The Buckeye Thread

[Minniechickmama]

Here are some photos. I have some Buckeye crosses and some Buckeyes.They are around 7 months old. Comments welcomed!

This is Lucky, a Buckeye/Red Sex link cross cockerel.



Buckeye/Cornish cross pullet: Exactly what I expected!





Buckeye in the back, Buckeye/Cornish in the front. My buckeyes have a number of faults. Colour is as it appears, too pale, none of my Buckeyes is very dark. I'm pleased with the heads though, nice and broad, good yellow legs too, but too much cushion and eyes are all too pale.





Buckeye cockerel on the left, Buckeye/Cornish on the right. My buckeye has blossomed this past couple of weeks, there is hope. Colour is too pale, his comb and wattles could be better, he's a tad small still but otherwise he's maturing much better than I expected- I have almost culled him a number of times.




My pick of the Buckeye/Cornish cockerels.


Buckeye on the left, Buckeye/Cornish on the right.



Buckeye on the left. His legs look short here, but they seem to be the correct length otherwise! Leg length on the Buckeye/Cornish was variable, from quite long to quite short. Legs on the crosses were paler yellow than the pure Buckeye.

It is easy to tell which is which. Those extra crosses are going to make some very good eating!!! They sure tighten up the feathering and square off the bodies. That sex link cross is absolutely GORGEOUS!!

You can see where that is like the ultimate cross for meat, right??

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

It is easy to tell which is which. Those extra crosses are going to make some very good eating!!! They sure tighten up the feathering and square off the bodies. That sex link cross is absolutely GORGEOUS!!

You can see where that is like the ultimate cross for meat, right??

Thank you!
The Buckeye/Cornish crosses were very good, I had an approximately 4.5-5 lb roast from the 18-20 week olds. The biggest glitch with the cross were the profuse filoplumes. I have the trait, it came from the Buckeyes I have- the long filoplumes and plenty of them. I am trying to select that out of my breeding stock.
The Buckeye/red sex link crosses were surprisingly good. Not as much breast as the Buckeye/Cornish, but quite respectable.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

So my Buckeye cockerel seems to have a low tail set and he doesn't carry his wings as high as I like........ but his slate bars are spectacular. His dad didn't have hardly any slate, so I'm very glad to see it reappear in the next generation. He's also pretty meaty, and nice and wide in the back. He got out of the rooster pen today, and he's an enthusiastic breeder but nice to the hens.....So he gets to stick around a bit longer! Lucky boy. Sometimes it pays to be the only one no comparisons can be made!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Here's a photo from today of the only boy we kept at 28 weeks. Still very immature in behavior. I have never heard him crow, though my husband heard him crowing one morning when he was out in the barn early.

Still isn't carrying the tail well and color is not as dark as I'd like. Still hoping he might make some changes for the better as he matures.




eta: very meaty and is wide in the back which doesn't show from this angle. He's a hefty fellow.

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Here's a photo from today of the only boy we kept at 28 weeks. Still very immature in behavior. I have never heard him crow, though my husband heard him crowing one morning when he was out in the barn early.

Still isn't carrying the tail well and color is not as dark as I'd like. Still hoping he might make some changes for the better as he matures.




eta: very meaty and is wide in the back which doesn't show from this angle. He's a hefty fellow.

I think he has potential! Give him time. It will be interesting to see how his offspring do.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@CanadianBuckeye
Thanks. I do think they have the potential to change a lot over a couple of months.

And...strangely enough, I am working at home today and I heard him crow repeatedly this morning over about a 5 minute period of time. Then silence since.

I guess he's not a man of many words.


[My prior sfh roo crowed about every minute....]

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

@CanadianBuckeye
Thanks. I do think they have the potential to change a lot over a couple of months.

And...strangely enough, I am working at home today and I heard him crow repeatedly this morning over about a 5 minute period of time. Then silence since.

I guess he's not a man of many words.


[My prior sfh roo crowed about every minute....]

My original Buckeye rooster did not crow very much. I'm glad, who needs a yappy rooster? I can't take it when they never shut up. I'm selecting for quieter birds, myself..........

 

[stryker]

My original Buckeye rooster did not crow very much. I'm glad, who needs a yappy rooster? I can't take it when they never shut up. I'm selecting for quieter birds, myself..........

I agree, I cannot stand a roo that never shuts up. Or when somebody sets the roo alarm form 4:30_9:00am and when anybody is in the yard.

 

[holm25]

Leah's mom I like him... But he does look a little light colored.... Nice rooster

 

[holm25]

Tried getting pics of some pullets... You can tell how that worked out lol... I will try again tomorrow.

I think I am going to use the cockerel in the last two pics as my main rooster instead of the other guy... The cockerel in pic4 just doesnt have the tail angle necessary to help improve these birds... I like his length though! The new main cockerel isn't quite as long and was alot smaller for awhile but he has picked up his growing and is a lug now! He has nice depth but is not as wide as I would like in the hips but he is still pretty thick... Overall I think I am making the right decision but we wont know till this summer I guess.... What about you guys? Would you use the other cockerel? I will be using both for breeding but am going to start out with my new choice.