Would buckeye hens be a good choice for me?

[mw44118]

I read about buckeye chickens, and I live in Cleveland, OH, which is very close to where these chickens were invented (invented probably isn't the right word).

Anyway, I'm planning to have a very small number of hens, about two to four, for next year. I love the idea of using a breed that was designed for my region, so I want to try these hens out.

However, I need something that's not going to disturb my neighbors with lots of noise, and I want to make sure the hens will be happy in the way I'm planning to keep them.

Can anyone with experience with buckeye hens talk about how much noise they make?

Also, what kind shelter works well for them? I have several 8x16 garden beds, and I want to convert one to a temporary chicken shelter next year. Would an 8x16 area be big enough to keep them happy?

I plan to let the hens out to forage in my backyard in the evenings when I'm home and can supervise.

If buckeye hens wouldn't be a good match, what would be?

This forum is fantastic.

Thanks so much for all the advice.

 

[faykokoWV]

I don't have buckeyes, but I understand they are not a loud flighty bird. All hens make a lot of noise when they lay an egg, but that is usually during the day so it shouldn't disturb anyone. As to the coop and run size, I would search on this site, there is a lot of information regarding this.

They will need a coop and run of some sort.

 

[ericsplls]

I think buckeyes would work well for meat and eggs. If you only want eggs there are breeds that lay more eggs. But thats the great thing about chickens. There are so many breeds out there that are better at one thing or another. In the end just get what you want. Good to start with just a few so you'll have room to expand once you get hooked. I had chickend growing up, got six last year. This year I just took thirteen out of the brooder, have seven fbcm in the incubator, and a friend has some sebright eggs setting under a hen for me.

 

[Taylor]

depends on your needs, do you want pets??? Do you want a egg-laying breed????? Do you want a meat bird???? I personallly wouldn't use them fro egg production, they would be pretty good for meat production though. they would make a good pet if you tame them. in my opinion for egg production i would use ISA-Browns. the best hatchery for those is www.townlinehatchery.com

 

[AZKat]

I've got two Buckeyes in with a mixed flock, 1 Delaware, 4 EE's, 1 Wyandotte, 1 Andalusian, 1 Amerucana, 1 Rhode Island Red and 2 Barred Rocks. The Buckeyes are calm and docile and seem to be quite happy in the run. They are also good layers, both of them lay 4-6 eggs a week, not as good as a high production hybrid, but quite respectable.
They do make more noise than the other birds, though. Both of them need to announce that they are about to lay an egg, that they are laying an egg, and that have laid an egg. They are also pretty talky in general, and make this odd roaring, hissing noise that is actually kinda cool. They aren't obnoxiously loud, but they aren't super-quiet either."

 

[CARS]

If you haven't read up on them in the Breeds section of the forum, there is about 120 pages of a Buckeye Thread.

Good luck finding some. They are about as scarce as hens teeth right now, (I have always wanted to use that saying) all the breeders I have checked in with are completely out right now. BuckeyeDave just had an incubation failure and lost hundreds of developed eggs

One advantage that you have is since you are close to some of the breeders in that thread you may be able to get away from the minimum # orders that I have to have. If you are not showing or breeding them, I am sure there are a few "seconds" available that would otherwise be made into dinner!

 

[newchicksnducks]

Hello from a fellow NE Ohioan! Last year honeydoll pm'd me with info on Buckeyes. She had some for sale and is in the Stark County area. You might try to PM her and see if she can give you more info, also you might be able to purchase some from her as she was selling some last year. Good luck!