Verity F Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 My dear OH has asked me (more than once, in fact) if I want more chooks... the fool! I have three gorgeous Pekin girlies and was thinking I'd just get another two - boring of me, I know, but I've always really wanted a mille fleur (the breeder didn't have any when I got mine last year) so it seemed a no-brainer. However... all this talk of dotte bantams has had me googling, and I think I'm now a bit obsessed! How much bigger than Pekins are they? Some websites list their weight as up to 1.3kgs which seems a bit hefty compared to the Pekins. (But then my girls are pretty much all feathers, I guess.) Also - and I know this is a silly question before I ask it - what are they like digging-wise? But the same way Pekins are allegedly 'kinder' to your garden, what is the 'rule of thumb' regarding the Wyandotte bantams? Any thoughts on dotte bantams appreciated - I'm just trying to work through the logistics of potential new arrivals! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 ooooooh dotte bantams, I love em They are bigger than a pekin yes Some strains are big and others small, some of my dottes are only just bigger than a pekin but on longer legs! others really are sizeable and nearly big enough to be large fowl. some colours and patterns tend to be smaller than others (because of the strains out there) white dotte bantams are round and large - more like an orpington bantam, pencilled dottes tend to be diddier for example My tip would be see the adults when you go to choose They are placid in general so would be ok with Pekins as pekins while small are quite pushy sometimes Wyandottes do dig. There is no getting away from that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verity F Posted April 15, 2010 Author Share Posted April 15, 2010 Thanks Redwing - good idea about seeing the parents And you're right about Pekins - mine ain't no shrinkin' violets just not sure my poor garden will stand up to anything a lot bigger than Pekins... Of course, I'm really after blue laced dotte... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 I love em Arrrrhhhh thanks! I have a blue laced dotte and she is dinky....if they are obliging I will take a picture of them together so you can compare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 I've got a pic of wyandottes and pekins together too so can post one as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verity F Posted April 15, 2010 Author Share Posted April 15, 2010 Ooooooohhhhh... that would be FAB! (not to mention dangerous fuel on the fire... ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 Here you go: Not the best pic in the world and excuse the poo but they are a very similar size I believe the blue laced is one of the smaller colours but I could be wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 Barred Wyandotte at back, 3 Pekins across the middle, Wyandotte cross front right - not a great pic This pic is not the best either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verity F Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 Oh wow!!!!! Thanks so very much for those, they really are gorgeous girls! My good taste is confirmed Falkor, she is very wee - how perfect! Could I just have her please? Any breeder recommendations, perchance..? From the bit of googling I've done, I don't think there's anyone particularly near me, so I know that if I want any, it'll mean some traveling - which I don't mind. (I'm South African and am used to making long haul plane journeys just to see my family! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Hi verity. Errr...nope ...Alice is ALL mine!!! Mwha ha ha! Plus she was doing a very good impression of a screaming banshee when I left for work this morning so not sure you would want her The pic doesn`t show off her markings very well....but I have been told she has good markings Just need to hope they stay good after the next moult Tashas' Barred Dotte is her Stud Muffin boy called Tarzan...if I were a lady chook I would marry him! I know of a couple of Dotte breeders over this way and even further south but Sheffield to Cambs is one heck of a drive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verity F Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 I know of a couple of Dotte breeders over this way and even further south but Sheffield to Cambs is one heck of a drive! Well, my hubby was wondering about where to go on holiday this summer... Tarzan is a looker - and it's a brilliant name, he deserves to be king of the (chook) jungle. Of course I did have a fluttery thought about getting some hatching eggs... And I do have a broody girl at the moment, and another who is thinking about it... Will have to get dotte-sleuthing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
