buttercups by mistake

[bamachickens]

My father bought some chicks at TSC and thought he was buying dual purpose birds. We noticed the double comb early on and have lately found out they appear to be buttercups. Now, don't get me wrong, they are interesting looking little creatures, but we are raising mainly standard sized chickens for eggs and butchering. And from what I am reading, these are not meat birds. Does anyone else have them, and what do you use them for?

 

[saddina]

They're egg chickens, and for that purpose they do well.

Here's some stats: http://www.mypetchicken.com/Sicilian_Buttercup-B20.aspx

 

[Chickndaddy]

True breeder quality Buttercups are supposed to be dual-purpose from what I can remember, although hatchery quality buttercups tend to be just good egg-layers.

 

[ChickieNikki]

at least they're pretty once they're full grown!

 

[pipermark]

Yes Chick, the sad thing is that they were originally created to be duel purpose birds, inline breeding , without proper culling, and hatcheries have turned them into an ornamental breed. I once foudn a breeder out of New York that breed to orginal intent and his birds laid large to xtra-large eggs. The roosters were big enough to be eaten , but they still leaned more to a leghorn body style than a wyandottes.

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

I had and still have a few Buttercups, they are my favorites. They lay small white eggs and are great pickled and for cooking, baking. I have used them as meat birds on the foot and even at 8 months old we find them still somewhat tender and prefer their meat to EE's or Turkens and they have better flavor than store bought, including organic Cornish crosses. Given time, my girls are about as big as my EE's or plan on 2 birds instead of one. They will hussel most of their own food if allowed yard/field time so are economical eaters.

If you are in south east Texas, I'll gladly trade you some of my Turkens for your Buttercups. We want to breed the Buttercups and I haven't been able to get more of them. I have a few hens but no Roo. Next Year......

Also, they are Sicilian Buttercups, being Mediterranean they were developed mostly for their laying ability. A hen should weigh 5 lbs, a young pullet 4lbs and they do mature early. America chose the gold version and thus saved it, but now they are rare. In Italy and elsewhere the darker brown version exists. Yes, I like American Buttercups.