Buckeye Breed Thread

[Pathfinders]

That's likely a "I'm just starting to lay" new pullet hiccup. I would make sure they have lots of oyster shell so she gets the calcium she needs. If you get more than one, let us know.

 

[jenjscott]

I've had red star laying pullets and a turkey start their laying like that. No problems afterwards

 

[ellieroo]

Thank you for the answers. They get lots of oyster shell ,vits. and grit So will keep fingers crossed tis a "soft" beginning! Like everyone we have been waiting waiting for that first egg in a shell!

 

[TK Poultry]

you guys caught me while i am picking breeds and you guys are making it hard to stick with my two choices of speckled sussex and austrolorps! i had it narrowed down to three: welsummers, speckled sussex, and austrolorp but now reading all this wonderful information about buckeyes makes me want to get some!!! i do have a couple of questions that may or may not have already been covered i tryed to read and retain all that i could!

1) I am a junior exibitor still..... how do they do with the junior exibitor personality and up keep wise?
2) I live in Indiana and last week most of it was spent around the 2 degree range how do they do in that kind of weather?
3) How hard are they to get from chick to adult? (like fatality of chicks and general maintaince of the young bird and hatchabilty of eggs i know it depends on specimens but some breeds are harder to hatch than others?)
4) How well do they do in a 4H situation?

now im second guessing my short list

THANKS ALOT YOU GUYS!!! lol

 

[ellieroo]

Only can answer your 3rd question but I found them very easy to raise.They are very smart and learned everything including their names very fast. Not picky eaters don't mind cold don't like wind,altho today found them clustered around the dryer vent, see smart! They have coped well with cats big dog(who helped raise them) and horses. the only un nerving thing is when you get that feeling something is watching you ... and you look around there will be a buckeye or two on a patio chair watching you thru the window!! They will also race for the backdoor and you have to watch your first step. Hows your list doing I had one too!

 

[TK Poultry]

well i thought i was stuck on speckled sussex and austrolorps but now im leaning alot toward buckeyes!! i also have one more question....

5) How are they with younger kids?

 

[JamesA]

Quote:
I have a 2 year old that helps me feed my buckeyes everyday including my three roo's that run together and get along great(They were raised together).They come running up to her wanting feed.They let her pet them but do not care for her picking them up.She loves them.This is the best I have seen them described below.

Quote:

 

[Pathfinders]

Quote:
1) Buckeyes are one of the breeds my daughters show and they do very well with them. Not as easy to wash as a bantam bird, of course.
2) Mine do fine in the cold, that's one of the benefits of the pea comb.
3) My chicks hatch very easily, they seem to practically leap out of the shell. They need to be fed a higher protein feed as youngsters than some breeds, (you can use turkey starter for the first two to four weeks, then taper the protein down as they get older. They have no other issues that I've experienced.
4) Be aware that a 4-H judge may not have seen Buckeyes before, you may have to do some educating. Can't hurt to print out the breed standard sheet and attach it to the cage!

5) I don't have little kids now, but my Buckeyes have always been respectful of my girls. We got them when my younger was 12, and while she had had problems with other breeds of cock birds, we've never had any issues with the Buckeyes.

 

[Buckeyes-R-Us]

nice thread Laura, great work as always!

 

[Pathfinders]

Hey Jeff, how are things?