Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[izemum]

Hi All,

I am a watercolour artist and I am saving every penny at the moment to get a cube (purple I think!!! But it changes daily!), so I am a little way off buying it yet but can I ask your input for a good selection of pretty birds that don't compromise too much on laying (we are a hungry family of 7!!! ). I will probably start with 6 to 8 and want to be able to paint them. What varieties get along with each other? Do you keep pairs of varieties? Where do I begin??

 

Thanks!

[Chickabee]

Gosh that's a tall order. Anything millefleurs, a wellsummer, crested Poland (not always great layers, but my one is). Bluebelle (good size very pretty hybrid that lays well). Cuckoo Marans. There's loads, you'll have to see what's available locally obviously. Love to see some other ideas.

 

Welcome and good luck

[Chickabee]

A laced Wyandotte

[Daphne]

Firstly, welcome

 

Secondly, what a great question

 

Thirdly, I need to go off and give it some thought

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've never managed to get hold of the some of the gorgeous breeds I've seen on here but have always tried to have a chicken colour palette in my garden . I've managed it most of the time (see my signature photos!).

[Daphne]

OK, the first thing I would do is some research to decide whether or not you want hybrids - great egg layers but don't go on laying for so long - or pure breeds which lay less but tend to go on for longer. There are some PBs which are great layers (eg leghorns but they can be flighty), but as a general rule, to feed 7 people you will do better with hybrids.

 

There are a variety of colours/feather patterns in the hybrids, less so than in the PBs but still there is a great deal of variation in an individual bird, especially if you look carefully. You can mix hybrids and PBs but some people prefer not to as hybrids are vaccinated against various diseases and most PBs are not.

 

I don't keep hybrids, but I'm sure others will advise on different looks and characteristics

 

If you do decide to go for PBs then I would do some research to get an idea of those you like the look of, and which sort would suit your set-up. Some breeds go broody a lot which will cut down on the egg production for example, some are flighty and don't like handling, some are bantams, some are huge. For appearance, there is a lot of info online (eg feathersite) or in any number of books. There is body shape to consider as well as feathering, some breeds are largely self-colours (ie one colour all over, but several different colours available), some are patterned, and some are both.

 

As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so have fun

[Grandmashazzie]

Def need a beautiful Slikie.I have a black one and a white one,they are gorgeous. My best layers have been my ex batts. They are red/ brown hen but you can see lovely variation of shades.

[Luvachicken]

Me personally, I would go for Pekins

So pretty but a bit pants on egg laying and very prone to being broody.

[Coolz]

I love Welsummers, they are just beautiful (but as someone said earlier, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!).

 

I'm hoping to get some next year, I've started with 3 Rhode Rocks for now as I'm a newb and wanted to get into the swing of it rather than losing my depth.

 

But even though my Rhode Rocks are a great beginner bird, they're also incredibly beautiful. Their patterns are just amazing.

[mrsatroy]

I recently got 2 black silkies and they are just so pretty with their fuzzy mops on top. I also have 3 cochins and adore them - they are very big birds and my partridge one is particulary pretty - her feathers have a beautiful pattern.

The rest of my crew are pekins, hybrids and ex-batts. Each is stunning in their own way with beautiful patterns in their plummage or stunning colour particularly when the sun catches their feathers in the evening light.

Edited August 5, 2015 by Guest

[izemum]

Thank you all for your great ideas - yes there definitely are a LOT of beautiful birds out there - SOOOOOO hard to choose and also it depends on what I can get in my area. But I am having great fun looking up all the breeds.

 

As I am a newbie, would you start small, with say 3 or is 6 an ok amount for a beginner?

 

Thanks again for all your kind input - this seems such a lovely forum

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Three is usually a good number to start with but as you're getting a cube and you're a big family it probably makes sense to start with more (and introducing new hens later can sometimes be quite difficult).

 

You don't need to get pairs of breeds but getting similar sized hens is usually a good idea, although plenty of people do have mixed sizes. In fact, I've got a tiny Araucana and a hefty Bluebell and they get on fine.

 

If you're planning on painting them, I'd go for a range of different colours and feathering - that'll give you endless scope to paint .

[izemum]

Thanks Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here, for your great advice.

 

I see you are in Edinburgh - we are in Eat Lothian, can I ask where you get your chickens from?

 

Thanks!