by Angie Pollock

Created on: June 09, 2009

The poultry breed Buckeye is a North American bird developed during the 1890s by Nettie Metcalf. A farmwife from Warren, Ohio, Ms. Metcalf created the only American breed that was developed solely by a woman and the only American breed that displays a pea comb. The name of this breed derives from its place of origin, the "Buckeye State" but this bird was first called the "Pea Combed Rhode Island Red". Ms. Metcalf felt that her original name of this breed was limiting its popularity so the name was eventually changed. In 1902, Ms. Metcalf exhibited a pair of these birds with their new name "Buckeye" at a poultry show in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Buckeye is a dual-purpose bird created by crossing Barred Plymouth Rock hens with a Buff Cochin rooster. Later, black-breasted game fowl were added to the breeding program to add to the functionality needed to perform well with farm life. This breed is known for its foraging instincts but also adapts well in confined pens. A problem that confined chickens may experience especially in crowded spaces is "feather picking". The Buckeye is not known to develop this behavior making them a popular bird for small spaces. When allowed to roam, this bird will forage for most anything including mice.

For meat production, the Buckeye has meaty thighs, wings, and breast and the dark meat is considered very dark and the eggs produced are brown. This breed ranges from 6 to 9 pounds with roosters being on the heavier side. This bright red-mahogany bird has a yellowish-red horn, red-toned eyes with a red small to medium pea comb, rounded wattles, and ears. This breed is often misidentified as a Rhode Island Red but there are several differences especially with the appearance of the comb.

The Buckeye is known for its calm temperament and the roosters will rarely become aggressive. This is a hardy breed, stated to be one of the best breeds adaptable to cold weather. Owners of this bird note that Buckeyes rarely have a fear of humans which make them highly recommendable for individuals wanting docile poultry for just the enjoyment of owning chickens. The sounds emitted by the roosters are not typical of most breeds and a "dinosaur-like roar" has been said to be one of the more extraordinary sounds produced from the males.

Admitted to the American Poultry Association(APA) in 1904, the Buckeye is on the "critical" conservation status and is considered a rare breed. Organizations including the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy(ALBC) use events and education in hopes to reintroduce and recover this unique breed from its endangerment status.

References:

STOREY'S ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO POULTRY BREEDS, by Carol Ekarius, copyright 2007.

http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/buckeye.html

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