4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[moomin]

I'm collecting three Pekins next Tuesday, they will be 8 weeks old

 

I just have a couple of questions please guys -

 

1/ Should I take the roosting bars out of the eglu for the first few weeks? They're not supposed to perch are they as it distorts their breast bones - I know I've seen a post about this but can't find it.

 

2/ Can I bed them down on straw in the Elgu or will they eat it and it will harm them? I want to give them something cosy to snuggle on rather than just aubiose.

 

3/ Lastly, should they have grit, (the fine chick sort)? I'm sure I made this available to my first 2 girls but they were 10 weeks when I got them. But the DTBC advised not to give grit until 16 weeks?

 

Thank you very much!

[Daphne]

1/ I took the bars out to start with - they were bantams and I didn't want them getting their little legs trapped either

2/ Mine came from a home with aubiose but at that time we didn't have any so I gave them straw; I think either would do

3/ I didn't give them grit till much later (can't quite remember when, poss not till I put them on layers). Also, I read somewhere that oystershell (eg in mixed grit) is positively harmful as its used to help the hen make eggshells and if taken too early it can be deposited on growing bones where its not meant to be. HTH

[likeastar--x]

daphnes pretty much covered it, but i really wouldnt give them straw unless you have to - it can harbour mites and it isnt great anyway with their little feet. i use woodshavings with my banties

[moomin]

OK, thanks to you both for your help. I will stick with the auboise then, I'll take the bars out and put plenty of it in so they can snuggle down and get cosy.

 

Can't wait to get them I'm so excited!!

[Daphne]

they're going to be a bit smaller than your cochin aren't they! Although you'll be able to see if there are many differences between them (other than size!), other countries call pekins 'bantam cochins' and I've often wondered why we don't. Anyway, what colours are you getting, I know there are loads

[moomin]

They certainly are Daphne!! I'm hoping in the end to have them all living together in harmony! I love fluffy chooks with feathery feet and Pekins are supposed to be great characters!

 

I'm getting a Lavendar, Buff and a Partridge one. Hopefully anyway - I need to call them this weekend to make sure they've got the three colours as they hadn't sexed them when I ordered and obviously some will be boys. If they haven't I will just get a couple the same colour I'm not really bothered.

 

If they don't get on I will have to keep them seperate, I've got a purple Eglu to put the three Banties in, and the 2 big girls in their walk in run but it will be a shame if they can't go in together

[Daphne]

I went to a local chicken supply place last week and they've started selling pure breeds. They have 6 colours of pekins - black mottle, lavendar, red, silver partridge (I think), blue and black - I thought the lavs and the blues were particularly lovely. Fingers X for girlies and whatever you want to be there

[ruth1]

They sound lovely, I hope you post lots of pics when you get them

[Egluntyne]

I took the roosting bars out and used Aubiose when my Hogwarts girls came....and they were 8 weeks old.

[Chickens@61]

we have two partridge pekins (they are my daughters). they (unreliably ) lay the cutest, tastiest eggs - one lays a pale cream egg & the other almost china white.

 

they are fabulous little characters, like two very well bred ladies who look on in disgust at the greedy, slightly crazy antics of our bigger girls! they are very friendly, & have been known to ascend the tree house steps to say hello to the children

 

as for when they run.. its hilarious!

 

can't wait to see the pics of them, i LOVE pekins - especially that young

[Mrs Webmuppet]

Our two Pekins are funny too.

 

They have a tendancy to fly..........18 inches above ground level..........they aren't very good at direction control either and I've had a few near misses when I've been gardening. Snowy is very dippy and scatty and Scurry gets quite cross with her. Scurry is the assigned new food tester, neither Bumble or Snowy will touch anything new until Scurry gives the OK. They always behave like Bumbles ladies in waiting..........when Bumble lays an egg, they stand around waiting for her in the coop.

[chelsea]

our 2 new arrivals came at 8 weeks too. We took out the bars for the first few weeks. Mine like to roost on the side of the nest box in the eglu.

 

We put some extra straw in during the cold snap and also a snugglesafe during the cold weather....but now its warming up they should be fine.

 

Bet you cant wait.

[moomin]

You are so right Chelsea, I can't wait! I've got 3 more working days to go as I don't work Friday's but I'm doing overtime on Saturday The money will come in useful but I can't concentrate at work I'm in such a dippy state about my new chooks!

 

Thanks all for your help and advice, I want them to feel at home in their little Eglu. I just need to think of names now, I have almost settled on Mia for the Lavendar as she will be little and pretty, I thought of Poppy for the Partridge and Rose for the Buff as she will be a similar colour to a dear old Guinea Pig that I used to have who was called Rosie. But everyone seems to have Poppy's and Rose/Rosie's!! They are lovely names though.

 

The camera is on charge. I've got the Tuesday and Wednesday as holiday so as soon as we're back with them I'm planning to take lots of photo's for you