The Buckeye Thread

Pics
Date sort Score sort
Blueface said:
Some people may disapprove of my comments but it's no different that true RIR breeders and their opinion of the lighter hatchery type RIRs; they don't view them as true Reds. I know people that have bred buckeyes going on a decade and the actual "improvements" are neglagable but rather than taking constructive critizism, they get a chapped rear and start demonizing people to gain sympathy. I don't consider this class of people breeders....they lack the ability of forethought and the want to truely improve a breed of fowl that deserve it!
Click to expand...

I find that what some people take as criticism are the most valuable comments when it comes to moving ahead. Hearing "your rooster is ugly" has no value, but hearing "Your rooster is ugly because he has a small head, huge wattles and four shades of red" is priceless.
 
CanadianBuckeye, thankfully there are people who can take and appreciate criticism like that and find it priceless, but the flip side of the coin is for example, people who take a bird to a show, to be judged, who post pictures somewhere online, asking for opinions, hear their birds are not that great, and get upset about it. People who breed to show, we'd assume are breeding to the standard of perfection. I.e. breed to make their birds as close to perfect as possible, over time, with careful selection, heavy culling, attention to detail and patience. If a more experienced breeder comes along and points out what still needs fixing, tells them that a bird should be culled from the breeding program, advice them to avoid certain lines, or breeding practices, that advice should be taken with thanks. And this applies to ALL breeds. Unfortunately there are people out there who takes this kind of criticism and advice as personal attacks, instead of seeing that the more experienced breeders are simply trying to help.
 
Last edited:
sumi said:
CanadianBuckeye, thankfully there are people who can take and appreciate criticism like that and find it priceless, but the flip side of the coin is for example, people who take a bird to a show, to be judged, who post pictures somewhere online, asking for opinions, hear their birds are not that great, and get upset about it. People who breed to show, we'd assume are breeding to the standard of perfection. I.e. breed to make their birds as close to perfect as possible, over time, with careful selection, heavy culling, attention to detail and patience. If a more experienced breeder comes along and points out what still needs fixing, tells them that a bird should be culled from the breeding program, advice them to avoid certain lines, or breeding practices, that advice should be taken with thanks. And this applies to ALL breeds. Unfortunately there are people out there who takes this kind of criticism and advice as personal attacks, instead of seeing that the more experienced breeders are simply trying to help.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I don't understand why people seem to be so fragile lately!
I remember reading about a leghorn breeder - I believe it was one of the old early 1900's journals, where a breeder had an expert come in to help choose the best from his flock of 200 or so leghorns. When the fellow was finished, there was only a trio left that were considered fit to breed further. The owner of the flock said that he only made progress after the cull.
 
Blueface said:
In reading older posts I also noticed a few decent pics of young fowl....the size and color looked pretty good and this reminded me of a major flaw in the breed. When you see a Buckeye do well at a show, its often a younger bird. Why is this? Because when they molt out and mature, the color significantly reduces and they lose the ability to actually compete. I've noticed hens from lines molt out more buff and lose undercolor...even molt in speckled. The ALBC line is notorious for this flaw and much of the reason when I refuse to recognize it as a legit Buckeye line. These are the same birds that looked great as pullets and cockerels and are often bred that first year.....this is not a good breeding practice! Just because they look great that first year doesn't mean they'll be worth a quarter the second...third...and so on.

The Buckeye breed still has a long way to go.
Click to expand...

I'm a bit confused about when to breed. Should a Buckeye go through their first adult moult before choosing breeders? Or should they just be a year old? My buckeyes are almost a year old now, they were hatched in early May. I'm guessing they will moult in summer or early fall.... I think my rooster continues to improve (yay!) and the hens...... well......... let's just say three is too few to choose from. But they are all I have.
I'm getting some more eggs next week, that were selected from SOP selected parents, but the chicks will be an "unknown" since this is the first time the hens and roosters have been crossed. Now suppose it turns out that I have better hens from this hatch, but my original rooster is still the best of the lot- he will then be around 2-3 years old before I breed him. I am getting fertile eggs now, so far, so good. Is it OK to wait that long? I do hope for better roosters, of course, from this year's hatch but you never know!
Would there be any value at all in crossing him to the best of the three hens his age? Their biggest fault is excess feather, they are too fluffy. One of their hatchmates, the best hen I had, she had good deep even colour and was a good size, disappeared (of course). That cross would be in the spring of 2017, I don't want fall chicks in 2016. Could I learn something from the offspring, even if I don't expect the cross will produce superior chicks? How long are Buckeye roosters fertile?
I do understand that it's best to start with the best, and I do plan to acquire more polished Buckeyes in the future, but this is all I have for now. Any advice for me?
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

CraziChknLady
Starting over- Buckeyes, Swedish Flower, Speckled Sussex, Chocolate Orp,
Replies
5
Views
428
CraziChknLady
CraziChknLady
GlicksChicks
Buckeye Chicken, Good Breed or Bad?
2
Replies
18
Views
6K
GlicksChicks
GlicksChicks
AinaWGSD
    • Like
Recommendations for breeding from limited stock
Replies
6
Views
244
AinaWGSD
AinaWGSD
GlicksChicks
    • Like
Are Satins Really Silkies?
2 3 4
Replies
33
Views
2K
BigBlueHen53
BigBlueHen53
LaurenRitz
White legs in a Buckeye
Replies
9
Views
767
LaurenRitz
LaurenRitz

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom