Buckeye Breed Thread

[punky rooster]

Here ya go. Quarter for a reference.

(They are light brown. Poor quality picture.)

 

[Quirky]

Welcome. I don't have photos of eggs, but I'll bet someone else will be along shortly with some.

Buckeyes are known for their hardiness in the coldest weather. I chose them for that reason. They definitely don't need a heated coop.

I think 10 square feet per bird is the recommendation, and more is always better. Buckeyes are good foragers, so if you do let them out they'll know what to do. My neighbor has Buckeye hens who free range, and they look beautiful and lay great.

 

[serinat]

Okay, my incubator's finally free for me to hatch some Buckeyes! I'd rather use a broody hen, but I have had NOT ONE BROODY this year (had three last year!), so I'm giving up on them.

Question: Given the choice, would you rather start your Buckeye flock from chicks or eggs? And why?

(I have done both, but I have not tried incubating shipped eggs before. I've only used my eggs or local breeders'. Cost is a small factor, as well, so I'm thinking eggs. But I don't want to buy two dozen eggs and only get 12 chicks...I could just buy started chicks for about the same price.)

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[punky rooster]

I would choose chicks. You are almost guaranteed to get the number you ordered.
With eggs you could get a great hatch rate, or a terrible one. A few months ago I ordered 24 eggs and non hatched. I guess they are right when they say "don't count your chickens before they hatch" lol

Your going to love them,

 

[BuckeyeDave]

Quote:
Definitely chicks. I'm almost to the point where I will not offer eggs to incubate.

This year I have heard it all with hatching, cracked eggs, low hatch rate, it seems that not a single person I sent eggs to was happy with their order. I had one guy who was oening up the hatcher and taking out each chick right after it hatched, he had 6 that hatched, 4 that piped and never hatched and wanted a refund.

Buy chicks.

 

[serinat]

Yeah, I'm leaning toward chicks.

Unless someone has eggs within 2 hours or less of southwest Michigan? (ETA: So I can drive and pick them up, that is.)

And who has chicks available right now? Dave's into June/July...

 

[jenjscott]

Sorry I haven't been on much, when it rains it pours. Up shot is along with everything else, the buffalo gnats are here with the flood and the lady keeping some of my chickens for me said they had killed some of hers and a few of mine. (I lost some barred hollands here at the Annex). First to go?... My pullet that won reserve American at El Dorado!

 

[gootziecat]

Jen, that makes me sad. I'm so sorry for your losses and painful frustrations.

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
I'm sorry, Jen, that really stinks.

Wait. Gnats killed them? I would never have thought they could kill a chicken.

 

[vmdanielsen]

I had never heard of animals being killed by gnats, so I googled it. Check it out http://www.ento.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/blackflies.htm Jen, sorry for your loss.......