These are beautiful Buckeye chicken eggs. The chicken that created these eggs was developed in my home state and not too far from where we live. I decided to do a little more research on these animals after my mom visited this weekend and brought with her these eggs.These are the eggs she brought. Misshapen, all different shapes of brown, and wonderful in every way. They came from a woman that my mom works with that lives on a farm and started raising Buckeye chickens not too long ago. Here is a little research what I found.
The Buckeye was first bred and developed in 1896, by a Warren, Ohio resident named Nettie Metcalf. They are the only American breed of chicken known to have been developed by a woman, despite the fact that women were customarily given charge of the household poultry flock throughout much of U.S. history. Metcalf crossbred Barred Plymouth Rocks, Buff Cochins, Rhode Island Reds, and some black–breasted red games to produce the Buckeye. Her goal was a functional breed that could produce well in the bitter Midwest winters.
Recently, in Ohio, breeders have been working to grow the populations of Buckeye's in the Buckeye state. My mom's co-worker is just one of them. Go Local Farmers!
Knowing where my eggs came from and knowing that the chickens are treated well with room to roam makes me happy. This not only makes me feel good about eating their eggs but also proud to see more local farmers coming forward to help bring back heirloom breeds, which are hardier and better for you.
Where do you get your eggs? Does free-range or cage-free matter to you?
- Ekarius, Carol (2007), Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds, Storey Publishing: Storey Pub., ISBN 978-1580176675
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