BRAGGING ON MY Buttercups

Got my baker's dozen day-old straight run Sicilian Buttercups on April 26, 2010 from Murray McMurray. Now, over three months later, I have pared down the flock to two roo's and six hens. I love their coloration--they looked like baby falcons for the longest time, and now the hens' pattern reminds me of a hawk

These birds are wonderful foragers, and quite friendly. Although they do not enjoy being picked up, they come running at my "Chick, chick chick" and they love to hang out on the front and back porches, waiting for me or my husband to give them some attention. One hen, Digit--named for a funny fingerlike projection on her comb--will actually follow me, far away from the rest of the flock, almost as if she is imprinted.

In the photo of them on the chair, you may be able to make out that one of the two roo's, Seeker, has the white earlobes appropriate for the breed. I chose to keep King as well because he was just so magnificent, but, like the ones I culled, his are red. Both of them have beautiful crowns, and wattles to die for!

No one has started laying yet...but both roosters are crowing. They like to do call-and-response, with their crows so close together that it sounds like a single long one.

I'm really hoping I can keep both roo's. So far, they are quite amicable with one another. But if I do have to end up culling one, at least I can testify that Buttercup is tender and flavorful

 

Thank you all for the compliments, you've made my day!

One hint on taking good chicken photos (other than having a decent camera and being able to focus) is to quietly get it all ready, have everything in focus, and then make kissy noises to get them all to look up alertly for several seconds. At this point, snap your photo.

Also, be ready to take a dozen photos of the same scene and then discard all but one...

While they will not let me pet them or pick them up without a struggle, they will come up to me in the yard and even peck curiously at my arm or foot. And they would eat out of a cup in my hand when I would bring them treats. Probably would have tamed down even more if I had the time to work with them.

They are way friendlier than the Gold-Laced Wyandottes I raised one year, and I tried to work with THOSE birds every day. They are not as friendly as the Americaunas or the Cornish Rock crosses I had in previous years, however, they seem to be the most intelligent chickens I have ever raised. And they are very predator savvy, running for cover at the first sign of hawk or crow sailing overhead.

No eggs yet, but I will let you know what egg production is like when they start laying.