Peacocks

[Snowy]

They have been living in the dining room, partly because we have been away since they arrived and I needed to know they would be safe and secure until we got back, and also for quarantine purposes.

Anyway, today I finally managed to rig up a run for them. They will still have to come in to the dog crate at night, but at least they can play in the garden during the day. I've ordered a little wooden house for them (until I can afford an eglu ), once that is here they will be able to move outside permanently!

New run with temporary shelter (old magazine holder rescued from a skip)

This is all a bit bewildering Mum!

Ooh green stuff to nibble!

The Bare Bum Gang have given them the evil eye and decided they are safe to ignore for now:

It's all a bit much to take in, lets go and have a little rest in that handy box thingy now:

Anyone think the ages I was given are a bit out? The two smalls were supposed to be 8 weeks old and the big one (Mimi) 10 weeks. But that was a week ago, so 9 and 11 weeks now. There is no way those two smalls will look like Mimi by the end of next week! I am wondering if the littlies were 8 weeks (Ping) and 10 weeks (Lulu) and that Mimi is actually a bit older, more like 15 weeks? She is starting to get a little comb and is nearly full grown.

[Space Chick]

They are gorgeous

[scarlettohara]

Yes definately younger than you were told - so glad you got pekins, they never fail to make me laugh I have finally got a frizzle from my own girls and cockerel and of course he is a boy They are lovely Cathy

 

I have 2 of those little hutches - they are brilliant for intros/poorlies and just a spare nesting box

[Mollie333]

Little ones look 6 weeks and the big one looks 8 or 9 weeks. I have some about the same age right now.

[Snowy]

Little ones look 6 weeks and the big one looks 8 or 9 weeks. I have some about the same age right now.

Really! Younger than I thought then Glad I went with my instinct and didn't rush to put them outside straightaway!

They are the most adorable little things, I'm delighted with them

Anyone want to take a guess at what colours they are? Mimi the largest - blue or lavender? Lulu - is darker than Mimi but more white underneath and has a yellow face - ?? mottled or splash? And teeny Ping - Lewis thought maybe Mille Fleur? Or are they all 'bitzas'?

 

Just a thought - if they are younger than I thought, any chance any of them could be cockerels?

[Mollie333]

Yes they do look young, but i can tell the sex of mine at 4 weeks, usually. They all are girls.

 

The big one looks Blue, but may go lighter after the first moult as normally do, the little one - like Lewis said- does look like Milliefleur. Milliefleur varies in Pekins, some have more white than others ect.

 

 

I am very because the other one looks blue mottled? again they usually moult and then have more mottled bits. This is a photo of one of my Mottled babies. Fingers crossed it will mature to be like yours.

 

They all look very 'full' for the ages, but from experience i would say that the youngest is around 6-7weeks,i will try and get some pictures of mine. My new chocolate frizzle was 14 weeks and the other chocolate baby (rip) was younger, and was about the same size as yours.

[Snowy]

Thank you Molly, thats really helpful!

I also googled some pics, and you are right, thank goodness, no cockerels!

Would love to see pics of your babies (or anyone elses), it's great to have others to compare too

[UKMARCH]

Very cute, glad you didn't get all the rain today!

[The Dogmother]

Lovely little fluff balls - all various types of splashes by the looks of things.

 

Don't forget that pekins can vary wildly in size when fully grown, but those little 'uns do still look very young.

[Snowy]

Ah didn't realise that, thanks DM

I've always loved your cute little fluff balls, so excited to have some of my own

MS loves them - he does their food and water for me and is just the right size to send into their run to catch them and put them to bed

[sadietoo]

Awhh very sweet indeed...and I love your idea for the temporary housing

[sparkysmum]

Aw Snowy they're just lovely

[Egluntyne]

Lovely pictures.

[The Dogmother]

They are pretty hardy too Snowy; Lavinia is a tiny lavender and Lily is a big buxom black lass, both are around 6 and until last year Lavvy would grace us with the odd egg. Both are still gobby, stroppy madams.

 

Rosie was cuddling (Lewis') Quigley's offspring at the weekend; I have a photo somewhere, will post it when I have found it. Those cute fluffball frizzles are so sweet.

[Mollie333]

Hi again,

 

I went to see a friend today (and came back with a pair of Lemon Pyle Brahmas and 2 Pekins- but that's a different story)

 

She had 'Blue milliefleur' and was a spitting image of your girl. Basically a Milliefleur cockerel crossed with a Blue hen, then blue milliefleur x blue milliefleur lovely little things, wish i got a picture now. Where did you get them from?

 

[Purplemaniacs]

They are lovely Snowy.

 

Can you sex Pekins at an early age?

 

Next year (shhhhhh don't tell OH) I would like some little chooks and having young ones is very appealling and the grandchildren would love to see them grow but I couldn't keep any boys and I wouldn't be able to get rid of them so I need to be sure litle ones were girls

 

Chrissie

[Valkyrie]

Lovely birds Snowy. Cute chick too Mollie333

[Snowy]

Ooh sounds good Mollie - need pics! I honestly have no idea where they were from - an aquaintance/friend got them from a breeder next to where she works (but I have no idea where she works!)

I've just had a few days away, was very difficult to tear myself away, I had to keep ringing home to check they were OK!

Chrissie, I've discovered they are quite easy to sex from an early age - not as tiny chicks, but the cockerels seem to develop distinctive combs at a few weeks. The boys love them

[Mollie333]

Pictures up.

[Purplemaniacs]

The boys love them

I'm not surprised they are lovely

 

I am tempted for next year, if I gradually mix my ex batts in with my hybrids over the winter that leaves the empty, perfect for some new little girls in the spring

 

Chrissie

[Snowy]

They are very funny! Mimi had been dustbathing yesterday and did that thing where they shake their feathers to get all the dust out. But when she shook, her little feet left the ground and she bounced sideways. Then stood there with a bemused look on her face as it to say "how did I get here? " They do all the normal chickeny things, but look so funny doing it!

[The Dogmother]

we were laughing at the Quiggly babies at Moreton - they were all trying to dustbathe in the same tiny hole in the grass of their run.

[Snowy]

Awwww! I still can't get over how cute they are!

Tried catching them this morning to put them in their outdoor run and little Lulu tried to attack me! Was like being attacked by a pompom Actually I think she was trying to eat my polished nails. When I did get hold of her she protested very loudly, then waddled off muttering in disgust when I put her down She is going to be a madam I think. She keeps standing off to Mimi who is nearly twice her size. Mimi is very laid back and chilled, whreas Ping is a busy little bee, always on the go, the first to jump up on any perches and investigate new treats.

Will get some new pics up soon.

[WitchHazel]

Snowy, they are gorgeous!

[Snowy]

They are still in the greenhouse overnight, but go out into their run on the lawn during the day. I'm still waiting for a coop I ordered from ebay - once that arrives, they can move onto the lawn full time!

I've put some perches in for them - they certainly enjoy hopping about off the ground

Mimi snoozing on the perch:

Lulu and Ping on the roof of their box:

Lulu finds her way onto the perch, but there's no room for Ping:

They've certainly grown! Ping is almost the same size as Lulu now - but I can still pick up one in each hand!