BUCKEYES- a Lively, Gentle, Dual Purpose DIscussion Thread

[Arielle]

To Gusser--
Welcome to BYC!

Your experience is unfortunate and as your stock probably came from a hatchery maybe that is the explanation. Which hatchery did you purchase from?

All the other birds that you ordered are more rare than the buckeye-- the buckeye has made a comeback because it is so versitile and family friendly. ANd I am referring to the real heritage lines kept by breeders not the hatchery stock.

 

[donrae]

I had six chickens, all different, all hens. I had buff opringtons, jersey giants, and others. But none, NONE, were as stupid as the buckeye. That chicken was hopeless and i can't believe that is considered a gentle chicken. It DOES NOT like people, and for that matter other chickens. It was strong and fast as a bullet but not the least bit friendly. I ended up having to get rid of them because someone in the town complained. I took the fencing, posts and gates down and gave all of my equipment away. Then i heard recently that the town is probably going to allow small flocks. So, i ordered seven more chickens, again, all different but I DID NOT order a buckeye. I can see why they are rare. I can also see why no one wants them and for sure, i would never recommend them.

Your experience with ONE bird of a breed is hardly indicative of a sweeping generalization of the entire breed.

 

[gusser]

Honestly. The chicken was anything but docile and friendly. I was simply stating my experience with the bird. I thought it would be interesting to have a rare bird and helpful in getting one more out there. Of the seven different breeds, this one was odd. That is my experience and i truly hope that yours is better. Nothing more. You people are way too sensitive.

 

[gusser]

I purchased them from Meyer, as i did my last batch. The were all fine. I am new to this and i read only good things about them and they had the selection that i wanted. Here is what i just ordered: black australorp, black jersey giant, buff orpington, blue orpington, lavender orpington, buff brama, light brama. One of each. I kind of want gentle, large birds as the kids in the neighborhood love to come and feed them. I had no idea there were differences in breeders, and since Meyer sold so many chickens i assumed they had to be very good. boy, i got some nasty posts in response to mine. But, i thought it was anything but friendly and simply stated my experience.

 

[chickadoodles]

I sure don't mind saying that I am waiting in line for my trio of Buckeyes that I am paying top dollar for and don't mind waiting and paying for such great birds as the Buckeyes! I can hardly wait to get mine! And I want them badly and have waited a year to get some and still have to wait till summer! But they are well worth the wait!

 

[Arielle]

I sure don't mind saying that I am waiting in line for my trio of Buckeyes that I am paying top dollar for and don't mind waiting and paying for such great birds as the Buckeyes! I can hardly wait to get mine! And I want them badly and have waited a year to get some and still have to wait till summer! But they are well worth the wait!

I think I am as excited for you as you are for you!!

You have found a good breeder, someone who is highly recommended.

I talked to Chris a few days ago ( when postponing the delivery as my request) and he remembered that I wanted the chicks toe punched-- gotta love good service.

My one buckeye chick is growing but he/she is much smaller than the 2 cornishxX's ( marans x cornisshx) Gave them a strawberry to play with-- more like tug of war than eating. lol

I am reminded of my first group of buckeye chicks almost 2 years ago. Lost them all to coccidia due to a management error. In that group was both Rhodes birds and Page birds. Hmmmm I wonder who else has Page birds?

 

[chickadoodles]

I think I am as excited for you as you are for you!!

You have found a good breeder, someone who is highly recommended.

I talked to Chris a few days ago ( when postponing the delivery as my request) and he remembered that I wanted the chicks toe punched-- gotta love good service.

My one buckeye chick is growing but he/she is much smaller than the 2 cornishxX's ( marans x cornisshx) Gave them a strawberry to play with-- more like tug of war than eating. lol

I am reminded of my first group of buckeye chicks almost 2 years ago. Lost them all to coccidia due to a management error. In that group was both Rhodes birds and Page birds. Hmmmm I wonder who else has Page birds?

Thank you Arielle.
I feel like I have found the right breeder and he is very helpful and friendly and his birds come highly recommended!
This week here it will be in the 70's! YEA!
Hopefully your little buckeye will catch up with the others. Try adding some fish meal to his food just a bit.
I am so sorry you lost your first Buckeye, I did not know you had them before. Sorry.
That must have been hard for you.

 

[Arielle]

I lost my first group, and a number of other chicks when I ok'd my son giving the chicks grit. I broke my rule of always baking the grit from outside-- lost dozens of chicks, including every buckeye. My error. Made me sad. So this is my second attempt to raise buckeyes.

Honestly the little buckeye is doing fine-- I wan't clear in describing the other 2 chicks: THey are part cornish x and huge compared to any other typical chick of heritage breeding. Just funny to see the 3 together, mismatched. lol

Please send the 70 degree weather this way-- Today was beautifully warm.

THe sun melted much of the snow pack but still a good foot is left.

At this rate the rabbit will back outside before the buckeye chicks arrive and be out of the brooder. I put his cage there because, well , there was room.

 

[chickadoodles]

I lost my first group, and a number of other chicks when I ok'd my son giving the chicks grit. I broke my rule of always baking the grit from outside-- lost dozens of chicks, including every buckeye. My error. Made me sad. So this is my second attempt to raise buckeyes.

Honestly the little buckeye is doing fine-- I wan't clear in describing the other 2 chicks: THey are part cornish x and huge compared to any other typical chick of heritage breeding. Just funny to see the 3 together, mismatched. lol

Please send the 70 degree weather this way-- Today was beautifully warm.

THe sun melted much of the snow pack but still a good foot is left.

At this rate the rabbit will back outside before the buckeye chicks arrive and be out of the brooder. I put his cage there because, well , there was room.

I'm so sorry you lost your first buckeye.

That's good. I have never raised any cornish. I showed him some at TSC, but I don't think he is interested.

I am sending you some 70* weather! Hopefully no more snow or vortexes this year!
I have one pear tree in full bloom, but I have not seen any bee's fertilizing it yet. I may have to!

When are you going to get your buckeye now? I know you had to hold them off for a bit.
The rabbit will be happy to get outside

 

[Arielle]

Delivery has been rescheduled for the 1st of APril.

Cornish x chicks are very fast growers, eating far more than other birds so the grow faster, so the eat more, so they grow faster!! You get the idea. They are about 25% bigger than the buckeye chick!

THis egg came from Annette, and the sire is her Mr Naughty, on a Gilbert hen.THe chick was a yellowish red. I"m not sure how this translate into adult feather coloring. THe wings are feathering in and the color look right. I don't question ANnette, rather I question what I know , lol, as the more I know the less I know, or somthing like that!