deleware X buckeye . . .

[TimG]

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Well, the name of the forum is "Breeds, Genetics, & Showing" so it doesn't seem improper for there to be a lot of talk about showing and breed standards.

I agree with you in that I am much more interested in production matters than standard matters -- if my Delawares were big and meaty, I wouldn't care what color their legs are or how many points their combs have.

To Walkswithdog: I've lost a Delaware to a fox, more than one if you don't count just adults.

 

[TimG]

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From the American Livestock Breeds Conservation websote:

Buckeyes were developed by Mrs. Nettie Metcalf of Warren, Ohio, and appropriately named after the “Buckeye State.” Buckeyes are unique in the American Class of chickens in that it is the only breed created entirely by a woman. Mrs. Metcalf started by breeding a Buff Cochin male to Barred Plymouth Rock females. This produced what she considered a large, lazy fowl. The next year she purchased a Black-Breasted Red Game male and crossed this male over the half cochin pullets. This cross produced several red offspring and from there she developed the breed. It is interesting to note that her creation predated the introduction of Rhode Island Reds into the mid-west.

In 1896 she learned that her idea of red fowls was not new and that a very popular eastern breed had been developed, the Rhode Island Red. After corresponding with several Rhode Island Red breeders, she decided to call her breed Pea Combed Rhode Island Reds (she even traded stock with several of these breeders). Rather than helping to promote her new breed, she found that calling them Pea Combed Rhode Island Reds was in fact limiting its popularity. So in 1902 she exhibited a pair in the Cleveland, Ohio poultry show as Buckeyes. Within a few years Pea Combed Rhode Island Reds began to disappear.

The Buckeye should not be confused with the Rhode Island Red, even though they share some history.

From the part about trading stock with the breeders of Rhode Island Reds, I think it is reasonable to conclude that some Rhode Island Red found it's way into Buckeyes. But, you are likely right that we will never know for sure.

I also found this part interesting:

he color of the Buckeye is darker than that of the original Rhode Island Red (later, the Rhode Island Red was bred for a shade of color even darker than the Buckeye).​

 

[McSpin]

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How do you know that? Have you done it? Have you seen the results of someone who did it with good hatchery dels and her buckeyes?

How do you know that the egg production wouldn't go down on that cross compared to the hatchery del cross? If egg production was lower than with the hatchery del cross and you wanted more eggs, then the hatchery del cross would be the more spectacular cross.

I think you're making unfounded assumptions.

 

[McSpin]

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Not at all. I fully expect that people will talk about show birds. I like it myself. On the other hand, when someone gives a recommendation on stock, I wouldn't expect them to put down all hatchery birds without knowing the specific goals of the person getting the recommendation.

 

[TimG]

Quote:
Not at all. I fully expect that people will talk about show birds. I like it myself. On the other hand, when someone gives a recommendation on stock, I wouldn't expect them to put down all hatchery birds without knowing the specific goals of the person getting the recommendation.

I agree that there is a big bias against hatchery birds despite hatchery birds being very good for some things.

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Wow, almost like bringing up religi0n or p0litics.

I love that there are all kinds on this site, and it is great that this particular sub-forum exists for the people who have breed-standard-improvement, color-variation or specific-purpose-cross experiments going on. It is all wonderful information.

I also love the folks who just say they have a red chicken and a white-ish chicken and they like the red one best because she walks lop-sided

I'd love to see a Delaware Buckeye cross, so whoever is undertaking it, please post pictures and let us know your results.

 

[speckledhen]

Let's please take this back to the original question, folks, the Buckeye x Delaware, or vice versa.

I also love the folks who just say they have a red chicken and a white-ish chicken and they like the red one best because she walks lop-sided

Me, too! I have some of those, LOL.​

 

[tadkerson]

Steve,

The defining words in Walks With Dog's statements are "could be". He/She did not say they would be.

Do you have any evidence or research that would contradict Walk With Dog's statements?

Tim

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

wow this went another direction! thank you everyone for the input and advice I really do appreciate it!
When I said a "healthier" meatie I was not meaning in regards to the Deleware, I guess I wasn't clear. What I don't like or want are the most commonly accepted "meaties" the cornish cross.
I want to raise a small flock of chickens for butcher each spring. However I do not want to deal with the super fast growth issues of the hybrid cornish cross; heart attacks, broken legs etc.
I could easily buy the Free Rangers, and I may do that this spring just to learn from them, but as a terminal cross I won't be able to "make" my own and I would like to have a meat bird that is self perpetuating; a true back yard meat bird. I realize that there are many meat types already out there; the Delawares and Buckeyes included. And I do realize someone else has probably already done this better than I ever will. It's just the start of a little project/idea of mine, that I want to figure out as I go along - keeps life interesting.
I was thinking that If I crossed a really great Heritage Delaware with the Buckeye- which I like, but which didn't fare well in my area. that I might come up with something I could cross with a cornish or rock. I'm just playing with an idea. If I come up with something unique and decent I will easily be able to sell it in my area which is always a plus.
I have nothing against hatchery birds, I have a few myself. They just don't look much like my purebreds of the same breeds.
Again thank you everyone for the input I learn so much from you.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

also, if I am not breeding for egg laying ability and I intend to butcher (or sell for butcher) most of the offspring, I don't think it matters if they are sex linked . . . or am I missing something here? Is there another purpose for sex link or reason I should want it?