The Buckeye Thread

[copper2]

Thank you guys! I'll make sure I'll always feed my chickens!- LoL

 

[hellbender]

Thank you guys! I'll make sure I'll always feed my chickens!- LoL

 

[Minniechickmama]

I did sell some hens in July to a woman, who after we moved them onto her truck, she paid me and we were chit-chatting, told me she just free ranges and doesn't buy any feed. I wanted to blow up and make her give my hens back. She doesn't deworm either, and sounds like she really needs to practice doing so. But, what kind of maniac would I have looked like trying to take those hens back from her truck? Of course, the fact that she was over 40 minutes late at the meeting place didn't help with how I felt at that point. So, I am a little more thorough about where my birds are going. I would rather sell them to someone to butcher than to go somewhere that they may eventually starve when the food supply runs out.
When you get into dealing with people enough, you hear all kinds of stories. Some are funny, others not so funny.

 

[copper2]

I did sell some hens in July to a woman, who after we moved them onto her truck, she paid me and we were chit-chatting, told me she just free ranges and doesn't buy any feed.  I wanted to blow up and make her give my hens back.  She doesn't deworm either, and sounds like she really needs to practice doing so.  But, what kind of maniac would I have looked like trying to take those hens back from her truck?  Of course, the fact that she was over 40 minutes late at the meeting place didn't help with how I felt at that point.    So, I am a little more thorough about where my birds are going.  I would rather sell them to someone to butcher than to go somewhere that they may eventually starve when the food supply runs out.
When you get into dealing with people enough, you hear all kinds of stories.  Some are funny, others not so funny.

LoL- didn't she feed them during winter? You might get away with it in spring and summer, but winter! My first year of keeping chickens I had so many roosters the hens were losing feathers! I kicked the roosters out and let the roosters in the coop at night were they ate. Then out they went in the morning.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I don't know what she was thinking or doing. The longer I talked to her the more I wanted to get away because it made me more upset to hear her 'practices' with livestock.

I need to get all the males and females that hatched this year separated this week before any more pullets get beat up. One pullet was getting her feathers torn up pretty bad from the boys in there ganging up on her. I picked her up to move her to a pullet pen and found she had a huge gash on her side under her wing. I felt terrible! I should have known since she was getting so beat up so fast that there was more going on there than overbreeding. I can't build fast enough to get them all outside at once. I don't like keeping them in closed pens all summer when there is plenty to forage. Plus I like having them on grass to walk rather than on litter and dirt like I have in the closed pens. Had I known when I started raising poultry all I know now, I would be doing this whole thing differently as far as how I pen them and materials to use. But... hindsight is 20/20.

 

[BlackBriars]

I do intend to harvest my chickens for food when they reach that point. But I also put a lot of care and thought into how they spend their little lives and try to make it as rich and rewarding as possible. It brings me great joy to watch the chickens go about their daily lives. That's one of the reasons Cornish x aren't on the menu.

I have cooked for my dogs daily for years, they have never been confined, and are free to spend their days doing dog things and they do. They just aren't allowed to harass the chickens! I'm one of those people that finds reward in the care and company of animals. I think its good for the blood pressure.

 

[Minniechickmama]

My daughter started calling it 'bunny therapy' when she got her first Holland Lops. She would go out after a tough day of school drama and snuggle her bunnies. I know others who do the same with their animals. I am sort of that way with our little kitty that was born here this Spring, I always make time to snuggle her and I know I feel better after.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

MCM and blackbriars, defnitely, our critters are therapeutic! I really enjoy researching animal diets and giving my dogs, cat and chickens the best food I can. I really think it pays off, their feathers and coats look great and they have sparkles in their eyes.
Around here there are idiots who think that chickens do fine with just snow for water in the winter.

Really ticks me off. Jerks.
Anyway, on a happier note....... MCM I looked up your website, your Buckeyes are awesome. It really helps to see such nice examples of the breed, I can look at mine in a more critical way. As a total beginner I am finding it hard to describe what's off- I can see a great example, and a not so great example, and tell one from the other, but I can't pinpoint exactly what's wrong (other than the real easy stuff like colour and combs and wattles.) But, it seems to be getting easier the more Buckeyes I see,so I think my critical eye is developing!

 

[BlackBriars]

Bunny therapy.... yes, that's it.


CB, you'll be an old hand when it comes to Buckeyes soon enough I'll bet.

I'll have to check out that website. I'm drawn to Buckeyes and their coloration. Partially because I'm originally from the upper mid west and also because their color reminds me of the registered Duroc hogs I raised as a kid.

 

[Minniechickmama]

MCM and blackbriars, defnitely, our critters are therapeutic! I really enjoy researching animal diets and giving my dogs, cat and chickens the best food I can. I really think it pays off, their feathers and coats look great and they have sparkles in their eyes.
Around here there are idiots who think that chickens do fine with just snow for water in the winter.

Really ticks me off. Jerks.
Anyway, on a happier note....... MCM I looked up your website, your Buckeyes are awesome. It really helps to see such nice examples of the breed, I can look at mine in a more critical way. As a total beginner I am finding it hard to describe what's off- I can see a great example, and a not so great example, and tell one from the other, but I can't pinpoint exactly what's wrong (other than the real easy stuff like colour and combs and wattles.) But, it seems to be getting easier the more Buckeyes I see,so I think my critical eye is developing!

I am familiar with people thinking that snow is a good enough for a water source.
I appreciate the comments, but don't be fooled, mine still need work. I think they are good example of the difference between one line and another. If I am not mistaken, the ones you folks north of the border are ALBC line?