. I find the chicks outdoors are very hardy and vigorous though as you describe & they usually eventually catch up with the others. More to observe and learn though. Please do report what you notice. Thanks for the pictures.

Thank you Chris for responding. I am a bit concerned that their growth may be stunted. Hopefully they will catch up. I don't want to have to roast 2 or 3 birds for a meal!!!!

 

[007medic]

VM,
I've noticed that when our hens raise chicks out of doors and on free range, they don't look as tho they're keeping up with those in the brooder at first. But, only at first. Around week 4-6 they generally look about on par in size as the brooder chicks only their color, vigor, condition and energy levels far outpace their brooder raised hatch-mates. By 16 weeks (when most folks decide who's destined for freezer camp or the flock) I believe you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at how they turn out. For now just get a gander at their crops, do they look full? Is your hen guiding her charges to good forage? I ask because Bucks finish better if well fed high protein the first 8-12 weeks. If your hen is showing the chicks plenty of bugs, grubs, worms & etc, no worries. If not, be sure that they have good access to starter that is 28% or better on the protein (turkey or game-bird starter usually meets the req).

J

 

[vmdanielsen]

VM,
I've noticed that when our hens raise chicks out of doors and on free range, they don't look as tho they're keeping up with those in the brooder at first. But, only at first. Around week 4-6 they generally look about on par in size as the brooder chicks only their color, vigor, condition and energy levels far outpace their brooder raised hatch-mates. By 16 weeks (when most folks decide who's destined for freezer camp or the flock) I believe you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at how they turn out. For now just get a gander at their crops, do they look full? Is your hen guiding her charges to good forage? I ask because Bucks finish better if well fed high protein the first 8-12 weeks. If your hen is showing the chicks plenty of bugs, grubs, worms & etc, no worries. If not, be sure that they have good access to starter that is 28% or better on the protein (turkey or game-bird starter usually meets the req).

J

Thanks 007! I am sure that they are finding plenty of juicey things to eat in the manure pile and leave mulch. they always have access to chick starter and fresh water(as does the chipmunk thief). If I were a better shot I would gladly stop feeding him!

 

[jtbrown]

Just got 6 buckeyes today, a friend needed my help brooding her 15 chicks while they finished the barn and in return she got 6 birds for me! My first time with non hatchery birds. They are so pretty. I will be following this thread now. Hi!

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Buckeyes for meat:

Agree with the others, it will take longer and they will not have as much breast meat as Cornish, but I felt they had more than many heritage breeds.

Buckeyes for sex link:
Buckeyes have the Red gene, so when you cross a Buckeye Cockerel with a silver gene hen, all the males will be white and all the females reddish.
We crossed Buckeye Roo over Delaware hens, and by luck of the hatch got all boys, all white.
They were the meanest grow-out pen I have ever had. They actively tried to kill every other bird in the pen. They were on 32% protein feed and had pleanty of alfalfa/clover pasture to keep them busy. I had to isolate them. They had to go to the butcher early because the mean look in their eyes started to be directed at the kids. I hope you have better luck with your sex-link project.

 

[jcatblum]

Here is a Buckeye roo that I brought home from a local swap, he was still there at the end of the day & I thought he was pretty. So now he is @ my place in quarentine.

 

[Janetnva]

I just read on a web site that buckeyes are good mousers, almost as good as a barn cat. Is that true?

 

[vmdanielsen]

I just read on a web site that buckeyes are good mousers, almost as good as a barn cat. Is that true?

mine are not.