Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[jamie]

Hi everyone,

 

Sadly our 3 pekins recently died within weeks of buying them, we got them at around 5 wks old and had to take one back within a couple of days as it was very ill. All seemed fine for a week or so then two of them went downhill very quickly followed by the third a few days ago.

We became very attached to them during this short period and are keen to have more but im very worried this might happen again.

We certainly wont be using the same 'breeder' as i sure they were ill when we got them and had no support when i contacted them.........

 

So i'm after some advice on which breed to get and where from, im a little put off pekins after this experience but my wife and daughter absolutely love them! It has to be a small breed and fairly hardy...any suggestions?

Preferably from a breeder who vaccinates as well.

Thanks

[Duncan08]

5 weeks old sounds very young to give you as a new chicken keeper, I think your breeder has not checked into your abilities enough.

 

There are lots of different breeds to choose from and if you browse the forums you will find lots of supporters of the various ones.

 

My suggestion though would be to start off with POL (Point of Lay), these girls will be nearly grown up so you still have time to bond with them, but they will also be a little hardier and many problems will have been sorted out one way or another by then, (not guaranteed by the way, I have lost a POL White Star within a couple of weeks).

 

People say hybrids are easier, but I have 3 hybrids and 2 pure breeds and find them equally as easy to look after, and fun to be around.

Don''t have any little ones so cant help you there, (would like some though!)

[Daphne]

You were sold them very young, they may well have still needed heat - so its quite probable they either caught a chill and died or they may have had cocciodosis which is a nasty disease for chicks and growers get it too (birds aged 8-16 weeks ish).

 

My best advice would be to buy older chooks - ideally around POL if you are new to this, but certainly no younger than 8 weeks and really I'd go for older birds, growers are still susceptible to things which older birds have built up an immunity to. Don't be put off pekins - they are tough little birds, I suspect yours succumbed because they were so young/ill when you got them.

 

In the meantime clean out your coop thoroughly with something like VirkonS or another good disinfectant. If the birds did have cocci (one sign is blood in poo, but its not always present) then you must resite the coop as well - this disease lives for up to 12 months in occysts in soil. Although adult birds rarely succuumb, moving house is always something of a trauma for new stock so you shouldn't take any chances.

 

I hope your next experience is much pleasanter. I believe there is a list of breeders someone on this site which might help you.

[Redwing]

5 weeks is an awkward age, they are going through so many changes such as coming off the heat lamp and changing food at that age

 

Pekins are normally pretty robust and strong little birds. If you want youngsters I echo what Daphne says about the 8 week old stage onwards being better

 

The Pekin Club should be able to put you in touch with a local breeder if you are having trouble sourcing them

[sjp]

what sort of infomation did the seller give you regarding feeding and were to keep them ?

[The Dogmother]

I'm so sorry to hear that, but you've been given some excellent advice. Take your time choosing another breeder and be prepared to walk away if you're not happy with the conditions or the birds, alternatively, take along someone more experienced when you go.

 

Better luck next time.

[jamie]

Thanks for your replies,

 

I'll try and answer a few questions.....we still had them under a heat lamp when they became ill, we were told to keep them under heat until about 7 wks then they could go outside....we didnt get the opportunity to put them in the coup before they died.

We had them on a mix of growers and chick crumbs as told to do so by the breeder.

As for illness the first one we took back was puffed up and sleepy also not eating or drinking, the two that passed away first had the same symptoms but with clear liquid coming from their mouths, they went from seemingly healthy to dead within 48 hrs, the last one had these symptoms but with blood in her droppings, she was being treated with coxoid when she passed away.

 

I will certainly buy older more established chickens next time, i will have a look around at the weekend

 

Thanks

[Chortle Chook]

How sad for you to loose your little ones, but don't be put off Pekins. If you liked your little'uns stay with the breed. They are friendly, talk a lot and come in lots of pretty colours. However I too would recommend getting POL ones. You'll find them a whole lot easier to keep and yet still young enough to tame and with many years ahead of them.

Where are you located? Someone on here may know of a good Pekin breeder near you.

Alternatively take a look at The Omlet Where to Buy Chickens post

Also take a look at the The Omlet Breeds area and see what breeds you fancy. They have a handy star rating thingy which helps show you which ones will be friendly, easy on your garden etc.

 

Good luck and do keep us posted.

[jamie]

Were in Sandhurst, Berkshire, I've had a look on the omlet breeds list and a few take my fancy, Ideally we'd like bantams of some sort , maybe Pekins again or Wyandotte or Polands.

I've been over to perfect poultry for a look but the horror stories are putting me off a bit, although he was very helpful.

I'll take a look at surrey poultry and another nearby (the name escapes me) but i dont think they have bantams.

[sjp]

you were at least given the right advise but from what you've described they had come down with cocciodosis which I know from experience strikes really quickly having lost 2 -14 day old chicks to it on my first attempt at hatching from reading your post you did every thing you could so don't let it put you off having young birds in the future. there's something special about watching youngsters grow in confidence and starting to make a place for themselves in a flock

[fluffy chick]

Don't be put off pekins they're ideal first birds. You'll love them once you get some pol birds

[The Dogmother]

I've always had pekins in my flock, for their personalities and their brooding abilities. I have just lost one at the grand old age of 7, and her companion who is 6 months younger is still full of vim and vigour. They are delightful, bossy little madams and easy enough to keep so long as they are dry underfoot.

[Chortle Chook]

Were in Sandhurst, Berkshire, I've had a look on the omlet breeds list and a few take my fancy, Ideally we'd like bantams of some sort , maybe Pekins again or Wyandotte or Polands.

I've been over to perfect poultry for a look but the horror stories are putting me off a bit, although he was very helpful.

I'll take a look at surrey poultry and another nearby (the name escapes me) but i dont think they have bantams.

How about trying Widgets near Reading. They supply both bantam Wyandottes and Pekins, and I know some people on this forum have got birds from there. There is also a related chicken keeping course being run at Glebe Farm near Reading on 30th May. I can PM you the details if you are interested (the link from Widgets is giving an error 404 I think). I'm going even though I've been keeping chickens for 2 years now. The course is not expensive and I just wanted to get some more hands on experience when it comes to things like holding my chickens nicely, looking for lice etc. etc. And I admit it, as the owner of banties, I've been longing to just hold a big chicken.

 

Polands, by the way, are not really in the same league as Pekins and Wyandottes. They are lovely and friendly and I adore mine, but they do take up quite a bit more time what with efforts on wet, windy evenings to clean and dry their head gear.

[jamie]

[quote name='"Chubby Chook"

How about trying Widgets near Reading. They supply both bantam Wyandottes and Pekins' date=' and I know some people on this forum have got birds from there. There is also a related chicken keeping course being run at Glebe Farm near Reading on 30th May. I can PM you the details if you are interested (the link from Widgets is giving an error 404 I think). I'm going even though I've been keeping chickens for 2 years now. The course is not expensive and I just wanted to get some more hands on experience when it comes to things like holding my chickens nicely, looking for lice etc. etc. And I admit it, as the owner of banties, I've been longing to just hold a big chicken.

 

Polands, by the way, are not really in the same league as Pekins and Wyandottes. They are lovely and friendly and I adore mine, but they do take up quite a bit more time what with efforts on wet, windy evenings to clean and dry their head gear. [/quote']

 

Thanks Chubby Chook, i found the Widgets website last night and will call them on saturday to see if they have any available.

The course sounds interesting and is only a few miles from me, could you PM the details please.

 

Thanks again

[Chortle Chook]

I've sent you the details, Jamie. If you decide to visit Widgets and need a companion (any day but Saturday), do let me know as I'd love to see their set up, but not wanting to add to my flock just at the moment, I have not quite had the nerve to go visit just for the look see.