The Buckeye Thread

[sumi]

Quote: If this chick does turn out to be male you can put him up for rehoming here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/16182/animals-in-need-of-free-re-homing

 

[Big Orp]

Poultry must meet all of the following criteria to be marketed as Heritage:

1. Marketed with the APA seal on the label. If sold butchered.
2. APA Standard-Bred genetics approved by a licensed APA Judge
3. Naturally mating without artificial human intervention
4. Raised on a pasture setting living a long, productive outdoor life span
5. Grown slowly; reaching marketable weights near the age of sexual maturity

 

[Blueface]

Poultry must meet all of the following criteria to be marketed as Heritage:

1. Marketed with the APA seal on the label. If sold butchered.
2. APA Standard-Bred genetics approved by a licensed APA Judge
3. Naturally mating without artificial human intervention
4. Raised on a pasture setting living a long, productive outdoor life span
5. Grown slowly; reaching marketable weights near the age of sexual maturity

Hold up right a minute. Big Orp, I'm just sharing my opinion.

1) "Marketed with the APA seal on the label". Who is going to put that seal on the label? The APA doesn't certify poultry, they are actually actively speaking out against it.
2) The buckeye has a very broad standard so its not hard for even the "hatchery" type fowl to fit within the standard.....so a licensed APA judge could say "It technically fits the SOP....but it is of lesser quality"?!?!?
3) Buckeyes never need human intervention.
4) "Raised on a pasture setting"......I know people that raise them on a 1 acre plot and people that raise them in a 10x10 dog kennel that moves.....are both considered pasture setting? That criteria is so wide open for debate because it has no real definition.
5)Buckeyes mature fairly quickly. With 16-18 weeks they are good to eat and some pullets are thinking about laying. Again, that criteria is pretty wide open for debate.

I'm not trying to be a pain, but the whole "heritage" concept still remains a marketing ploy that is wide open for different interpretations. People feel like they are getting more and they just are not.

 

[JoshU]

My only question.......who is the sheriff in charge of policing these heritage chicken laws? And what is the punishment for breaking said laws? Oh and I am sure that Walt will chime in here, as the APA will be on you like flies on poop for using them to sell your product if you market it with their name attached.

 

[Marengoite]

Poultry must meet all of the following criteria to be marketed as Heritage:

1. Marketed with the APA seal on the label. If sold butchered.
2. APA Standard-Bred genetics approved by a licensed APA Judge
3. Naturally mating without artificial human intervention
4. Raised on a pasture setting  living a long, productive outdoor life span
5. Grown slowly; reaching marketable weights near the age of sexual maturity

So, by admission, this is a marketing ploy to suggest that "Heritage" chickens are somehow superior to APA recognized standard bred chickens, right?

I don't think that will score a lot of brownie points with the APA. Since Cornish cross and commercial hybrid layer aren't APA recognized, I'm curious what the "Heritage" label adds to the current profusion of egg/chicken marketing labels.

 

[sumi]

Quote: There was a discussion on it here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/876809/the-apas-flock-certification-program/0_30#post_13338889

It sounds like slapping the APA label on products is yet another marketing ploy, along with the "Heritage" term.

Bottom line is: If you want decent birds, ignore the labels and the fancy terms. Buy from reputable breeders with a good track record. Don't be afraid to ask for second and third opinions before buying. If you don't feel you know enough about the breed, do some research and ask others who are more familiar to make recommendations. And if you want good stock, stay away from hatcheries.

 

[Big Orp]

Basically what I was trying to get across is that heritage means (to me) that the animal is the way it was intended. the way it was originally developed to be. The animal that our grand parents and great grand parents were raised on. Full blood, pure breed. Whether it is fowl, bovine, swine, seeds. The good stuff not the over manufactured, genetically enhanced, really not good for anything crap that we are exposed to today. That is it, that is all. End of discussion. Instead of flogging some one over a stupid word, you should be helping them to find what they want and be happy someone is looking for quality birds. This is the only way to bring these birds back and rid the market of low quality breeds.

 

[sumi]

Basically what I was trying to get across is that heritage means (to me) that the animal is the way it was intended. the way it was originally developed to be. The animal that our grand parents and great grand parents were raised on. Full blood, pure breed. Whether it is fowl, bovine, swine, seeds. The good stuff not the over manufactured, genetically enhanced, really not good for anything crap that we are exposed to today. That is it, that is all. End of discussion. Instead of flogging some one over a stupid word, you should be helping them to find what they want and be happy someone is looking for quality birds. This is the only way to bring these birds back and rid the market of low quality breeds.

Please calm down. We are simply trying to help. The term "Heritage" means different things to different people and we are seeing it pop up everywhere, used as is convenient and it's losing it's meaning. For hatcheries wanting to sell more chicks, "Heritage" means making their stock sound like more than they are. Ditto for dishonest breeders.

If you want good birds, do as I suggested in my previous post.

 

[Blueface]

Basically what I was trying to get across is that heritage means (to me) that the animal is the way it was intended. the way it was originally developed to be. The animal that our grand parents and great grand parents were raised on. Full blood, pure breed. Whether it is fowl, bovine, swine, seeds. The good stuff not the over manufactured, genetically enhanced, really not good for anything crap that we are exposed to today. That is it, that is all. End of discussion. Instead of flogging some one over a stupid word, you should be helping them to find what they want and be happy someone is looking for quality birds. This is the only way to bring these birds back and rid the market of low quality breeds.

No one is trying to "flog" you; we really wasn't but that definition you threw out there had holes all in it. You could have said what you just wrote and that's cool. I actually strive for that very same thing!! There are a bunch of people that pass through these threads and the information was good for them to read. There are all kinds of buckeyes out there or strains that exhibit different features. They all have their differences, but it is up to you to do the background reading and determine for yourself what you see as "the way it was originally developed"...the buckeye is an odd duck at the moment with different groups visualizing how the breed to look. If you have questions, I'll be more than happy to help you sort it if you are interested. The breed is very fascinating and that we can all agree on. I just don't think "heritage" is a very useful word in this case. I hope you find what you are looking for and they make you happy!! Good luck!

 

[Marengoite]

Poultry must meet all of the following criteria to be marketed as Heritage:

1. Marketed with the APA seal on the label. If sold butchered.
2. APA Standard-Bred genetics approved by a licensed APA Judge
3. Naturally mating without artificial human intervention
4. Raised on a pasture setting  living a long, productive outdoor life span
5. Grown slowly; reaching marketable weights near the age of sexual maturity

I would be very interested to hear Walt Leonard's response to point 1. This definition comes from Frank Reese's site and I an wondering if this is an appropriate use of the APA brand and logo. If it is, then that's fine with me, but I would like to hear what the APA thinks.