Buckeye Chicken Breed – Origin, Traits & Facts

Buckeye

The Buckeye is an American breed of chicken. It was created in Ohio in the late nineteenth century by Nettie Metcalf. The color of its plumage was intended to resemble the color of the seeds of Aesculus glabra, the Ohio Buckeye plant for which the state is called the 'Buckeye State'.

Habitat

Buckeyes thrive in a range of environments but prefer open spaces where they can forage for insects and seeds. They are well-suited to small farms and backyard settings and can perform well in both rural and suburban areas. Their cold-hardiness makes them ideal for northern climates, where they can withstand harsh winters.

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Characteristics

Size45-50 cm

Wing Span60-75 cm

Male Weight3.6 kg

Female Weight2.7 kg

Life Expectancy8 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 4/5

Useful to know

The Buckeye is known for its hardiness in cold climates, making it well-suited for northern regions. It is the only American breed developed solely by a woman, Nettie Metcalf. The breed is also known for its active foraging ability and can help control bugs and pests in a yard.

Gallery

Nettie Metcalf, who created the breed in 1896

A bantam Buckeye hen

Behaviour

TemperamentCurious and active

Flightinesslow

Foraging Abilityexcellent

Confinement Tolerance

Buckeyes tolerate confinement well but thrive when given space to roam and forage. They are known to be active and benefit from environments where they can explore and hunt for insects.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Egg Characteristics

Egg Color

Egg Size

Laying Frequency

Egg Production / Year

Start Laying Age (weeks)

Delaware

The Delaware is an American breed of chicken with an unusual plumage pattern. It was developed in the state of Delaware in the mid-twentieth century, and was initially known as the Indian River. It was briefly of some importance in the American chicken industry, until it was superseded by the common industrial Cornish Rock cross.

Dominique

The Dominique is an American breed of chicken, characterized by black-and-white barred plumage and a rose comb. It is considered to be the oldest American chicken breed, and is thought to derive from birds brought to America by colonists from southern England. It was well known by about 1750, and by the mid-nineteenth century was widely distributed in the eastern United States. It is a dual-purpose breed, but is kept principally for its brown eggs. It became an endangered breed in the twentieth century, but numbers have since recovered.

Java

The Java is a breed of chicken originating in the United States. Despite the breed's name, a reference to the island of Java, it was developed in the U.S. from chickens of unknown Asian extraction. It is one of the oldest American chickens, forming the basis for many other breeds, but is critically endangered today. Javas are large birds with a sturdy appearance. They are hardy, and are well-suited for both meat and egg production, especially by small-scale farms, homesteads, and backyard keepers.