Kittycat Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Well, we've done it! Our new 'shiny' green eglu (£332 including delivery and winter shade) arrives this week and we're all very excited and reading up everything we can find about chickens. However, living outside the Omlet chicken delivery range, we're having huge family debates about what type of chickens to get. Is there anyone out there with Pekins? How does their egg size compare to the bigger birds (I've read that they lay 'reasonable' sized eggs) and how much of a problem is scaly leg mite with those feathered legs? Do you treat scaly leg mite in the same way as birds with naked legs? I've also read that they have a tendency to go broody - is this simply a case of making sure you remove the eggs as soon as they are laid? Finally, we have visited the DTBC (which I know some of you have also used) and they suggested getting chickens at 8 weeks of age so that they get used to being handled. But I have also been told by someone else that chickens should receive a final vaccination at 16 weeks. Any views? Thanks in advance - as a newbie it's great to know there's so much knowledgeable support out there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I always have some pekins in my herd because they are such entertaining personalities. I certianly don't keep them for their ability to lay though They go broody at the drop of a hat but are great mothers if used to hatch. They are more prone to scaley leg mites, but I treat all of my flock with an Ivomec prep (*not licenced for use on poultry in the UK*) anyway, so they are all kept clear of bugs. They tend not to do well on mud either as they are pretty low-slung and their lower parts are VERY feathery. I do love them though.. think of them as being like Pat Butcher with feathers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittycat Posted February 4, 2009 Author Share Posted February 4, 2009 Crikey! Now I'm thinking of chickens with huge dangly earrings and fags hanging out of their beaks! Thanks for the help. They sound entertaining but we would like some eggs too so it looks like we might be looking for hybrids... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Exactly, you have to decide on what your main criteria are... eggs or the chickens. The eggs are incidental to me, so I have a herd of pure breed miniatures and bantams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccroft Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 pekins are lush, Izzy was such a little trouble maker and was very likely top hen. She was the first in bed, first to eat, first to drink and free range. She was so, so funny. She was so very frindly and was found watching the TV with my 2 year old many times. They leave your plants alone and don't sratch the lawn, but as said already I wouldn't get them for egg laying. We got eggs most days but they are smaller, i never sold the pekin eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I love my pekins. They are so stroppy. They do go broody and they have to have their feet checked for mud balls, etc as mine free range all the time. I haven't had any problems with scaly leg mite, however, I do worm them and treat them for external parasites every three to four months. I do a weekly check every Saturday morning on each of the birds to make sure that they are ok and bathe their feet if they need it (mud balls). I have three brahmas, 2 cochins, three hybrids and five pekins with feathery feet so there's a lot of foot bathing on certain Saturdays. I love chickens with feathery legs even though the rest of my family think that they are not proper chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I have two pekins and they are definate characters. The eggs weigh around 30g compared to a 'normal' sized egg of around 60g. They are pretty hardy and are easy to handle. LMW is often seen wandering around with one tucked under each arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Have a look at my posting on "Tallulah at the beauty salon" and you will see just how friendly pekins can be. They are also wonderfully fiesty and can hold their own with the big birds (including my turkeys!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I'm getting three Pekins on 24th Feb. Can't wait, lovely post SAB, cute little chook and fab kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittycat Posted February 4, 2009 Author Share Posted February 4, 2009 Thanks for all the advice (and the fab photos from SAB). They do look just so adorable...maybe I should just get double the number of Pekins to make up for the small size of the eggs! What a dilemma. I'm going to have to sleep on it... Any views by the way on vaccinations? Should they be fully vaccinated at 8 weeks or will they only be half protected? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 The majority of pure breeds won't be vaccinated, some places do it, but they aren't bred in such large quantities as the hybrids, so it's not economically viable. None of mine have ever been vaccinated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I wouldn't get such young birds as your first birds. My pekins were mostly between 16 and 20 weeks when we got them and they are all really friendly now. Ironically, the one pekin that I did collect at 8 weeks old is the most unfriendly one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyfeet Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Hi Kittykat I've only had pekins up to now (4 years) - still working on OH for walk in run and loads of different sized girlies. I had mine from 4 weeks old and they reminded me of quail at that age. I found that if you want to be hands on with them, having them early helped, especially as I had no experience of handling birds. They are very funny little things, very individual characters like their bigger relatives, can get stroppy (Napolean complex I thnk!) brilliant broody's and mothers. Great if you have children as a full size chook peck is a lot harsher than a pekins. I had a beautiful cuckoo cockerel until Reynard paid us a visit last summer, and he was a real character and a wonderful protector of his ladies, which included me! I have 3 lavenders and a cuckoo and love them dearly! Dawn x Poppy, Rosie, Daisy & Fern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayandrob Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 I have 3 pekins in my eglu, we got them at 8 and 7 weeks and I love them to bits, got them last August and we had our first egg on Monday which was a complete shock, we were told when we got them that we shouldn't expect eggs off them until spring so was a complete shock, our girls are very different, Daisy is very timid and doesn't come to us very much but Boo Boo is so adventerous she is into everything and as soon as she spots you at the door she is at your feet, Buff is in between Boo Boo and Daisy though. I have got a photo of their egg next to a medium size free range egg so you can see the size. Pekins eggs are meant to be larger yolks and less egg white and our first egg was def fitting that bill. Right will see if I can actually post a pic of the eggs! not sure I will remember though! Kay xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayandrob Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 Pretty obvious which is the pekin egg! And a couple of the girls xxx fingers crossed it works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayandrob Posted February 4, 2009 Share Posted February 4, 2009 forgot to say manly hand is hubbys not mine incase you were wondering! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I love hearing stories about your Pekins and the Photos are lovely Kay! I have ordered a Buff, Partridge and a Lavendar. I was going to call two of them Poppy and Rose, but will think of other names now as don't want to nick Fluffyfeet's ideas for names! I'm so excited I keep going out to look at the new eglu where they will be living (tho if the weather carries on like this will be worrying about them out there!) May have to bring them in for loads of cuddles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyfeet Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 What I do with naming is wait and see if they have any unusual markings, personality traits, comb shape etc. Poppy got her name as her twin? sister used to hop up and down whenever I went near the cage, so they got called Hoppy and Poppy. Rosie has a beautiful little rose red comb. Daisy and Fern are identical, but Fern is quite timid and tends to get picked on by Poppy (head hen) and I always think of Ferns as dainty and delicate. Daisy is a 'get in there and get on with it" sort of girl. I must sound like a right fruit and nut case!?!?!?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I must sound like a right fruit and nut case!?!?!?!?! Not at all! It's a really good way of thinking of names. Maybe I will wait and see what my girls personalities and looks are like before I settle for anything definite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyfeet Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 And a cat called PANTS! And I used to have a cockatiel called Raymond cos his feathers stuck up like my Dad's hair. Told ya - comletely barmy me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I always have some pekins in my herd because they are such entertaining personalities. Claret, do you keep your pekins with the bigger girls? After a suitable period of introduction can pekins and big girls go in together or do they need to have separate accommodation and runs? Just thinking about the future, don't tell OH Thanks Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Mine are all bantams and miniatures Chrissie so they fit in just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Claret, do you keep your pekins with the bigger girls? After a suitable period of introduction can pekins and big girls go in together or do they need to have separate accommodation and runs? That's what I as planning to do Chrissie, my three Pekin babies I'm hoping to put in (eventually when they are older), with my two big girls. They are both very docile so I'm hoping I'll stand a fighting chance of them all getting on as Pekins are quite fiesty and should be able to stand up for themselves There are a few on the forum that have mixed them with great success, knowing my luck though the 2 bigun's will turn into Hannibal Lectors as soon as they see them! You have to have a continguency plan - i.e. have seperate accomodation available, not just for the intros but incase it doesn't work out and you have to keep them seperate for ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
