Lincolnshire Buff

A Lincolnshire Buff cock
Photo courtesy of Sue Martin / Roseawen Farm

Originally developed around 1860 using blood of the Red Dorking, Old English Game and Buff Cochin, the Lincolnshire Buff was fast growing and easily raised. It was a good winter layer and with its white-pigmented skin made an excellent table bird. The birds were never truly bred to a standard, however, and many appeared with feathered legs or five toes. It was most likely the foundation stock of the Buff Orpington. The Buff differs from the Orpington in being a longer-backed bird which carries its tail lower and has much tighter feathering. The beak should be buff and the legs white.

By 1920 the breed had just about disappeared from farms, often being replaced by the Buff Orpington. In 1980 a project was begun to redevelop them and a standard is now available for the birds.