Shirl Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 You may have read that this week I bought my first 3 chickens-pekin batams. They are still small about 10, 12 and 14 weeks. My understanding is they probably won't lay until next spring. Being a bit impatient I was thinking of getting a Faverolle which is from last year and is in moult. Do you think the introduction would be difficult? Would the fact that the new bird is mature adult would mean the youngsters would just defer to her? Should I just be patient? The Faverolle is in moult at the moment so I guess I'd still have await for eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 What makes you think you'll have to wait till next spring Shirl? Chickens usually start laying at around about 20 weeks - are pekin bantams different? I think they can lay less over the winter, but seasons haven't been a major issue for our hybrid hens. When we introduced 2 youngsters to one mature hen they immediately gave in to her dominance. This didn't stop her bullying them for a couple of weeks though. It might be different if you were adding a mature hen to youngsters. If the Faverolle is in moult you probably would have to wait for eggs, but the length of time is hard to predict - they vary so much as to whether they do it all quickly or slowly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 I was told that pure breds do not usually start laying in winter. It's only what I was told by the breeder so if it's wrong I'll be really happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Hmm. I don't have any experience with pure breeds Shirl - sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 My 4 newbies are 10 weeks old and the breeder told me they probably won't lay until the spring. Last year my Bantams stopped laying at the end of august and didn't start again until April. Pepsi my Pekin has been broody 3 times since April Her eggs are a rare treat I would be reluctant to introduce a fully grown Hen to the young ones as she might bully the little uns My newbies will be seperate from the big girls for at least 8 weeks and then I shall introduce them slowly until I am confident they are getting on together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 Oh well no new chook and no eggs 'til Easter or even longer if they decide they're broody! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Pepsi's comedy value makes up for the lack of eggs. I love the way Pekins run I deliberately throw treats down the far end of the garden so I can watch her run after them . One day she will trip up and fall flat on her beak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 But I've only got Pekins, if they're all broody I'm stuffed! I just want to taste the fresh creamy eggs I keep hearing about So far the buff is the most nervous and DS hasn't been able to pick her up. The black is the bravest and least bothered. How would you recommend taming them? DS has been sat outside the run for hours digging up worms for them and hand feeding them. Would her be better having them on his lap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 I'm sure they all will not be broody at the same time. Until recently I had another Pekin who did not go broody. Try taking them out of the Eglu via the eggport after it has got dark. They should be sleepy then and not mind so much being handled. Just a little cuddle and a stroke to start with to get them used to being touched (I am starting to do this tonight with my newbies). Offer them a treat, corn or grapes etc so they associate you with nice things. When they start to come into lay they will start to crouch when you approach them (you being the Cockeral), they will be easier to pick up then in daylight hours especially if you have been cuddling them at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 That's great. Thank you so much for your advice. I'm really keen to do this right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisHapp Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Hi when I bought Pekin Banties at this time of year, it did indeed take until the spring for them to lay - well and truly over the 20 week POL time! MH x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Couldn't you get the Faverolle anyway and keep them seperate somehow until the little ones are a bit bigger? It's not impossible to integrate them - just slower! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 I haven't got anything to keep it in, except maybe a dog cage. OK for a few hours but not several weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 What a shame, oh well, there will be others! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Hi Shirl How did the cuddling go? First time I went to get mine out it wasn't dark enough and they got aggitated when I tried to lift one out, so I gave gave them each a little stroke. I wasn't helped by the fact that the resident gulls decide to come home to roost and were making such a racket Went back later and this time it was too dark My back was blocking out the security light and I couldn't see a thing. I didn't know which end of the chicken I was trying to lift Better luck tonight I hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share Posted August 13, 2007 Didn't get a chance to try last night as DD2 wasn't playing ball. Tonight I'm doing a cloth nappy demo so I know that's a no go. I might ask DS to have a go as he seems to be on chicken watch. He's spending about 6 hours a day sat outside their run watching, feeding and stroking them. He can pick them up but he says he can feel they are desperate to get down so he'll be willing to give it a go in the dark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 It's well worth persevereing with the handling, we've had ours for nearly 3 weeks now, and already they come running out to see me every time I go into the garden and are happy to be hand fed all the time, hopping onto knees, legs etc for a cuddle. It is really sweet playing with them and it does make a difference when we need to get them in the run quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted August 14, 2007 Author Share Posted August 14, 2007 That's really good after only 3 weeks. How tame were they when you got them? My demo was quite quick so I managed to trott down the garden at about 9pm. They were fairly docile but kept hiding thier heads under our arms presumably because they wanted it to be darker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...