Buckeye Breed Thread

[Pathfinders]

It is likely that the chicks are full brothers/sisters. But it would depend on the level of capacity the hatchery keeps for that particular breed. For instance I have seen in the videos of Cackle that they keep a pretty good size flock of birds in their Buckeye breeding pen. It would be best to get into contact with the hatchery you had purchased from.

If you just want the birds for eggs/meat, and don't plan to show, you can easily get into contact with a number of breeders for cock birds. Several will have good looking birds that just don't make the cut for showing, but would still be great for breeding purposes.

In the fall some breeders do a round robin of trading cock birds. And I have several times shipped people cock birds for just the cost of the box and shipping. Ocap, I am sure that you'll be able to find someone with an extra male in the fall who will be willing to send you one (I should have some.) Extra males are never my problem! LOL...

 

[fowlman01]

According to Kenny Troiano in the Poultry Press last Summer, I think, he has bred his flock for 25 years without ever having to bring in new blood. He spent several issues detailing how he did it. He supposedly has the most photographed bird in the world, has written books, and commands hundreds of dollars for his birds so I take it that he must know what he's talking about.

He linebreeds and maintains a closed flock. I'm attempting to do the same. We'll have to see how it goes but it made sense to me.

God Bless,

Kenny is correct and Kenny is one of the few people I would call a breeder. You don't have to bring in new stock. ....unless a person doesn't know what they are doing. I also have a closed flock for many years and I don't have problems. The last thing I want to do is introduce some new problem here, and this over used "genetic diversity" thing is generally preached by newbies online. Real breeders seldom add anything to their flock.

Walt

 

[Pathfinders]

Real breeders seldom add anything to their flock.

Walt

That being said, when I began to lose slate bar in my Buckeyes, I did have to bring in some outside blood to get it back in. I wasn't able to conjure it up out of nothingness once it was gone.

 

[fowlman01]

That being said, when I began to lose slate bar in my Buckeyes, I did have to bring in some outside blood to get it back in. I wasn't able to conjure it up out of nothingness once it was gone.

If you had it once it is still there somewhere, but sometimes you have to go to the well to save a lot of time. I'm talking mostly about this genetic diversity stuff that is thrown around.

w.

 

[Pathfinders]

The nice part was, by going back to the original well (Duane Urch's birds), I got some really nice long-lasting color as well. The tendency to fade in the sunlight is a well-known problem with this breed, and Urch's birds do it far less than some other lines. So it was a win-win for me.

 

[angiep666]

So if I would acquire a cock, would I have to be particularly picky about the lines or lineage, in order to help preserve the Buckeye? Or could I just get a cock that is not "related" to my birds and leave it at that? What would be the possible ramifications of keeping the birds that I have and just breeding them once a year? sorry for the many questions, I am admittedly ignorant of poultry breeding practices. I know that you can't have inbred dogs/cats, so I am thinking that it is the same for chickens? Thank you for the help!

 

[angiep666]

In reference to your comment "unless they don't know what they are doing", what are the best reference materials/experiences for learning the "right way" to do things? I started with the idea of keeping chickens for having a sustainable and safe source of eggs and meat for my family. This has rather morphed to wanting to help breeds on the "endangered" or "watch" list. So, if I am going to propagate a particular breed, I definitely want to do it responsibly. Thank you for any thoughts!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
Well I can tell you as a "newbie" and a Vet tech, it concerns me, that breeding that many years hasn't cause "ANY" problems? You line breed in dogs as well, but you still have to bring something in, that has some of your "line" in it, but not enough to cause "inbreeding", same with goats. To me there is a difference between "genetic diversity" or "total outcross" and bringing in something with some relation. And really, how do you become a "real breeder" without being a "newbie' as some point? Just sayn When I coin the term "newbie" I've raised chickens for many years, I have only recently started acquiring purebred stock, and breeding. I have raise other purebred animals for over 20 years.

 

[pettec63]

So if I would acquire a cock, would I have to be particularly picky about the lines or lineage, in order to help preserve the Buckeye? Or could I just get a cock that is not "related" to my birds and leave it at that? What would be the possible ramifications of keeping the birds that I have and just breeding them once a year? sorry for the many questions, I am admittedly ignorant of poultry breeding practices. I know that you can't have inbred dogs/cats, so I am thinking that it is the same for chickens? Thank you for the help!

Believe me you are NOT the only person who has those questions, and there are experienced people who can answer them. I understand your concern, I was told that inbreeding is not "as critical" in poultry as it is in cats or dogs, but you wouldn't want to breed say brother to sister for more than a generation, or so, that's what I was told by an experienced breeder. But, as with many other things, everyone has an opinion. Not sure if that helps

 

[pettec63]

In reference to your comment "unless they don't know what they are doing", what are the best reference materials/experiences for learning the "right way" to do things? I started with the idea of keeping chickens for having a sustainable and safe source of eggs and meat for my family. This has rather morphed to wanting to help breeds on the "endangered" or "watch" list. So, if I am going to propagate a particular breed, I definitely want to do it responsibly. Thank you for any thoughts!

You are not alone, I too started out the same way, then picked a breed that was being raised by a friend of mine and fell in love with them! If you go to American Breed livestock Conservancy, they have lots of good information on managing a breeding flock and how to evaluate your flock, and they used the Buckeye as an example. Then go thru your flock and do the best you can to cull out was doesn't fit the bill. Then you will have a place to start, to decide if you need to bring something in if you need to. Also, the American Poultry Association has a book call the Standards of Perfection. A book of all the recognized breeds in America, it's a bit spendy, maybe you can find a used copy, even an older one, but it outlines the qualities and defects of the breeds, with this you can also compare your flock and cull if necessary. I don't know where you live, but maybe you can even find a mentor. This is what I was told, and I have done. I don't know if I picked the right birds or not, I did the best I could, and I will just have to continue to hatch and cull till I have what I think fits the description. One way to know of course is to take your birds to a poultry show, I was told you don't know what you have till it's out there being looked at. That's what I will do to.
So this is what I have learned thus far, from one "newbie" to another! Good luck!