rooster four months old and molting

[laura29532]

I got this rooster and was told its a Derbyshire redcap.
I have looked up everything i could find and not one has this comb.!
he is four months old, molting and weighs 1/2 lb.
any clue what to do next. I don't keep bantams, my girls have
been picking on his sexy little comb. I only have full size chickens
and raise mainly for big brown eggs. He is handsome though
even going thru his teenage battered look.

 

[JedJackson]

He is a Sicilian buttercup. They are slightly larger than Leghorns, so not big. He is not thriving if he is only a half pound at that age, but I don't think he is a bantam. With TLC he might improve or might not.

 

[laura29532]

thank you. I knew it had to be different than what they said.
his comb was just circle not flat and bumpy. my girl chicks are the same age and i had to take him out today, they were pecking at his little cap. The hatchery did tell me he would be small. Someone messed up and thru him in with my girls at the hatchery. I hate that, i want to know what i'm getting. I got him on June 16 th 2025. my bad, he's three months old. I say 1/2 lb but never have weighed him but he is tiny compared to all my chunky monkeys. lol

 

[JedJackson]

thank you. I knew it had to be different than what they said.
his comb was just circle not flat and bumpy. my girl chicks are the same age and i had to take him out today, they were pecking at his little cap. The hatchery did tell me he would be small. Someone messed up and thru him in with my girls at the hatchery. I hate that, i want to know what i'm getting. I got him on June 16 th 2025. my bad, he's three months old. I say 1/2 lb but never have weighed him but he is tiny compared to all my chunky monkeys. lol

He still has a chance to catch up if he is given free access to good feed. Extra protein in the form of meal worms might help, too.

 

[laura29532]

He is a Sicilian buttercup. They are slightly larger than Leghorns, so not big. He is not thriving if he is only a half pound at that age, but I don't think he is a bantam. With TLC he might improve or might not.

He still has a chance to catch up if he is given free access to good feed. Extra protein in the form of meal worms might help, too.

I feed only all natural organic feed, vegetables and herbs. I had a speckled Hamburg about the same size. I was told he is a bantam and will weigh about 28oz full grown. I think he got off to a rough start me keeping him with the big girls they might have not been letting him get much. I keep the feeders full at all times but i was noticing them pecking him away from the feeder thats why i took him out.
That and he was rooster. I'm doing him a bigger place in the barn alone away from the other chickens so he can get more he needs. I do feed meal worms, hang veggies, fresh herbs and treats. My crew is spoiled beyond belief. I'm just not sure what to do with him as i only raise bigger birds and try to stay away from cross breeding potential.
We shall wait to see how he does.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

He's adorable! @azygous has buttercups, I believe, she can tell you more about the breed. She also has a thread about them. I'd hate to see your little boy socially isolated just because he's different and small. Is there any way you can keep him protected but still in sight and hearing of the flock?

 

[azygous]

Here's my thread referred to above. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rcup-chicks-shunning-their-heat-cave.1494237/

My two Buttercups continue to thrive in my flock of standard size birds. In fact, they take no prisoners, ignore the size and seniority of the other chickens, and as a consequence, have never been bullied. It's how Buttercups roll. At least my two.

Your four-month old is likely just experiencing a more intense than usual juvenile molt. But do keep an eye on his overall behavior in case this is more than juvenile molt.

 

[laura29532]

He's adorable! @azygous has buttercups, I believe, she can tell you more about the breed. She also has a thread about them. I'd hate to see your little boy socially isolated just because he's different and small. Is there any way you can keep him protected but still in sight and hearing of the flock?

Hey there, he's not isolated, he has his own run in my turkey pullets barn. he's next to and able to see other chickens as well thru the run outside. i had to keep him in my small tote crate until i could get his own special spot. I put my four month old Ancona hen with him last night.(i like to put new birds together at night, works better to socialize) Shes tiny too, the only two small birds i have. ( I took her in, lady they thought she was a rooster and couldn't have them.) I sat with them a few hours and they seem to be getting along great. I get up early so i went to check on them 4:00am. they were perched together side by side. They were both sitting next to my 4 week old baby turkeys with just chain link between them. lol I have no interest on breeding or incubating those or keeping such small birds. not sure yet what i will do with him, hes such an odd yet cute little thing. a friend stopped to look at him who raise buttercups and redcaps, and said he is a Sicilian Buttercup bantam rooster. he won't get much bigger. he weighed him for me, weighs 1.9 lbs. smallest i have around here but the babies.! alls great today with the crew. thanks for your caring and support.!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hey there, he's not isolated, he has his own run in my turkey pullets barn. he's next to and able to see other chickens as well thru the run outside. i had to keep him in my small tote crate until i could get his own special spot. I put my four month old Ancona hen with him last night.(i like to put new birds together at night, works better to socialize) Shes tiny too, the only two small birds i have. ( I took her in, lady they thought she was a rooster and couldn't have them.) I sat with them a few hours and they seem to be getting along great. I get up early so i went to check on them 4:00am. they were perched together side by side. They were both sitting next to my 4 week old baby turkeys with just chain link between them. lol I have no interest on breeding or incubating those or keeping such small birds. not sure yet what i will do with him, hes such an odd yet cute little thing. a friend stopped to look at him who raise buttercups and redcaps, and said he is a Sicilian Buttercup bantam rooster. he won't get much bigger. he weighed him for me, weighs 1.9 lbs. smallest i have around here but the babies.! alls great today with the crew. thanks for your caring and support.!

That's awesome, sorry I misunderstood. If I didn't have hawks and thought it would be safe to hsve bantams, buttercups would be my bird of choice, hands down! And maybe a Sebright or two. (Oh, STOP!)

 

[laura29532]

That's awesome, sorry I misunderstood. If I didn't have hawks and thought it would be safe to hsve bantams, buttercups would be my bird of choice, hands down! And maybe a Sebright or two. (Oh, STOP!)

I have an Ancona hen, she thinks she a person. I named her Dotty, (shes black with white spots)I love going into her barn, she jumps up on my shoulder and just jabbers away. Telling me whats been going on all day i think. lol When I finished Butters (Buttercup rooster) stall and got the perch up and ready, i put her in there so he wouldn't get mean or lonely. They seem to hit it off. In the morning I find them side by side on the perch right near a few hen turkey youngsters. (chain link between them).