Breed profile
Buckeye
The winter-proof Ohio original. The Buckeye is the only American-class breed with a pea comb, and the pea comb plus stocky build is what earns the supremely cold hardy call. Egg output is solid without being spectacular, 150 to 200 brown eggs a year, on a bird that forages hard and carries some Game-fowl assertiveness in its frame. The conservation status is threatened, so a backyard flock is a conservation project that pays eggs.
The egg numbers
| Eggs per year (first laying year) | 150–200 |
|---|---|
| In-lay rate | ≈3–4 a week |
| Strain note | A good meat producer and layer of between 150 and 200 eggs per year, well-suited to small farmyard and backyard flocks; the hatchery table gives 3-5 eggs a week. |
| Egg color | brown |
| Egg size | large |
| Starts laying | 22–26 weeks |
Body and climate
| APA class | American |
|---|---|
| Comb | pea |
| Distinguishing features | developed by Nettie Metcalf of Ohio, the only American breed known to have been created by a woman · a bar of slate color on the back feathers close to the body; compact build with a short, broad back |
| Skin color | yellow |
| Conservation status | Watch |
| Mature hen weight | 6.5 lb |
| Mature rooster weight | 9 lb |
| Weight note | Males average 9 lb and hens 6.5 lb. |
| Cold hardiness | excellent |
| Climate note | The pea comb plus stocky build makes the Buckeye a supremely cold hardy chicken, the only American-class breed with a pea comb. |
Character
| Temperament | Bears some traits of Game fowl in frame and disposition, assertive in character and a very good forager. |
|---|---|
| Foraging | good |
| Broodiness | moderate |
| Broody note | The spec table lists Broody: Occasionally. |
| Good first breed | Yes |
What this means for your setup
Standard heavy-bird housing at 6.5 and 9 pounds, with the strong foraging arguing for run space if you have it. Cold hardiness is the headline: pea comb, dense build, so winter care is mostly the water heater. The assertive streak means a Buckeye rooster is a flock protector first; read the disposition notes before ordering males for a kid-friendly flock.
Gear that fits this breed
Coop Size Calculator
turn 6.5-lb hens into coop, run and roost numbers
Egg Calculator
turn the 150–200 egg-a-year range into a hen count
Best Coops for Cold Climates
a cold-excellent breed earns the winter-spec picks
How Much Space Chickens Need
heavy fowl are the reason the generous end of the space math exists
Buckeye FAQ
How many eggs do Buckeye hens lay?
Expect 150-200 brown eggs per year on a dual-purpose frame.
Are Buckeyes cold-hardy?
Supremely: the pea comb and stocky build make it supremely cold hardy, and it is the only American-class breed with a pea comb.
Why are Buckeyes rare?
Current conservation listings place the Buckeye in the Watch category, with a 2022 rating of threatened and a critical mark on the global FAO list. Backyard flocks directly support the breed's recovery.