- Jul 23, 2013
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It should be a fun weekend! Beautiful birds, friends and laughter. I can't wait :-D
The Buckeye Thread
- Thread starter Happy Chooks
- Start date
And Twinkies, I bet 
That's a good point Sarah, the most important thing to always remember is to have fun!!!!! This is just a hobby and if you're not having fun then you need to ask yourself why you are doing it?!?! I really have fun exhibiting birds and talking with other exhibitors. People for the most part are very friendly and love to talk. I had the opportunity to talk with so many people last weekend. The buckeyes were a hit! Everyone of them made mention of my enthusiasm for the breed which they appreciated!!!! What is great is that it's still early into the show season and I plan on attending several more shows this spring and early summer. I'm actually anticipating the fall shows now because I've managed to put nearly 200 LF biddies on the ground and a couple dozen bantams. Everything is developing great, those little bantams are so dark in color, nice heads and what I'm appreciating is how nice the undercolor and combs are turning out.....initial looks show great promise!!
Make sure you enjoy every aspect in raising poultry! That is what this hobby is truly about!
Glad you are happy with themHello, new to this thread.... Just got my FIRST group of chickens.... Buckeyes!!! So excited... Had to drive 5 hrs round trip, but so far it's been worth every minute! 1 roo (BuckO) and 10 ladies... The lady shown is Buckett
I've had them since Sunday afternoon and have already fell in love with their personality and the funny noises they make!!!!
Feeding buckeyes: It is hatching season and there are several different opinions regarding how birds should be fed. I find most of them amusing as well as very expensive. Its well known that the buckeye is a dual purpose bird and does require the proper feeding schedule to ensure proper genetic development. Have in mind that just because you feed the proper feed doesn't necessarily mean or will determine the bird is genetically engineered to meet the ideal breed standard or description. Good breeding stock is of the upmost importance. I've noticed several buckeyes being bred short in the back and excessively wide in the chest of which narrows as you go back toward the tail.....please remember the standard states a rather long back and not a short one. Buckeyes should never be round; wyandottes are round.....One thing to consider that I've observed is the shorter the bird, the less effective it will be for egg production......I spoke with a judge just this past weekend and he mentioned he judged some buckeyes in IL, he made mention that the color was poor and the backs were short. So those breeding buckeyes should pay attention to those features. There is far more to the breed that a big wide chest; it often provides an unbalanced bird and one that looks "off" in a show pen. I'm sure they make for a great table bird; but Nettie Metcalf wanted the breed to be more than that. So make sure you have adiquate breeding stock to begin with...afterall it starts with the egg.
Just because someone can talk a good game and sound like they make sense doesn't mean they actually do.......when selecting a breeder to acquire birds from make sure their practices mirror what they are preaching. The offsprings will never be any more that their perspective parents; the apple never falls far from the tree. So if the color is poor or any other trait is not right; expect those problems in your offsprings.
Back to feed.......I start out with a 22-24% meat grower (which ever my feed mill is carrying at the time) for about 8-10 weeks and cut it back 20%. Typical cornish crossed are raised on a 24-22% protein diet so why is it necessary to exceed that? All it will do is cost more money and little to know advantage is gained. My bucks have thrived with these values. As they mature; you will need to adjust your feed to ensure that it is properly balanced with grains they will eat. I don't advise ever feeding just a crumble or pellet diet to mature fowl because their are multiple grains available that will benefit your birds.
There are opinions floating around that high protein (27-30%) is the best way to feed young buckeyes. I see 3 problems with feeding high protein feeds to young poultry.Sure, it is well documented that the growth rate do increase and pretty rapidly, but what isn’t visually witnessed is what long term effects feeding high protein does to them. Unless you are feeding them out to be Cornish X’s (to which they are not) for rapid growth then slaughter, I would greatly recommend not feeding feeds that have protein contents of greater than 24%.
If we look closer at the meat production chickens, specifically Cornish Xs, the protein content is reduced to keep them as breeders. So why would we want to provide buckeyes with feeds that have high protein content if we are wanting to produce breeding and egg production stock? Feed manufactures (poultry scientists more likely) developed the formulas for most of the chicken feeds on the market today. They have done a lot of experimental trials and research to determine what a "balanced" feed would yield the best results for the different stages of growth for poultry. You have to remember, these are only chickens and not rocket science.
Which brings to problem #1: If you’re raising young pullets to become layers, you want them to grow efficiently to develop good strong bones and to reach a normal body weight before they begin producing eggs. High-protein diets tend to hurry the birds into production before their bodies are quite ready. Therefore, the ration for growing pullets, from leaving the brooder at 8 weeks to about 14 weeks, should be about 18-20% protein. I’ve personally witnessed a few layers get too big too fast and have leg and joint problems from being fed high protein feed. Your laying hen only need 16-18% protein and anything above that is a waste, both in the feed lot and your pocket book.
Which runs right into problem #2: Protein costs money and the higher protein feed is almost certain to be more expensive.Feeds that contain 30% protein is too high of protein for poultry and a waste of money just because they don't need that much protein. Excess protien passes through the system and therefore is wasted.
Which ends us at problem #3: How they pass it out of their systems and problems that could result if it isn’t passed due to a variety of reasons. I have read that high protein levels can contribute to gout or kidney damage in poultry. Feed containing 30% of protein or more causes uric acid production which in turn creates an excretory load on kidneys. In birds uric acid is the end product of nitrogen metabolism. Uric acid is a nitrogenous waste from protein breakdown and is produced mainly in the liver to which is excreted by the kidneys. High blood levels of uric acid favor its precipitation in tissues. Uric acid is not toxic but precipitated crystals can cause mechanical damage to tissues like kidneys, heart, lungs, intestines and also in the joints. These crystals severely damage body tissues. So Gout is a condition in which kidney function decreases to a point where uric acid accumulates in the blood and body fluids.
So to conclude; if you choose to feed your birds with feeds that have a high protein content, it is your choice but you should be made away of side effects that may occur.
Just because someone can talk a good game and sound like they make sense doesn't mean they actually do.......when selecting a breeder to acquire birds from make sure their practices mirror what they are preaching. The offsprings will never be any more that their perspective parents; the apple never falls far from the tree. So if the color is poor or any other trait is not right; expect those problems in your offsprings.
Back to feed.......I start out with a 22-24% meat grower (which ever my feed mill is carrying at the time) for about 8-10 weeks and cut it back 20%. Typical cornish crossed are raised on a 24-22% protein diet so why is it necessary to exceed that? All it will do is cost more money and little to know advantage is gained. My bucks have thrived with these values. As they mature; you will need to adjust your feed to ensure that it is properly balanced with grains they will eat. I don't advise ever feeding just a crumble or pellet diet to mature fowl because their are multiple grains available that will benefit your birds.
There are opinions floating around that high protein (27-30%) is the best way to feed young buckeyes. I see 3 problems with feeding high protein feeds to young poultry.Sure, it is well documented that the growth rate do increase and pretty rapidly, but what isn’t visually witnessed is what long term effects feeding high protein does to them. Unless you are feeding them out to be Cornish X’s (to which they are not) for rapid growth then slaughter, I would greatly recommend not feeding feeds that have protein contents of greater than 24%.
If we look closer at the meat production chickens, specifically Cornish Xs, the protein content is reduced to keep them as breeders. So why would we want to provide buckeyes with feeds that have high protein content if we are wanting to produce breeding and egg production stock? Feed manufactures (poultry scientists more likely) developed the formulas for most of the chicken feeds on the market today. They have done a lot of experimental trials and research to determine what a "balanced" feed would yield the best results for the different stages of growth for poultry. You have to remember, these are only chickens and not rocket science.
Which brings to problem #1: If you’re raising young pullets to become layers, you want them to grow efficiently to develop good strong bones and to reach a normal body weight before they begin producing eggs. High-protein diets tend to hurry the birds into production before their bodies are quite ready. Therefore, the ration for growing pullets, from leaving the brooder at 8 weeks to about 14 weeks, should be about 18-20% protein. I’ve personally witnessed a few layers get too big too fast and have leg and joint problems from being fed high protein feed. Your laying hen only need 16-18% protein and anything above that is a waste, both in the feed lot and your pocket book.
Which runs right into problem #2: Protein costs money and the higher protein feed is almost certain to be more expensive.Feeds that contain 30% protein is too high of protein for poultry and a waste of money just because they don't need that much protein. Excess protien passes through the system and therefore is wasted.
Which ends us at problem #3: How they pass it out of their systems and problems that could result if it isn’t passed due to a variety of reasons. I have read that high protein levels can contribute to gout or kidney damage in poultry. Feed containing 30% of protein or more causes uric acid production which in turn creates an excretory load on kidneys. In birds uric acid is the end product of nitrogen metabolism. Uric acid is a nitrogenous waste from protein breakdown and is produced mainly in the liver to which is excreted by the kidneys. High blood levels of uric acid favor its precipitation in tissues. Uric acid is not toxic but precipitated crystals can cause mechanical damage to tissues like kidneys, heart, lungs, intestines and also in the joints. These crystals severely damage body tissues. So Gout is a condition in which kidney function decreases to a point where uric acid accumulates in the blood and body fluids.
So to conclude; if you choose to feed your birds with feeds that have a high protein content, it is your choice but you should be made away of side effects that may occur.
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I agree with what you have said here Joe. I give chicks 25% starter by mixing half of each of the 22% chick and 28% turkey starter. I have both on hand anyhow during hatching season. I then put them on a 19% grower at around 8 weeks. Then they get 17% layer with pork meal added for animal protien which bumps it up to 18%. All of my feed is milled locally except the starter. I am happy with the growth and end result of my formula. I also have quality breeder birds to begin with which I believe makes as much a difference as a proper feed does.
- Jul 23, 2013
- 399
- 75
- 117
Congratulations Blueface/Shumaker Farm for winning Champion American with your cock bird at the Bluegrass show in Kentucky. You are doing an amazing job getting the buckeye bird out there in everyone's eyes!!!
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Good morn!
Looking for someone willing to send me some photos of:
- Buckeye adult(s); either gender will do! Side profile standing would be awesome if you are able.
- Buckeye adult: detailed photo of the grey bar of colour in the undercolour of the back (if possible!).
- Buckeye chick(s), day olds if possible.
Looking for a way to compare how very nice and even shade of rich mahogany bay the feathers are on this breed!
Want to post them to another BYC breed thread to show the Buckeye's uniqueness so asking your permission to "cross post" these photos.
Please PM and I will send you my e-mail address.
Thank you most kindly.
Doggone & Chicken UP!
Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada
Looking for someone willing to send me some photos of:
- Buckeye adult(s); either gender will do! Side profile standing would be awesome if you are able.
- Buckeye adult: detailed photo of the grey bar of colour in the undercolour of the back (if possible!).
- Buckeye chick(s), day olds if possible.
Looking for a way to compare how very nice and even shade of rich mahogany bay the feathers are on this breed!
Want to post them to another BYC breed thread to show the Buckeye's uniqueness so asking your permission to "cross post" these photos.
Please PM and I will send you my e-mail address.
Thank you most kindly.
Doggone & Chicken UP!
Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada
- Jun 28, 2011
- 39,160
- 27,380
- 1,302
Congratulations on your wins!
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