Buckeye chickens originating
in the U.S. state of Ohio. Ohio is known as "the Buckeye state";
which were they got their name. They were first bred and developed in 1896, by
a Warren, Ohio resident named Nettie Metcalf. Nettie Metcalf crossbred Barred
Plymouth Rocks, Buff Cochins, and some black breasted red games to produce the
Buckeye. Her goal was a functional breed that could produce well in the bitter
Midwest winters.
Buckeye chickens are
a calm dual-purpose chicken that have a decent laying ability (between 150 and
200 eggs per year) and strong meat production characteristics. Buckeyes are
yellow skinned chickens that lay brown eggs. They are the only purely American chicken
breed to sport a pea comb, and this, combined with its stocky build, makes them
a supremely cold-hardy chicken.
They also bear
some traits of Game fowl in frame and disposition, being assertive in character
and a very good forager. Despite their game heritage, they tolerate confinement
well, although they will be much happier and produce better if allowed to range
on grass.
Buckeyes are
primarily mahogany red with black tails; sometimes males have other dark
feathering. According to the breed standard, a Buckeye's plumage should ideally
resemble the hue of an Ohio Buckeye's seeds. In the past, largely due its lack
of color variations, the Buckeye has not been an especially popular exhibition
breed.Also they were not adopted by commercial operations so they were generally
used on smaller farm flocks. Theis all resulted in the a decline in their
numbers.
Today there are fewer
than 1,000 breeding Buckeye chickens in the United States, with seven or fewer
primary breeding flocks, and estimated global population less than 5,000. However,
there is a growing interest in the exhibition poultry fancy for this
dual-purpose variety of bird.
Buckeye males
weighs an average of 9 lb (4.1 kg), and the hens 6.5 lb (2.9 kg). They have
yellow skin and lays brown eggs. Especially in the hen, the breed is very
similar in appearance to the Rhode Island Red. Buckeyes can be differentiated
by a bar of slate color on the back feathers close to the body; their body is
also much more compact, with a short yet broad back.
About Buckeye Chickens
