Why Buckeyes?

Last winter and early spring (2009), HE built a beautiful chicken coop for our new flock. Unfortunately, the birds never materialized. We had placed our order too late and everywhere else I looked, Buckeyes were sold out. We weren’t exactly devastated, but very disappointed. I remember a friend telling us to just go to the local farm supply store and pick up some of whatever chicks they were selling—perhaps he was tired of hearing me complain about our loss. I briefly considered the idea. It would mean eggs in 6 months (or sooner) instead of a year and a half. The big rush to finish the chicken coop would not have been for naught. And really, I just wanted some chickens running around the place. But my heart had already been stolen by the Buckeye.

 The Chicken Condo

While we knew we wanted chickens, we hadn’t given much thought to breeds. I think the farthest I got was thinking I wanted chickens that laid largish brown eggs. (Don’t ask why—I have no idea!) At some point in our research about farming and animals we came across The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy http://albc-usa.org/. It’s an extraordinary organization dedicated to protecting endangered livestock breeds.

We read up on the Buckeye and discovered that they possess features that we hadn’t even considered—cold hardy, friendly temperaments, good layers as well as meat birds and they (apparently) catch mice. Of course, different breeds would develop different features. We knew this about dogs, but chicken personalities hadn’t really crossed our minds. Our education on various breeds helped us narrow down those traits we admired or felt important to our decision. So in addition to laying large brown eggs :-) Buckeyes are the only breed developed by a woman—Nettie Metcalf.

Another factor that helped us decide on the Buckeye was their critically-endangered listing on the ALBC. We’ve become increasingly dismayed with the homogonization of our farming culture. Just as with everything in America, it seems, animals are being bred into narrower streamlined varieties—built for rate of growth and bulk, profitability and predictability. We’re attracted to the idea that we can raise our own food while keeping rare heritage breeds alive.

For more information on our beloved Buckeyes, check out these sites
http://www.backyardchickens.com/breeds/buckeye/32682
http://www.americanbuckeyeclub.org/Home_Page.html

The gang is doing great!