My Account
Shopping Cart ( )
The history of Buckeye is an interesting one. It is an American breed that was developed in Ohio which is also known as the Buckeye state, hence the name. This breed was also developed solely by a woman named Nettie Metcalf. She first showed this bird in 1902 and it became a favorite very fast. It was admitted into the American Standard of Perfection in 1904.
It took Nettie Metcalf two years to develop this breed. The first year she crossed a Barred Cochin rooster with a Barred Rock hen. The second-year she crossed a Black Breasted Red rooster with a hen from the first year cross. This developed the Buckeye. This beautiful chicken has a Cornish body shape, with deep red color plumage that is darker than the Rhode Island Red, and yellow skin. Some prefer this chicken over the Rhode Island Red because of the body shape and color. The Buckeye is also the only American breed with a pea comb.
Along with the beauty of their color the Buckeye is known to be exceptionally friendly and curious. They like to be in your arms or walking right beside you. The nature of the Buckeye makes them a great choice for first-time chicken owners. They are not pickers so they would be good for introducing new chickens too. The Buckeye breed love to eat mice and are great foragers. They also do best in a free-range situation. The roosters are known to be aggressive sometimes. Some people say that they have dinosaur-like roar.
| Egg Color | Brown | Hardiness | Cold and Heat |
| Egg Size | Medium | Broody | Sometimes |
| Egg Production | Fair/Good | Hen Weight | 7 lbs |
| Personality | Friendly | Rooster Weight | 9 lbs |
Live Chick Guarantee
We guarantee your ordered number of birds arrive healthy and true to breed. Please contact us immediately should any losses or variances to your order occur, this guarantee is only for the safe and live delivery of your poultry. Any loss must be reported to Chickens for Backyards within 3 days of receipt for any adjustment to be made. Reshipments are subject to availability and minimum shipping requirements. If eligible, we will reship only once. Reimbursements are limited to the cost of the birds and will not include shipping charges.
Click here to learn more about shipping baby chicks and Marek’s vaccination
Naomi Steffanson –
Love my Buckeyes
I placed an order of various breeds this past summer. They are all 18 weeks old now. My Buckeye rooster is the most curious and chatty little chicken in my flock. He likes to follow me around when I’m doing yard work in hopes that I dig up bugs for him. He loves scratching around the compost pile. He’s a real joy on the farm, and so beautiful. My hen hasn’t started laying yet, but hopefully she will soon. She’s a very sweet girl and turning into a beautiful little lady.
Susanna Northrup –
Very solid chickens
My two Buckeye hens, purchased last May, are doing well. I do believe they are the loudest of my mixed flock, and I can always tell who’s making chicken noises out in the yard. Very cold-tolerant and smart, too.
princessanne1956 –
Glad to find someplace that carries Grandma Nettie’s chickens. I have been searching for Buckeye chickens and was unable to find any. We will soon have a coop and pen set up so we can have a few Buckeye chickens of our own.