Which buckeye strain should I be looking for?

[RuffIedFeathers]

For show quality purposes? I never knew chickens were so complicated! Educate me in the simplist terms on buckeyes and their stains.
Any known good breeders here by chance?
Thank you!

 

[AGeese]

Meyer Hatchery:


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[JKHerdItAll]

It depends what your specific goals are! On our little homestead, it's vigor > personality > looks > utility. We chose our Buckeyes from a line that everyone says is the friendliest - Bill Dyke's. He started his line with Lay & Shumaker stock. We started with them this year and have got some work to do as far as SOP (most are a bit small and some have black hackles), but so far, they're all SUPER friendly! I know a few people who have gotten some from Aaron Baker - he's one of the newer Master Breeders and has absolutely gorgeous birds, but I've heard multiple reports that they're skittish.

 

[Acre4Me]

For show quality, as you stated, you should possess the APA book of Standards. This is available on the APA website, and is invaluable for selecting birds for show.

We purchased some from Meyer, and they look decent, but I haven’t looked at them with the standards out to make sure they don’t have disqualifications, or issues.