In the past Lincolnshire was probably unique being the only English County having four distinct livestock breeds originating within its boundaries, these being the Lincolnshire Buff chicken, the Lincolnshire Curly Coat pig, Lincolnshire Longwool sheep and Lincoln Red cattle.

The sheep and cattle are still here but the chickens disappeared in the 1920's when the Buff Orpington became standardised, and the Curly Coat pig became extinct as recent as 1972.

The Lincolnshire Buff chicken is thought to have been developed during the 1860's as a cross between the Red Dorking, the Buff Cochin and the Wheaton Old English Game.

It was fast growing and easily raised, being a good layer and with its white pigmented skin it made an excellent table bird.

During the 1980's the breed was redeveloped and now a 'standard' is available for the birds.

They differ from the Buff Orpington by having a longer back and carrying its tail lower, with tighter feathering. The beak is buff and the legs white with the most obvious difference being the Lincolnshire Buff has an extra toe or claw. This extra toe should be well separated from the usual rear toe and it should point upwards.


They are docile large fowl with buff feathering and the cockerel has a bright orange sheen to its neck and hackle feathers.

They lay medium to large cream coloured eggs from around 25 weeks of age, and up to 180 eggs per year can be expected, although 150 eggs per year would be classed as a good average.


The Lincolnshire Buff is not officially recognised as a rare breed by the Rare Breed Survival Trust because the breed has been re-created rather than surviving from the original 1860's strain. The breed is however still quite rare.

At Elms Farm we let the chickens roam freely around the farmyard during the day, although they have to be put in the coop at night to protect them from foxes.