BUCKEYES- a Lively, Gentle, Dual Purpose DIscussion Thread

[Arielle]

THEY'RE HERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arrived on the morning truck-- I could hear them peeping over the phone when I called at 6:30 am. Very hard to be patient getting son on the bus first, then zoomed off to post office.


Well packed with extra labeling and tied with string, fortunately the postal worker was patient while I opened the box to check for casualties.

All looked good.

Back home, one by one each was gently removed from the box and had it's beak dipped in the water. Very thirsty. THen moved a few over to the rubber home plate covered in chick starter. They are HUNGRY!!

THe three older chicks at 5 weeks are huddled in the corner , not sure what these fluff balls are!! So funny. I had hoped they would tudor the new chicks-- maybe the cornishXCross see them are competitors for their food!! lol

 

[knittychickadee]

Hurrah! There's been many a time I watch the tracking and am waiting at the p.o when the truck pulls in. It is nerve wracking waiting for chicks; you want them cozy at home as quick as possible lol.

I love chicks hatched in April. It gets warm enough to let them outside after they have some feathers and cool enough that they chow down and put on good weight in the months before the summer heat.

 

[Arielle]

Hurrah! There's been many a time I watch the tracking and am waiting at the p.o when the truck pulls in. It is nerve wracking waiting for chicks; you want them cozy at home as quick as possible lol.

I love chicks hatched in April. It gets warm enough to let them outside after they have some feathers and cool enough that they chow down and put on good weight in the months before the summer heat.

Hi knittychickadee, thanks for stopping in for a visit. Hope you will stop by again.

THe anxiety was very disruptive to the family schedule as we waited for the appointed hours to call the post office hoping to get word of their whereabouts. Even when I had confirmation of their arrival at the PO I still could not go get them until my kids were on the school bus.

My plan is to be done with hatching by May 1 each year-- as you say the weather is warming up in the northern states. Not sure I can meet my goal this year as I am waiting for another breeder to send me eggs when he can. I am grateful that he is willing to send me eggs.

In the mean time the Buckeye chicks are thriving. They eat well and drink a lot of water. Decided to put in one more waterer to be sure everyone can easily get water at any time. and worried if it goes dry and I miss it.

THe little ones get caught under the big chicks , entrapped by big legs. Too funny to see the squirming determintion to get thru the big legs. Or when a big one peck the little, it runs up to the monster white bird, pecks at IT, and RUNS away. lol

I am surprized that they are a bit afraid of me. Hoping that will change over time as the 3 bigger ones run to me.

Feeding lots of goodies: scrambled eggs, tomatos, hamburger, crumbled cheese.

 

[Arielle]

Offered two strawberries mashed-- several rushed over, the others looked on with suspision. lol

THey are drinking a lot of water. Will add a second bottle in the next few days. 1T vinegarper gal water to give them good bugs and preserve the warm water.

Wing feathers growing fast.

 

[joyfulkeeper]

How are you buckeyes doing? Did they warm up to you?

 

[Arielle]

Oh yes!!!

THey see me coming and race right over-- to a plate full of a dozen scrambled eggs!!!! This morning I handed them leftover oatmeal, one took a nibble and the others are looking at me " hey, where's the scrambled eggs?" Maybe not enough sugar! lol I left the oatmeal for them to eat--- gone.

 

[joyfulkeeper]

That's great!
We've been looking into maybe getting some. So I've been reading what I can and wanting to hear others experience with them.

 

[Arielle]

Good you are doing some research. Helpful to talk to people who have had the buckeyes for a long time.


I can only speak of my chicken keeping experince . . . . the birds that I spend time with and play with are my friendliest and this applies to all breeds that I have. However, depite lots of handling some grow up to be a bit standoffish anyway. If I have not played with them as chicks they don't come visiting UNLESS I am carrying a plate or bowl.

My SS will follow me everywhere first thing in the morning at let out . . .never did figure out why . . . they used to help in the garden too . . now they run off to scratch in the woods.

 

[Arielle]

CHicks are now 2 months old and have been running around outside for the last week only to return to the brooder at night.

New coop is sufficiently done to move the chiks up to their new lodgings. TWo at a time. ALl acounted for: 26 youngsters from Chris McCathy and 1 from Anita. ALong with the 3 half-bred cornish cross who have acted as mother and father and general caretaker.

Still eating the 28-29% protein flock raiser, depending on the exact name , and it is medicated to help deal with any cocci issues. Not willing to risk loosing any of them to coccidia.

 

[Arielle]

CHicks are grown big. I continued them on the 28% for 2 months to make up for the lasck of the high p rotein for the first 2 weeks.

Birds are big. THey love to have clumps of grass dropped in to attack in an eating frenzy. Otherwise the feeder holds 40 pounds of 22% turkey feed . . . . .

I haven't let them out to free range because the area is thick with brush and the coyote slide thru that area. Supervision would be required for sure. Guess I need to put up a barrier fence to help.