Buckeye
Dual purposeUnited StatesBeginner friendly
The mahogany-red Buckeye was created in Ohio and named for the state's buckeye nut, whose color it matches almost exactly. It's a rugged, personable forager with a small pea comb that laughs at Midwest winters, and it has a well-earned reputation for hunting mice.
Eggs per year
150–200
Egg color
Brown
Egg size
Medium
Hen weight
6–7 lbs
Temperament
Friendly and active
Broodiness
Sometimes broody
Did you know?
The Buckeye is the only American Poultry Association breed developed entirely by a woman — Nettie Metcalf of Warren, Ohio, in 1896.
Buckeye egg production
Expect roughly 150–200 brown eggs a year from a Buckeye in her prime — about 3–4 a week, or 13–17 dozen over the course of a year. That makes it a solid, dependable layer. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Buckeye is generally described as friendly and active. These are calm, people-oriented birds that tolerate handling well and settle into a backyard flock without much fuss — a big part of why they're such a common first breed.
Climate & care
Rated cold-hardy, the Buckeye rides out hard winters well as long as the coop stays dry and draft-free — keep drinking water from freezing and watch combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
A Buckeyehen may go broody now and then, but it isn't something to count on — if hatching chicks matters to you, plan on an incubator and our incubation calculator.
Space & feeding
A Buckeye hen is a large bird at 6–7 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Buckeye right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You're new to chickens and want a forgiving bird
- You want a calm bird that's good around children
- You want both eggs and a solid table bird
- You get real winters and need a hardy bird
Think twice if…
- You want the absolute maximum egg output
Buckeye FAQ
- How many eggs do Buckeye chickens lay?
- A healthy Buckeye hen lays about 150–200 brown eggs a year — roughly 3–4 a week, or 13–17 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Buckeyes lay?
- Buckeyes lay brown eggs, medium in size.
- How big do Buckeye chickens get?
- A Buckeye hen weighs roughly 6–7 lbs — a large bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Buckeyes cold-hardy?
- Yes. The Buckeye is rated cold-hardy and rides out hard winters well, provided the coop stays dry and draft-free. Keep water from freezing and check combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze.
- Are Buckeyes good for beginners?
- Yes. The Buckeye is a forgiving, friendly and active breed that suits first-time keepers well.
- Do Buckeye hens go broody?
- Sometimes. A Buckeye hen may go broody now and then, but it isn't guaranteed — plan on an incubator if hatching matters to you.
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Keeping Buckeyes?
Give every bird a profile in PoultryPal — track their eggs, weight, and life events, and see who's really your best layer.
