Buttercups

[Nickeechickee]

yeah, I think they only qualify as Americaunas if they are a certain color. I was crushed - cried myself sick when it got the first one. Baited the entire yard with poison after the second. We are still in the process of trying to figure out how he was getting in, so they are locked in the coop before dusk nightly - which is a bit of a challenge. I'm still waiting on eggs...Curry is 20 weeks now and nothing yet.

 

[buttercup95]

Gosh that's horrid. I had to rebuild almost a whole wall when the raccoon got in. I ended up keeping all my hens in the garage for about a week. it wasn't pretty but they survived. My neighbor killed it about a month later so I was a little relieved.

 

[Nickeechickee]

Thankfully the raccoon I've seen is lazy - he only goes after the food, LOL. Brazen as all get out though. He was trying to open up my screen door this evening. I just don't know if we got the possum or not. Something ate all the poisoned food I put out but I've found no corpses yet...so I don't know if it was enough to kill it or just make it sick somewhere. We thought we had plugged all the holes after the first kill, but somehow he got in again. Not sure how - we have a 6' privacy fence around the entire run, and there is no gap big enough for the stray cat to get in or the hens to get out. Bird netting over the top. We've blocked off almost the entire perimeter with paving stones now, but I'm still nervous to allow them to stay out in the run at night.

 

[buttercup95]

Yeah I think I'd keep them in the coop at night for a few weeks. Maybe the opossum will start to look elsewhere or be dead already.

 

[wondertwinpower]

I'm crushed that I have to get rid of my buttercup too, Fabio. He's 5 months old. Here are some pics, what do you think of him?

 

[wondertwinpower]

Here are some pics of my 4 month old buttercup pullets.

 

[Arizonachicken]

Thats too bad you have to get rid if him! did neighbors complain? How big is Fabio? I have a buttercup cockerel and he's a little thing. I think he would crow more, but I have a mature rooster who keeps things in check! Here's my little guy, and my pullet. I only have the two.

 

[wondertwinpower]

Yes, the neighbors complained. To the police. They had not said one word to me, or left a note or anything. It was a complicated situation because I could constantly hear the man yelling at the top of his lungs and the kids, and I was considering calling CPS (it was that bad), so I was uncomfortable knocking on their door asking if my rooster was bothering them. They were just renting and they moved out about a week ago, but their landlord wants the rooster gone. Fabio is small. He's surprisingly heavy for how small he looks, when he jumps on my lap. I love your buttercups, so pretty.

Thats too bad you have to get rid if him! did neighbors complain? How big is Fabio? I have a buttercup cockerel and he's a little thing. I think he would crow more, but I have a mature rooster who keeps things in check! Here's my little guy, and my pullet. I only have the two.

 

[Indiana Ima]

Looks like I am about to buy three pullets from a local Buttercup owner. Any advice for a newbie?

Things that might be useful to know:
I live in south central Indiana,
Have 2 indoor-only cats and no dogs,
Smallish fenced in yard,
Kids are 13,11 and 9 yrs old
Know lots of local chicken owners via fb and a few in real life!

 

[Arizonachicken]

We'll, I've noticed that my buttercups are the best foragers I have. They also can fly better that the larger breeds. If there's a way out of your coop, they will find it. But I love the independence they have and they are beautiful. I have children younger than yours, and they're fine. The butters seem to be a bit more flighty, not wanting much to do with us humans, but, again, I don't mind at all. Let us know how it goes and post pics!