The Buckeye Thread

[Blueface]

I've had the opportunity to visit with some great people that past few weeks that have come to the farm to acquire buckeye stock. I've had the opportunity to share my perspective of the breed and they see my drive to make the buckeye truly great! I just had a great visit from a gentleman over from northern IN. He brought some buckeyes with him that he picked up from the Ohio Nationals last fall. All I can say is "interesting". Selling and sharing birds is a great thing! What bothers we is how some people can take total advantage of people who don't know any better. I'm not going to mention the hens other than there similarity to a New Hampshire in color alone with one of them being white legged but the the guy paid $50 for a male that is now over a pound underweight....heck a New Hampshire is a darker bird. Now, I understand that feeding comes into play as a bird develops, but I can definitely say that bird had a full breast and was properly filled out....,the bird was healthy......so with that being said.....he was small headed, 15 month cock and weighed less than 7 1/2 lbs (I'm going to start calling these birds "Kentucky Specials" because they sure as heck don't look like an O-H-I-O Buckeye!!)....so those people that preach heart girth and standard weights still has a lot of work to do!!! I can almost gaurantee that these birds were raised on 30% protein and it clearly hasn't helped!!) Guys....PLEASE do your homework!!! There is quite a bit that constitutes exhibition poultry! Don't let people blow smoke up your hind ends preaching amazing show quality if they never had anything to show for it!!! He went home with a cockerel just under 7 months that weighed 7.4 lbs. In two months he'll be standard weight and look great! What's even more disturbing is that I got a phone call from a guy from just above Columbus OH that echoed the exact same story and got birds from the same group of people......do your homework people and make sure you don't waste your hard earned money on subpar birds that peddlers are calling "buckeyes". I wish some of these people doing this had more respect for the breed.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Hello all...


I didn't have the time to read past the first few pages, but I have a quick question. I just received 3 Buckeye chicks from Meyer hatchery. Some one told me that if they don't have a stripe on their heads that means they are male. I ordered 3 females I didn't think they were a sex linked breed, but is this true?


Sorry for the total newbie question, but thought I would go straight to the source.

THanks,
MB

Ideally, there would be no markings at all on the Buckeye chicks, but some do. There are few auto-sexed breeds (those you can sex at hatch because of color differences), and Buckeyes are not one of those.

 

[Blueface]

name="Minniechickmama" url="/t/803253/the-buckeye-thread/2610#post_13948569"]Ideally, there would be no markings at all on the Buckeye chicks, but some do.  There are few auto-sexed breeds (those you can sex at hatch because of color differences), and Buckeyes are not one of those.

I've never had any real success sexing buckeye chicks at a very young age....the males tend to feather in just a bit slower usually.

 

[poltroon]

I love watching the Buckeyes play in the garden, and I love this too,

a great triple-purpose breed: meat, eggs, and kid-raising.

 

[Melabella]

I love watching the Buckeyes play in the garden, and I love this too,

a great triple-purpose breed: meat, eggs, and kid-raising.

These pictures are amazing. What beautiful Buckeyes, and the smile on your sons face is worth a million dollars! I can't wait to raise these 3 little buckeyes I have in the brooder, and learn about this wonderful breed!

MB

 

[parklandchicks]

this I was told is a pure bred buckeye. Any thoughts?

 

[JoshU]

this I was told is a pure bred buckeye. Any thoughts?

It looks like a hatchery buckeye to me.
Not a show bird but it is a buckeye.

 

[poltroon]

this I was told is a pure bred buckeye. Any thoughts?

She is on the lanky side compared to mine - I'd like to see a fuller breast and the head looks small for the body, but a single picture can lie. Different lighting, a different stance, and she might look quite different.

Edited by staff

 

[Blueface]

Unfortunately not all buckeyes fit the description that Its creator intended ...check my link in my signature line if you want to see birds that meet the SOP and also make excellent dual purpose fowl. It also has quite a bit of information regarding the breed.

Buckeyes are a great breed of poultry and well worth the efforts in raising. If bred properly, they can be a real presence in the exhibition arena as well as provide something to be very proud in your flock.

Edited by staff

 

[sumi]

Folks, we've discussed this and are in agreement that in this thread, you are not allowed to discuss BREED CLUBS. NO acronyms, NO club names, NO links to breed club sites, etc. If you are unsure whether a post you're considering making will violate this thread rule, PM a staff member...BEFORE posting.