The gene-spliced breeds are not good backyard chickens

[2 Acres]

Just a heads up before you get any rhode island reds-- I have read they do best in a single breed flock because they can be aggressive bullies to non RIR. I like different breeds in a flock (and honestly would love to have a Buckeye if I was gunning for a red chicken, over a RIR) so that always stuck out to me.


Anyway, sounds heartbreaking at least with getting one of the battery birds for $1.50 that I've seen Craigslist ads for, you can at least feel like you're giving them a nice life after what they experienced, versus supporting a bad breed being produced.

RIR are one of the most overbred chickens in the industry (production breed). I have never had good luck with standard Reds either.

 

[trenace]

I had five RIR's which my wife found locally and wanted -- they were supposedly "Heritage." Whether they were or not, I have no idea, as I think many buy birds from Tractor Supply or the like thinking they have a bird just like on farms 100 years ago, and then their offspring are sold and buyers end up thinking the birds came from a breeder of genuine heritage birds.

In any case they were giant devourers of food, and were hostile to other breeds. I was glad when she managed to trade them away.

 

[SnackMeat]

These Buckeye observations are based on 3 birds. 2 from a hatchery, one fron TSC. FOOD DRIVEN. Holy cow, these girls love food. Great layers, nice big eggs. And sweet! Friendly, cause they're always checking for snacks.
We raised the 2 hatchery girls in a mixed flock from the same hatchery, but they are pretty large birds and they started bullying (over food), so we moved them out with an older group.
They tolerate winters well, but even with shade, fans, & misting systems, the summers here are are hard on them. 100°++, little rain, lots of wind. Hard on people, too. They stop laying for a couple of months in the summer, but lay fairly well through the winter. We'll most likely have more. Really nice ladies.
Wrong subject for this thread, I know, but I like this breed & wanted to share with @SnackMeat

That's awesome info. Thanks. They're on my list for sure.