The Buckeye Thread

[slfarms]

It's official - while my buckeye peep may have some Buckeye in her - I got pooned by the hatchery.    She is still that light color in the last picture - even lighter than a red sex link !     At least she is a hen.   ha ha ha

And it did spark my interest to learn much more about this breed and decide to get more next spring.  

I'm only a few years into chicken keeping ..... so I started with some general hens at the tractor store .... learned more and then got some mixes from a farm and some disguard (old ones that owners couldn't cull) and then learned about so much with that mix .... this year was the first I got from hatcheries (and joined here)  so now I've got another lesson learned.   ha ha ha  I really figured a hatchery would be a decent bet. 

We started with a pair that was advertised on Craigslist. Then as we did more research realized they were hard to come by so we ordered pullets from a hatchery. Those birds started our learning curve about Bucks. We then bought a roo that was for sale at our state fair and the rest is history. Lol. Hatchery birds or mixes are a great start to learn about chickens when you don't have a breeder resource to guide you or can't find information on the web that is accurate. Keep gathering info and find a breeder willing to part with a decent cull pair. Then you will be on your way with bucks

 

[Metella]

Yes - I can't wait !

And I should be ok - as since I have no interest in showing at all (I don't have the temperment or motivation) I will be thrilled with a culled pair to start off or some less than perfect peeps which will still be worlds better and more Buckeye than any hatchery peeps !

 

[AinaWGSD]

.... this year was the first I got from hatcheries (and joined here) so now I've got another lesson learned. ha ha ha I really figured a hatchery would be a decent bet.

Well, that decent bet really depends on your goals. Hatcheries have their place, as do breeders. The best place for someone to get birds depends on what they plan to do with them and what their goals for the future are. If you just want some yard birds, a hatchery will do just as well as any other source (and better than some as far as not bringing in diseases). If you want birds that resemble the breed standard, then you're better off finding a breeder.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Question about featherd feet. I was cutting the band off my cockerel yesterday, and while I had him and was taking a good close look at his feet (with the recent move and my DH breaking his leg last weekend I haven't been paying as much attention as I should and it was starting to get a little tight, fortunately no harm appears to have been done) I noticed that on both feet he has the tiniest feather stubs between the middle and outside toes. Has anyone else seen this in their Buckeyes and is it something to be concerned about? I don't know if any of the pullets from the same hatch have these or not. I gave up on chasing them around the pen this afternoon, though I do really need to catch them and check their leg bands (neon colored zip ties) too. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow morning before the pop door opens and they get out of the coop.

 

[slfarms]

Question about featherd feet.  I was cutting the band off my cockerel yesterday, and while I had him and was taking a good close look at his feet (with the recent move and my DH breaking his leg last weekend I haven't been paying as much attention as I should and it was starting to get a little tight, fortunately no harm appears to have been done) I noticed that on both feet he has the tiniest feather stubs between the middle and outside toes.  Has anyone else seen this in their Buckeyes and is it something to be concerned about?  I don't know if any of the pullets from the same hatch have these or not.  I gave up on chasing them around the pen this afternoon, though I do really need to catch them and check their leg bands (neon colored zip ties) too.  Maybe I'll do that tomorrow morning before the pop door opens and they get out of the coop.

The bucks are a non feather footed breed. If you are seeing pin feathers or small feathers between the toes I would question if the breeder or hatchery you received the birds from had crossed in a feather footed fowl at some point and the mating that your roo came from brought that gene trait forward into your roo. None of our bucks have shown this. :-(

 

[buffalogal]

The bucks are a non feather footed breed. If you are seeing pin feathers or small feathers between the toes I would question if the breeder or hatchery you received the birds from had crossed in a feather footed fowl at some point and the mating that your roo came from brought that gene trait forward into your roo. None of our bucks have shown this. :-(

The gene that causes stubs between the toes is not the same that causes feathered feet. Stubs are caused by a mutation that can occur in any clean legged breed.

 

[slfarms]

The gene that causes stubs between the toes is not the same that causes feathered feet. Stubs are caused by a mutation that can occur in any clean legged breed.

Per the APA SOP and showmanship guide here is the response so "stubs" Why are having stubs on the legs a DQ?
Because in chickens it’s a demonstration cross breeding of clean legged and feather leg breeds.-------if the bucks are only showing it between the toes the crossing wouldn't be a close family mating. But would be considered a defect per the SOP. If you are using them just for eggs or back yard chickens they are still happy fun birds even with stubs.

 

[fowlman01]

Ducks sometimes have stubs, so it does not mean that it was crossed with a feather footed breed. There is no ducks with feathers on their feet.

w.

 

[slfarms]

Ducks sometimes have stubs, so it does not mean that it was crossed with a feather footed breed. There is no ducks with feathers on their feet.

w.

. So you are saying that the SOP and APA answer for stubs is incorrect? If so the APA might need to adjust the documentation. Confused ?!?! :-(

 

[fowlman01]

. So you are saying that the SOP and APA answer for stubs is incorrect? If so the APA might need to adjust the documentation. Confused ?!?! :-(

yes,if that is what you read. Where did you read this in sop?I need the page numbers.

Walt