CatsCube Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 I have deseratly been trying hunt down some POL pekin hens, pets for the boys and also cause we want to have a go at breeding them. However the oldest ones I can find available at the mo are 12 weeks old. Firstly do you think young bantams like this will be okay if introduced with 2 hybrids at the same time, or will they beaten up loads cause they are young? Also, as per the title, Im guessing they wont be interested in laying eggs till they are laying them themselves a 18ish weeks or do they need to be even more mature before they take an interest in motherhood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 I'd do slow introductions. A lot of information on here about that. Because the hen will be young, i don't think she will go broody until late summer/next year. Some of my Pekins don't go broody though if i'm honest. *EDIT* I've found these. Maybe ask if you can buy the hens? http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1033611072/4b77d6ca.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 I have two pekins which are always broody, and used to have another which never brooded. I'd usually advise against mixing minis and bigger birds, but as these are pekins, with all the attitude of a bigger girl, then you may be lucky, but please take it slowly and be prepared that it might not work and you'll end up with two flocks. God luck finding some broody housing and homes for all the cocks you hatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 3, 2011 Author Share Posted May 3, 2011 If it doesnt work out with the bants and hybrids its okay as Im arranging seperate housing for the pekins anyway for them to have for chick raising, it will be nice enough for them to live there always, which I may do anyway. I have replied to the ad Mollie, I found it the other day, although no response yet. The good news is I have found a breeder who will sell trio', good that they are older girls (from last years hatch) and have already been used for hatching eggs but it does mean I have to take the cock with them (even if Im going to just dispatch him) Which call me weird, I find the idea of harder when the chicken is now a bit older, as opposed to doing it to 5/6 week old boys? I have messaged a chicken keeping friend to see if he wants the cock as he has quite a few flocks. If not can someone point me in the direction on whats the most humane way to dispatch a chicken? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Ermmmm.. Theres a lot of birds out there, if you just want hens and are going to cull a cockerel, whats the point of buying a trio? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 3, 2011 Author Share Posted May 3, 2011 A lot of places don't give you the option, as they want to offload the cocks themselves. It something I need to get use too, as hatching my own I will no doubt be unable to rehome all the boys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 I'm in no way suggesting that you do this, but there's always 'Cock Roundabout' in Bungay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 3, 2011 Author Share Posted May 3, 2011 lol, good news anyway, I have found a home for the chap, a friend of mines neighbour has over 40 chooks, and he's welcome to go and join them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 If you are planning to breed the pekins, then will you not want to keep the cockerel to fertilise the eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 3, 2011 Author Share Posted May 3, 2011 ah no Im just using the pekins as broodys, I will buy a selection of fertilised eggs for them to sit on, I live in a residential area so cocks is a big no no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Let's hope that they decide to brood then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted May 3, 2011 Share Posted May 3, 2011 Personally I would keep the pekins separate as you say. I don't mix my hybrids with the little ones, it was clear this was not going to be an option Have you considered buying an electric hen? What if your pekins don't go broody? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted May 3, 2011 Author Share Posted May 3, 2011 Well the hens Im getting will be from a breeders breeding stock, so they have already been proven sitters, and good examples of there breed, as they said they only choose the best to use as breeding stock. Plus fingers crossed with having 2 of them, at least one of them might show an interest. Hopefully as soon as we have sorted out our free ranging space, or my big chicken area as I like to call it, they will go into their own house and run anyway, so housing with the hybrids should only be brief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atsw Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 The two Pekins that I have (which I raised from day-old chicks in June 2009) went broody for the first time last summer (2010). I didn't let them stay broody last year, had to constantly use a broody cage to break them of the habit. The pattern was to lay around 6-8 eggs in almost as many days, then go broody (normally only 2 or 3 eggs a week, if we were lucky!). This year, I saw the same egg laying pattern again towards the end of March and sure enough, Biscuit went Broody on the 31st. We'd already agreed that if/when one of the Pekins went broody this year we'd see if she could hatch some of her eggs (we also have a Frizzle Pekin Cock). Sure enough, it worked, 5/5 hatched over the Easter Weekend (pics here). Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Thats good then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Well the hens Im getting will be from a breeders breeding stock, so they have already been proven sitters, and good examples of there breed, as they said they only choose the best to use as breeding stock. Plus fingers crossed with having 2 of them, at least one of them might show an interest. I'm not sure why it matters if they are 'good examples of the breed' and 'best breeding stock' if you aren't actually breeding them? Being a proven sitter can't be a bad thing though. Out of 7 pekins I've had 3 broody so far this year, plus both my brahma bantams, an indeterminate game-type and a LF brahma. So it's not just pekins that are likely to be broody... but they are extra cute! Just out of interest where are you going to be doing the hatching/brooding? Do you have another run? And won't your pekin left alone be a bit lonely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 i've had 5 go broody, but if you see my signature, i have a lot. Some of mine have never been broody. What eggs are you going to hatch? If they was breeding/show stock wouldn't you of liked to keep the boy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
