• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Chicken & Chicks Info
  • Chickens
  • Chicks
  • Eggs
  • Blog
  • Find a Hatchery Near You
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Chickens
  • Chicks
  • Eggs
  • Blog
  • Peafowl
  • Egg Farms
  • Hatcheries
  • Avian Vets
  • Guinea Fowl
search icon
Homepage link
  • Chickens
  • Chicks
  • Eggs
  • Blog
  • Peafowl
  • Egg Farms
  • Hatcheries
  • Avian Vets
  • Guinea Fowl
×

Buckeye Chicken Breed Info + Where to Buy

Modified: Feb 28, 2023 by Phil · This post may contain affiliate links ·

The Buckeye chicken is an American classic, originating in Ohio at the turn of the century. They are a dual-purpose chicken that excels at both laying eggs and meat production.

A brown Buckeye Chicken in a chicken coop.
Image source: Chicken Scratch

They are extremely friendly and show almost no fear of humans. This makes them a great pet or 4-H project for children. They are active and require lots of room to roam, so they are an ideal free-range breed.

Buckeyes are also known to be cold hardy. The breed was developed in the cold winters of Ohio, so they do well in the cold as well as the heat of summer. Hens will often continue laying when the temperature drops.

Jump to:
  • How to Buy Online Buckeye Chickens
  • Buckeye Chicken Breed Quick Info
  • Origins of the Buckeye Chicken
  • Some Things to Know About the Buckeye Chicken
  • How Easy is it to Keep Buckeye Chickens?
  • Special Care and Considerations for Buckeye Chickens

How to Buy Online Buckeye Chickens

Cackle hatchery
The Best Hatchery to order from: Read reviews here.

Buckeye Chicks As low as: $3.50 - Read reviews

Buckeye Chicken Breed Quick Info

Buckeye Chicken Description

Buckeye Type/Size:Standard
Feather Color:Mahogany
Leg Type:Clean
Leg Color:Yellow
Skin Color:Yellow
Buckeye Ease of Raising/Keeping:Easy
Buckeye Special Care Needs:No
Is the Buckeye breed a common, rare, or protected breed of chicken?Under conservation “threatened” status

Buckeye Use

MeatYes
EggsYes
Dual PurposeYes
Buckeye Temperament:Active, friendly
Buckeye Ability/Likelihood to Free Range:Yes

Buckeye Egg Production

Egg ColorBrown
Egg SizeMedium-Large
Estimated Number of Eggs Per Year150-200
Likeliness to Brood Eggs/Raise ChicksMedium

Buckeye Meat Production

Dressed Weight Male6 ¼ lbs.
Dressed Weight Female4 ½ lbs.

Buckeye Climate Tolerance

HeatGood
ColdExcellent

Buckeye Age to Maturity

Number of Months to Reach Full Size6 Months
Number of Months to Start Egg Laying6 Months
Number of Weeks/Months to Reach Meat Harvest Size6 Months

Buckeye Size at Maturity

Male9 lbs.
Female6 ½ lbs.

Origins of the Buckeye Chicken

A brown Buckeye Chicken on a green pasture.
Image source: Chicken Scratch

The Buckeye was developed in Warren, Ohio, by Nettie Metcalf. They are the only American breed to be developed solely by a woman. Buff Cochins, Barred Rocks, and Black-Breasted Red Game were crossbred to achieve the Buckeye.

See also  Valbazen for Chickens: Safe and Effective Dewormer

The breed came to be a popular choice for small farms in the midwest. It rivaled the east coast’s Rhode Island Red when it came to productivity and hardiness. However, when the poultry industry became commercialized in the mid-20th century, its popularity declined.

Thanks to dedicated breeders and enthusiasts, as well as support from organizations like The Livestock Conservancy, they are making a comeback in the chicken world.

Some Things to Know About the Buckeye Chicken

A close-up of a brown Buckeye Chicken.

Buckeyes are often confused with the similar-looking Rhode Island Red chicken. But many of their features are distinctive. For example, they have a short, broad frame with a sloped appearance.

Their plumage is darker than the Rhode Island Red, and you will find slate-colored feathers under the plumage on their backs. They also have beautiful black-tipped tails.

Their face, earlobes, and wattles are bright red, and they have yellow legs and skin.

How Easy is it to Keep Buckeye Chickens?

A brown Buckeye Chicken gobbling on a pasture.
Image source: Chicken Scratch

The Buckeye chicken is a great breed for novice and experienced chicken owners alike. Their friendly disposition is hard to resist - they will often approach you before you approach them, especially if you have food.

One unique characteristic that separates Buckeyes from other breeds is their ability to hunt mice. Owners often compare them to cats, as they will ferociously track down any pesky rodents.

They do very well in the cold due to their pea comb. Hens will often continue laying during the winter months.

Buckeye hens may go broody. If they do, they make excellent mothers.

Special Care and Considerations for Buckeye Chickens

For the most part, Buckeyes are healthy, hardy chickens.

See also  Can Chickens Eat Eggplant? (Aubergine) | Only Parts of It!

They are extremely active and prefer an open field to a confined coop. They are an ideal breed for free ranging, as they love to wander and forage insects and seeds. However, they are not the most predator-savvy birds, so be sure to keep them in a fenced or otherwise protected area while they roam.

If you live in an urban setting or close to neighbors, be aware that Buckeye roosters can be particularly noisy. They may also be aggressive during the breeding season.

Buckeye Chicken Breed Info pinterest image.

More Breeds

  • Scots Grey Chicken Breed Info
  • Scots Dumpy Chicken Breed Info
  • Old English Pheasant Fowl Chicken Breed Info
  • Muffed Old English Game Chicken Breed Info

Primary Sidebar

Looking for Chicks For Sale?

Or, check out our extensive list of the best hatcheries by state here!

Recent Posts

  • Scots Grey Chicken Breed Info
  • Scots Dumpy Chicken Breed Info
  • Old English Pheasant Fowl Chicken Breed Info
  • Muffed Old English Game Chicken Breed Info
  • Modern Langshan Chicken Breed Info

Categories

  • Blog
  • Breeds
  • Chickens
  • Chicks
  • Eggs
  • Find a Hatchery Near You
  • Find an Avian Vet Near You
  • Find an Egg Farm Near You
  • Guinea Fowl
  • Peafowl

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 Chicken and Chicks Info LLC.