Luvachicken Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Hubby has been on at me about how useless my girls are because they haven't laid many eggs this year. Queenie hasn't laid any eggs at all this year and amongst all the broodiness the others haven't done that well either I told him the only way round it was to let me have some more I would really like more pekins and I know they will in turn be broody too, but I think they really are my favourite. One thing that worries me though, is that in this months Practical Poultry, it says that pekins don't like introductions and they are one of the worst for that. Is that really true ? Don't most chickens struggle with introductions ? When is the best time to get some pekins - now or in the Spring ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Well you can bet your bottom dollar that if you get some now they won't lay til spring, but on the other hand, you do have the shorter days on your side. You could get some 20 week olds now and you could have lovely eggs in March. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 I read that too but touch wood have always had fairly easy intros, just joined my Pekin babies, now 22 weeks old with the older girls, started off in split run, then FR together and now all in together. No blood drawn, just the odd bit of a peck here and there, to be honest one of the bamtam orp growers was the most feisty so I guess it comes down to the individual bird. Anyway, 20 girls, growers, oldies, a broody and two moulting and not a single egg for weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 30, 2014 Author Share Posted October 30, 2014 Anyway, 20 girls, growers, oldies, a broody and two moulting and not a single egg for weeks. Ahh, that makes me feel better knowing I am not the only one, and with your 20 as well I won't tell that to Hubby I do love my 4 very much and would hate for anything to happen like it did with the Wyandottes, so maybe I will wait for now and see how we get on for eggs next year. I think the Wyandotte experience has put me off of introductions and doubt has set in that I might be better waiting until I have just 2 girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 No don't tell him that, not sure that the pekins are ever going to be great layers but they are such lovely little characters, can't help but smile at their antics, I love the way they chatter away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 And their lovely colours, already thinking about a porcelain for next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Just wanted to add my young girls and porcelain Pekins have come into lay in the last couple of weeks so you don't always have to wait until spring leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I know you're stuck on Pekins, but considered adding a different bantam, that might be a more enthousiastic layer? My three little New Hampshires are still laying and I get about 10 to 13 eggs a week with only three ladies. They tend to not get broody so easily either apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 And their lovely colours, already thinking about a porcelain for next year. Just wanted to add my young girls and porcelain Pekins have come into lay in the last couple of weeks so you don't always have to wait until spring leanne Oooh 2 votes for porcelain pekins So many pretty choices ........ I know you're stuck on Pekins, but considered adding a different bantam, that might be a more enthousiastic layer? My three little New Hampshires are still laying and I get about 10 to 13 eggs a week with only three ladies. They tend to not get broody so easily either apparently. I will be looking up the New Hampshires a bit later. The eggs and broodiness don't bother me that much. I would be happy waiting 'til the Spring for eggs. I think the biggest problem is my self doubt in my ability to do introductions after what happened before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Don't doubt yourself. I'm sure it was nothing you did wrong - it sounds like you didn't do anything different to everyone else so I think you must've just had a personality clash (edited to say your girls not you!). I do agree with you in that whilst everyone seems to say Wyandottes are really laid back, that hasn't been my experience. Maybe it doesn't apply to bantams. Mine get on OK with the Pekins now but they certainly aren't what you'd describe as friendly. In fact Amy (second in command) seems to have a real attitude problem in general If it were me, I would get a couple of different bantams (small ones) to go with your Pekins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Thanks mullethunter and for the boost in confidence too. I think you are right that some Wyandottes are not as laid back as others, but then I guess not all chickens are as laid back as each other anyway. Out of my pekins Queenie is definitely the most laid back and such a sweetie. I haven't even asked hubby if I can have any more yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 Was very nearly tempted by a beautiful girl at Rokers today. I think she was a lavender pekin - pale grey anyway - but she was the only pekin amongst 3 big speckly girls. She was just a baby and didn't even have her comb but you just see it coming through. Soooo pretty but I left her there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I bet that took a lot of willpower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 I bet that took a lot of willpower. Yes it did. I am still thinking about her now I think if there had been 2 or more I would have come back with some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Oh I know what you mean, but I guess it might be hard to integrate one on her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I did that once. I saw a beautiful tiny lavender pekin frizzle. I bought a Welsummer and a partridge silkie. The following day I phoned and asked about the frizzle, she had been reserved . Half an hour later they phoned me back and said she was available . This year she became a mum to 4 cream legbars. She was only just a year old. Not laid an egg since, but I don't care, she's so funny and gorgeous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 I went to Rokers today. Never seen the chickens though. Next time I must go and have a nosey around. They've changed where the little bits of chook stuff are! I nearly panicked and thought oooooh it's gone it's gone!!! But brought live mealies home for a treat tomorrow. I bet the little pekin won't be there long. Or perhaps there will be more ickle friends coming. Just wondering if they come from Merrist Wood. I have been banned from more chooks until we move house now. Bah humbug! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Me too Valkyrie. Although I actually haven't got room so it is fair enough really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 Valkyrie, the chickens are outside to the left I noticed too that everything had moved around - didn't see live bugs though Still deciding whether to get some new girls now, but am waiting until I feel a bit better before I decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 You can buy live mealworms from Amazon. It's really funny when they turn up in the post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 They might make you feel better luvachicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 They might make you feel better luvachicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 I'll remember that next time I'm feeling poorly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 I used to get the mealworms in bulk from CJ Wild bird foods and then I had my own little mini farm going in the utility room for a few years - but I developed a bad allergy that set up asthma big time so they finally went when the chicks hatched. Not had any since apart from the dried ones. They had crickets there too - and I don't mean Shane Warne (although that would have been a real bonus). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 They might make you feel better luvachicken Well I was feeling a teeny bit better until I read that Thanks for the laugh though mullethunter. Valkyrie, I used to get mine from CJWildbirdfood too - but I think whatever the creature was (white, maggoty things) chewed a hole in the plastic box and I found them crawling all around my kitchen - never ordered any since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
