Chicken Breed History:

Buckeyes came into existence through the efforts of Mrs. Nettie Metcalf in Warren, Ohio. This is the only species of chicken known to have been developed by a woman. Mrs. Metcalf started crossing Buff Cochin males with Barred Rock females, she was not happy with this cross because she considered them large and lazy. So the black breasted red game fowl male was introduced to the resulting Buff Cochin/Barred Rock offspring. This produced several red offspring and the early ancestors were born. Her chickens were being bred and raised at the same time as the Rhode Island Red (RIR), some believe her Buckeyes even predate the RIR’s. As early as 1896, she learned of a very popular “RED” breed on the east coast, the Rhode Island Red, she in fact even traded stock with the Rhode Island Red breeders on the east coast and was convinced she should call her newly developed breed the "Pea Combed Rhode Island Red". This hurt her new breed more than it helped with their popularity, so prior to exhibiting at fair in 1902, she introduced her chickens as Buckeyes. The American Poultry Association first recognized the Buckeye as an individual unique breed in 1904. Buckeyes structurally are very different from a Rhode Island Red. They are more slanted with broader backs and more muscular thighs, Buckeyes in the early 1900’s had a similar appearance to the Cornish Chicken. Buckeyes posses a rich mahogany outer plumage and has a slate color down, they are tight feathered, with the Roosters having irridescent long green tail feathers with some black. The hens will have black tips. Both sexes will have pea combs with small to medium wattles in the roosters and little to no wattles in the hens. The occasional single comb with larger wattles is still found in the breed but is not preferred by poultry exhibitors. The pea comb and tight feathering makes the Buckeye very suitable to colder climates, in fact they handle the cold extremely well and continue to lay throughout the winter months. Surprisingly they make good chickens to keep in very hot and dry conditions as well. Roosters average about 9 pounds and hens 6 1/2 to 7 pounds. They make wonderful dual purpose birds with yellow skin, large breast area and good thigh meat. Buckeyes have their own unique personalities. They are a very active bird that much prefer to free range. A very large coop is suitable, letting them free range is preferred by most and by the birds. They are a very vocal bird and they will spat with each other, lifting their neck feathers frequently asserting their place in the pecking order. Roosters are territorial especially during breeding season and can be quite aggressive toward other roosters. Hens are friendly and make good pets. Pullets will start to lay medium sized at about 6 1/2 months. They are good egg layers. Rarely will Buckeye hens go broody, but they sometimes will. Buckeye chicks will range in color from light yellow to almost a light mahogany. They will mostly be a solid color but sometimes chicks can have a dark strip on their backs. They feather quickly, growth rate is sometimes slower than other dual purpose breeds and they have a tendency not to feather pick each other. Another unique trait to the Buckeye is they will actively mouse as well as a cat, even better at times. Buckeye roosters also have a range of calls they make, they will purr and do a dinosaur like roar. The population status on the Buckeye is considered a critically endangered heritage breed.

Chicken Breed Comments / Experience:

I have raised and bred Buckeye chickens since 2007, NPIP 43-694. After an entire year of researching what chicken would be best suited to our ever changing weather and sometimes quite cold winter and very hot summers. A chicken that was a good egg layer that would lay med/large brown eggs, but also would make nice table fair. I was also searching for a chicken unlike sometimes a Rhode Island Red (which I also raise) that did not stress easily as a chick, were easy brooders and feathered out quickly. Although they do feather out a bit slower than a Rhode Island Red, the ease of raising the Buckeye makes the slower maturing bird inconsequential. I have found all of this and a bird with a very unique personality all in one bird, the Buckeye. For more information please visit: http://www.americanbuckeyeclub.org/ with whom this detailed history on the Buckeye was written. Thank you Jeff Lay for the gorgeous picture of Brutus the top picture and your help.