Chicken Breed Focus - Buckeye

[ChicoryBlue]

Hello Crazi...There are many around the country who still raise Buckeyes. You probably have someone near you. I am on my second set of Buckeyes and am more than pleased with them. I came into chickens with no experience, just a passion to raise my own food. I have always marched to the beat of a different drummer so the Buckeye was right at home with me.

DEFINITELY go with a breeder as you'll get the best quality (provided they know what they're doing) . What I like about the Buckeye is that they are an American breed, they are good size so they are dual-purpose. If you get a good line, they can be good layers though the old-school lines (which some people have) don't lay as well. I appreciate their curious nature, they are friendly AND I have not had a people-aggresive male ever! They have a strong tendency to go broody and when one goes, two or three others join her.

Cons-slow growing, the boys take almost a year to reach full size. They LOVE to crow. The boys are hard on the girls' backs when it comes to mating. If you plan to sell them, they are not sex-linked so you're going to have to learn how to vent sex. The girls take a little longer to start laying, about 23 weeks and they often go broody. Usually when you don't want them to.

Summary, they are hardy (made for midwest climate) smart, flexible and passionate. They would make a great bird for a starter flock!

Do you think there’s a correlation between broodiness and old or new line / egg production?
The first 4 Buckeye hens I have had never went broody. They were hatchery stock (My Pet Chicken)

 

[goodb]

Do you think there’s a correlation between broodiness and old or new line / egg production?
The first 4 Buckeye hens I have had never went broody. They were hatchery stock (My Pet Chicken)

It seems that breeders have a better relationship with their animals.

 

[CraziChknLady]

Hello Crazi...There are many around the country who still raise Buckeyes. You probably have someone near you. I am on my second set of Buckeyes and am more than pleased with them. I came into chickens with no experience, just a passion to raise my own food. I have always marched to the beat of a different drummer so the Buckeye was right at home with me.

DEFINITELY go with a breeder as you'll get the best quality (provided they know what they're doing) . What I like about the Buckeye is that they are an American breed, they are good size so they are dual-purpose. If you get a good line, they can be good layers though the old-school lines (which some people have) don't lay as well. I appreciate their curious nature, they are friendly AND I have not had a people-aggresive male ever! They have a strong tendency to go broody and when one goes, two or three others join her.

Cons-slow growing, the boys take almost a year to reach full size. They LOVE to crow. The boys are hard on the girls' backs when it comes to mating. If you plan to sell them, they are not sex-linked so you're going to have to learn how to vent sex. The girls take a little longer to start laying, about 23 weeks and they often go broody. Usually when you don't want them to.

Summary, they are hardy (made for midwest climate) smart, flexible and passionate. They would make a great bird for a starter flock!

Hey! Yes this is all wonderful info. Thank you! Haven't had any luck finding a breeder in my state, but I still have a couple of years. I will need to redo my coop, fencing, etc first. I do prefer a hen going broody and raising them. I've never had an incubator or needed one. Although good to hear that they do eventually go broody. I've heard some never do, but I'm sure it's due to a variety of factors and probability of which strain. I plan to have them for a few years and breed true before I get my speckled sussex.Do you know which strains are newer vs the old? I really like the darker color on them, but have heard depending on the strain, they could be lighter. I'm not sure how to vent sex, but usually by 18-20 weeks I'm able to tell, but know with these guys it might be a tad longer. I once had a roo start crowing at 10 weeks!! I plan to keep the best roo out of my starter chicks then go from there. Any extra roos will be for freezer camp. And I should be able to rotate out every few years with a new batch of chicks from the breeder, if needed. How and when did you get started with chickens? This was my 7th year. Just culled my last batch due to mycoplasma....very sad and very long year. I've never had so many problems with a flock before and it wasn't just the disease.

I got started when I moved out to the country. Got some acreage with family, and my mother decided this was her final forever home. She wanted chickens and when she couldn't take care of them anymore, I took over...and well you know ...chicken math. You can say I got bit by the chicken bug. Lol