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Chicken breed APA Recognized Large

Buckeye

American pea-combed farm breed valued for hardiness, foraging, and rich mahogany color.

Primary use

Dual purpose

Eggs

180-240 eggs/year

Egg color

Brown

Broodiness

Moderate

Notable traits

  • Only American breed developed by a woman
  • Pea comb
  • Very good free-range utility.

Use in a cross

Use this breed as a sire or dam in the public cross predictor.

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Varieties

Buckeye varieties

Variety-specific images keep the library accurate when one breed name covers several different appearances.

Variety image pending

Mahogany Red

Color: rich red plumage with darker tail accents

Mahogany Red Buckeye variety with rich red plumage with darker tail accents while preserving the parent breed's distinctive broad mahogany American utility body, pea comb, yellow legs, and cold-hardy practical type.

Traits: Emphasize rich red plumage with darker tail accents. Preserve broad mahogany American utility body, pea comb, yellow legs, and cold-hardy practical type. Keep rooster and hen sex differences appropriate for this variety instead of reverting to a generic chicken.

Quick stat summary

Weights: Hen 6.50 lb | Rooster 9.00 lb
APA status: APA recognized breed
Sexing traits: None noted
Comb type: Pea
Egg size: Medium
Origin: United States

Planning notes

Genetics and sexing notes

Auto-sexing: None recorded for purebred chicks.

Sex-linked: None recorded.

Temperament: Confident and practical. Friendliness is generally listed as Moderate. Activity level is generally Moderate.

Rooster handling: Rooster temperament can vary by line. Evaluate males separately from hens and only keep calm, respectful roosters for breeding pens.

Reference profile

Breed depth notes

Extra breed details used for identification, breed-library accuracy, cross prediction, and better image prompts.

History and standard notes

History: American farm breed developed in Ohio and selected for cold hardiness, foraging, pea comb, and rich mahogany color. In the RanchOps library, Buckeye is tracked as a dual purpose breed with roots tied to United States. Its brown egg profile, body type, and temperament notes help separate it from similar-looking breeds in flock records and cross predictions. For visual identification, focus on Sturdy dual-purpose body with broad back, clean yellow legs, and practical muscling. Its carriage is best described as active, confident, and balanced.

APA: Recognized American breed; mahogany color, pea comb, and sturdy utility type are key.

Type and structure

Large fowl
Recognized large fowl.
Bantam
Buckeye bantams exist but are much less common than large fowl.
Earlobes
Red
Body type
Sturdy dual-purpose body with broad back, clean yellow legs, and practical muscling
Carriage
Active, confident, and balanced

Visual identification

Rooster

Roosters should show a pea comb, deep mahogany-red plumage, yellow legs, broad utility body, and black tail accents.

Hen

Hens should be practical and broad with pea comb, yellow legs, and even mahogany-red body color.

Chicks

Chicks are generally warm reddish-brown; adult mahogany depth develops with maturity.

Common confusions

Can be confused with Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire; Buckeyes should have pea combs and a distinct mahogany tone.

Image guidance

Use pea comb, yellow legs, rich mahogany red, sturdy active body, and avoid single-combed Rhode Island Red look.

Cross predictor notes

Buckeye contributes pea comb influence, mahogany/red color, hardy utility body, active foraging, and brown egg background.

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