The Buckeye Thread

[CanadianBuckeye]

Your male is too short in the back and his color is not good, he's too light. Outside of looking small (probably due to age; but he should be 8 lbs by now), I don't see anything else that is troubling. It may be there and it may not, but the color on the front of the shanks should be a nice reddish horn.

The hen looks fluffy, her tail looks pinched (note: "looks".... Hard to say that it is from a pic) if she has white in her primaries, that will be passed on and IMO is an obvious reason to cull her. I got a hen from somebody and it passed white wing feathers. I had to cull the whole lot of them because of color issues.

Thank you! I'm glad that I was able to spot some of those faults! I'm learning!

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Actually, around 1902 the RIR club persuaded Nettie to name the buckeyes; pea comb RIRs and she did. They tried to change Nettie's standard for them and remove the slate bar undercolor. At that time Buckeyes were much darker than the RIRs. Long story made short, Nettie didn't like the changes and changed her breeds name back to the Buckeye Reds before they were recoginized into the standard. After the breed was recognized, the RIR community had a fit about the name including "red" and they moved to the APA to have the "red" struck from the name and succeeded because the RIR community wanted to be the only "red" breed. So as a result, the breed was called the Buckeye only.

The more I learn about Nettie Metcalf the more I realize what a remarkable person she was. She must have had a very tough time but she persevered!

 

[Blueface]

Thank you! I'm glad that I was able to spot some of those faults! I'm learning!

You're welcome, it all takes time but you are on the right path.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Is a short back a sign that my rooster would pass on poor egg laying ability to his female chicks?

 

[Blueface]

Is a short back a sign that my rooster would pass on  poor egg laying ability to his female chicks?

It is a sign that the pullets he produces will more than likely be shorter in the back, in turn may result in lesser egg production. It has been observed that females that are of longer body tend to have better Egg Production capabilities. What I'd be more worried about is the offsprings continuing the trend of producing shorter backed offsprings. Its not really a way of improving your line because fundamentally you are altering the type away from the standard.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Thanks Blueface
(I've run out of available ovations ! )

 

[Blueface]

Thanks Blueface
(I've run out of available ovations ! )

If you have anymore questions, all you need to do is ask....

Breeding buckeyes is a great deal of fun. Its not quite as difficult as some have made it out to be or sound. Its very important that you start with quality breeding stock or you'll be chasing your tail to get the least little improvement for years. Many people that have attempted this breed have proven that; a decade later and still trying to do something!?!? Its very important that you breed a complete bird...don't get tunnel vision on a single aspect and let everything else go to pot....I have seen people do that!
With a little common sense, an open mind, a set goal and quality breeding stock; the sky is the limit with the Buckeye!

You should keep in mind that Nettie viewed good color as important as type. Its important to maintain that mindset, IMO. Both aspects MAKE the buckeye what it is! The APA obviously places more emphasis on type and thats all well and good but I feel it's important to keep Nettie's frame of mind when breeding and not a standard that the RIR club of old set for the breed.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

If you have anymore questions, all you need to do is ask....

Breeding buckeyes is a great deal of fun. Its not quite as difficult as some have made it out to be or sound. Its very important that you start with quality breeding stock or you'll be chasing your tail to get the least little improvement for years. Many people that have attempted this breed have proven that; a decade later and still trying to do something!?!? Its very important that you breed a complete bird...don't get tunnel vision on a single aspect and let everything else go to pot....I have seen people do that!
With a little common sense, an open mind, a set goal and quality breeding stock; the sky is the limit with the Buckeye!

You should keep in mind that Nettie viewed good color as important as type. Its important to maintain that mindset, IMO. Both aspects MAKE the buckeye what it is! The APA obviously places more emphasis on type and thats all well and good but I feel it's important to keep Nettie's frame of mind when breeding and not a standard that the RIR club of old set for the breed.

This year, if all works out, I should have some very good Buckeyes to start with! Thanks Blueface I appreciate it, and all the help others have given me to- although I'm warning you, there will be a LOT of questions!!!!

 

[Blueface]

34 out of 36 hatched this week. It's been a great year so far!

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

I was only just thinking of firing up my incubator, and all of a sudden we've had mystery power failures for no reason, and the winter storms have started to show up. AArgggghhhh!