Once again, when we decided to start a home flock of chickens, we went to the list of critically endangered breeds found on the ALBC website. We were looking for a duel purpose bird that could provide a reasonable amount of eggs while also being meaty enough to be good eating. Our chickens would also need to be good foragers as we try to feed a minimum of commercial feed and they must be good mothers as well.
We decided on the Buckeye chicken because according to the breed description,
they would meet all our our needs and there were a few other qualities that
sparked our interest as well. Buckeyes are said to be excellent forages AND good
mousers too boot. Since we have a barn and all barns have mice, we thought
adding a mousing chicken flock would be a great thing! I will say that I have
seen very little evidence of mice in the barn or feed room. Even when the kids
spill the feed and leave it all over the floor, I still don't see evidence of
mice. Hmmmm. perhaps they are mousing!! Another intriguing reported
quality of the Buckeye's is the crow of the rooster. It is said that they
sometimes make a sound like that of a dinosaur roar. Well that trait
immediately grabbed the attention of my then 10 year old son. As far as he was
concerned Buckeye's were the only breed to get. Now, I can't say as I have
heard much dinosaur crowing going on out in the barnyard lately, but there was a
time or two when the roos were just learning to crow where I can see how it
might be considered roar like. As mature roosters they sound just like any other
rooster to me. But as roosters go, the Buckeyes are a pleasure to have around.
They are good protectors of their hens and so far they don't chase the humans
around, always a good thing as historically, our roosters always have it in for
that aforementioned son of mine.
The rooster in the picture is only half grown at the time it was taken. I really need to get out and take some new pictures! They are pretty birds.