The Buckeye Thread

[Apdeb]

Ask laura pathfinders the expert
Only breed created by a woman go
Canada farm ladies
I told aoxa but i have a place on lake weslemkoon in ontario

edited by staff

 

[Minniechickmama]

Thank you!

Now I can say what they are without feeling foolish for calling them RIRs. The male I got rid of was, and he was scrawny in comparison!

Nice beefy birds with the best foraging I have. Comparable with my CX for distance in range. Yes my CX range far and wide.

I think you have some excellent specimens there! If the first picture of the pullet is true to color, then she has it 'going on' in that department. The cockerel looks like he has a nice frame going and will add to it some more substance in the following months. Overall, I think the breeder's mistake is definitely your gain! One thing you may want to check that isn't visible, is for the bar of slate coloring on the back. This is one very distinguishing color difference between the RIR and the Buckeye. Along with that you want to check how the bird feels, as Chris already stated. Pictures are good at finding general, visible faults, but to truly evaluate a bird, you have to get it in your hands and see it with your own eyes, as a camera can also change their color, so to speak.

 

[cgmccary]

I think you have some excellent specimens there! If the first picture of the pullet is true to color, then she has it 'going on' in that department. The cockerel looks like he has a nice frame going and will add to it some more substance in the following months. Overall, I think the breeder's mistake is definitely your gain! One thing you may want to check that isn't visible, is for the bar of slate coloring on the back. This is one very distinguishing color difference between the RIR and the Buckeye. Along with that you want to check how the bird feels, as Chris already stated. Pictures are good at finding general, visible faults, but to truly evaluate a bird, you have to get it in your hands and see it with your own eyes, as a camera can also change their color, so to speak.

Yes, do check for the slate bar in the back (let us know, Aoxa, about the bar of slate in the under-color of the feathers in the back -- all Buckeyes have at least some feathers in the back with a bar of slate in the under-color, like Laura posted picture of the feather in post #291). In contrast, the RIR feathers will be red all the way to the skin in the back. Your birds still have some juvenile feathers and will be growing their remaining adult plumage.

It can be difficult to assess them without some hands-on with the bird, but the bodies are really different between the two breeds. Look at Laura's Posts #292 and #295. You will see in post #295 the square-shape of the Buckeye vs. the more brick-shape of the RIR; also the orientation of the heads and neck are different. A Buckeye will appear more full in body (i.e. a heavier looking bird).

Aoxa's birds are at an age where they are lanky juveniles & should fill in as they age over the next 12-16 weeks

 

[aoxa]

I think you have some excellent specimens there! If the first picture of the pullet is true to color, then she has it 'going on' in that department. The cockerel looks like he has a nice frame going and will add to it some more substance in the following months. Overall, I think the breeder's mistake is definitely your gain! One thing you may want to check that isn't visible, is for the bar of slate coloring on the back. This is one very distinguishing color difference between the RIR and the Buckeye. Along with that you want to check how the bird feels, as Chris already stated. Pictures are good at finding general, visible faults, but to truly evaluate a bird, you have to get it in your hands and see it with your own eyes, as a camera can also change their color, so to speak.

Does anyone have a picture of what they mean by slate bar?


When I type it into google, this is what I get. If this is it, both have it. I just checked. Female does have a pea comb, but it's not defined. They are both heavy set birds. They feel meaty. Female has two fingers between pelvic bones and is squatting, but you can tell by her comb she is a few weeks from laying yet.

 

[Minniechickmama]

I would take a small comb over a larger one, but making sure it is still a pea comb and not a cushion. As she gets closer to laying it should get a little larger and redder.
knittychickadee, that is the color, however, be sure it isn't just slate undercolor all the way to the skin. There should be a bit of red beneath that slate as you get closer to the skin.

The previous picture is EXACTLY what you want to aim for.

 

[knittychickadee]

I would take a small comb over a larger one, but making sure it is still a pea comb and not a cushion. As she gets closer to laying it should get a little larger and redder.
knittychickadee, that is the color, however, be sure it isn't just slate undercolor all the way to the skin. There should be a bit of red beneath that slate as you get closer to the skin.

The previous picture is EXACTLY what you want to aim for.

I know the correct color. I aim for what's in the Standard

 

[aoxa]

I would take a small comb over a larger one, but making sure it is still a pea comb and not a cushion. As she gets closer to laying it should get a little larger and redder.
knittychickadee, that is the color, however, be sure it isn't just slate undercolor all the way to the skin. There should be a bit of red beneath that slate as you get closer to the skin.

The previous picture is EXACTLY what you want to aim for.

It's what they have. Red, slate and then red again. So I'm glad I figured it out, and that they BOTH are Buckeyes.

I plan on keeping them. I knew from the get go that the RIR seemed strange looking in comparison. They didn't look the same, except for colour. Now I know why!

 

[knittychickadee]

 

[Pathfinders]

The other thing to remember about the bar of slate is that the Standard calls for it to be in the undercolor of the back of the chicken only, not all over the body.

 

[DarkRedBird]

The other thing to remember about the bar of slate is that the Standard calls for it to be in the undercolor of the back of the chicken only, not all over the body.

We cannot forget to remember that since it is posted on this forum at least once a week.