Sicilian Buttercups are so very interesting! Their distinctive combs have given the breed its name, shaped like an old-fashioned butter dish. Buttercups were admitted to the APA Standard in 1918, making this another of our Heritage Breeds. It is yet another breed amongst many in America that were nearly lost when the "production breeds" gained favor on the farms.

This breed is intriguing in that the females are, in our humble opinion, far prettier than the males in body coloration, with their golden butter color covered generously with delicate black spangling. The combs of both sexes are a poultry wonder - in a good specimen, the comb should be upright, fully closed in an oval shape with the points completely circling. These types are not easy to find to work with, as most hatchery birds (and many others we have come across!) have open combs that end up laying flat against either side of the head - this is a serious fault in the breed and should not be used to perpetuate the Buttercup. We are working with several trios to get back to the APA standards for this breed. Join with us in bringing this beautiful fowl back from the edge!