FeeB Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 I'm new to the site and looking for some help. I'm thinking of getting some hens later this year but am going round in circles trying to work out what to get. My ideal would be 3 pekin bantams as pets for the kids plus 2 more reliable layers. I'm not particularly bothered which LF but I was thinking perhaps a speckledy and a goldline for their friendliness plus good egg laying. However, I spoke to a few breeders yesterday and 2 of the 3 told me not to mix bantams and hybrids. The 3rd told me it would be fine. One of them told me to stay away from hybrids altogether as they often get egg bound and sick. This is contrary to what I've read online so now I'm super confused! Can anyone give me some advice? I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 There are a number of people on here with pekins. (Luvachicken and Mullethunter have them). Many here have LF mixed with bantams with no problem whatsoever. There are pro’s and con’s to all breeds. Pekins get broody much more quickly. All breeds can get problems with their egglaying business, but chickens bread for lots of laying and big eggs tend to have more issues. Some bantams can be very skittish and some LF will be huggable and docile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeeB Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 Thanks Cat tails - I had heard that often bantams and LF are fine together, I was surprised at how vehemently the breeders were against it. Are there any breeds you would recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Thanks Cat tails - I had heard that often bantams and LF are fine together, I was surprised at how vehemently the breeders were against it. Are there any breeds you would recommend? Most dangerous question ever! I only have bantams. Still one surviving New Hampshire bantam. And three Dutch bantams. The New Hamphires were pretty good layers, but both died of egg laying business problems. Number three is still going strong. The Dutch bantams are quite friendly, but very good fliers, lousy layers and prone to broodyness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 I had 4 bantams 2 silkies and 2 Millefleur Pekins,all lousy layers. I had them in with big girls,brown hens a Marian’s,blue belle and a white one,forget type. My little white Silkie was mercilessly bullied and I had to segregate them into 2 flocks. They then appeared to settle when free ranging and I foolishly put them together. Lasted a few days then we found the Silkie semi conscious in run being set upon. Sadly she passed away. Now the three bantams get on ok with large girlies and it’s hard to know what to advise,though after that I won’t be replacing bantams I will stick to brown hens that actually produce eggs. I have had these free loaders for 2 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Yep I now have a pekin. I did have 2 and they were such a close, lovely pair. Bernadette who I still have is my favourite They’ve both laid small eggs roughly 3 a week between March and November and tend to be broody a couple of times a year. I struggled to integrate them with slightly larger Wyandotte bantams (fine now but took a long time) and I know some people mix them with no problems but I wouldn’t mix bantams and LF unless I had alternative living arrangements for if something went wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 I am a Pekin convert When I first started out I had 3 Omlet chickens. This moved on to 2 Wyandottes and a couple of smaller breeds who sadly died leaving the Wyandottes. When I added a couple of Pekins the Wyandottes turned particularly nasty towards them. I now only have Pekins - 6 altogether - of which Gemma is 5 years old - and I love them dearly. They are extremely chatty and cuddly. I have 2 that sit on my lap for ages. Broodiness can be a problem but that is easily rectified with a dog crate. The only other thing that causes a little problem is mud sticking to their feathery feet but it is easy to get off. I would go for Pekins every time .... but then I could be biased Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Like I said: most dangerous question ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I had 3 Pekin's in with 4 hybrids, they all got on well together. Since moving to France I miss the Pekins so I am looking to get 3 more here, they will mix in with my 9 big girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeeB Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 Thank so much for your comments although as you've all had different experiences I'm still unsure... I really do think pekins are perfect for my 3 young children as they would love some pets and I stupidly showed them some photos and they are hooked. But I want a steady supply of decent sized eggs!! Space is not an issue, although I wasn't planning on free ranging due to foxes - I was going to get a big omlet WIR and a cube. I suppose if I tried a mixed flock and it didn't work I could always get a second coop. I'd probably need a new husband too. OR I could get the bantams first and the hybrids a bit later on so the pekins are settled. I never imagined I would spend so many hours thinking about chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Don’t worry about the husband - he’ll come around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I never imagined I would spend so many hours thinking about chickens! Just wait until you get them and then see how much time you spend watching them as well as thinking about them, and deciding what to buy them next With regard to Pekin eggs, the yolks are a similar size to shop eggs, it's just the white that is a bit smaller. It's easy to make cake with them - just weigh the eggs and then use the same amount of flour, butter and sugar. The negative side is they don't lay over winter or when they are broody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Bantams and Large Fowl can mix with no problems but as with all animals, they have individual personalities. Pekins make great pets for the family and hybrids will keep you in eggs over the winter. If I were you I would start with Pekins now and then add hybrids in September so that they come into lay as the Pekins stop Just found an old photo of our bantams (Pekin on the left) and large fowl (hybrid far right) free ranging together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeeB Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 Haha - yes I can see how people become obsessed! Thanks so much for the advice, getting the pekins then adding hybrids in September sounds like a good plan. I'm going to visit a breeder this weekend (Hollywater Hens) to take a look and get a better idea of breeds. Lewis - can I just ask about your set up? I have the option to put the cube inside or outside the WIR. Inside just seems a bit more secure, but I'm concerned it will make cleaning out tricky. Does yours work well on the outside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 As bantams go I've found pekins very aggressive to others and they can certainly hold their own with large fowl. Not sure how other bantam breeds would manage though? We have Leghorn bantams and they can be rather aggressive to large fowl as well. Whist things can be fairly stable when hens aren't laying, it all changes when they are, as nest boxes can become territorial with some breeds. Mixing breeds is always 'pot luck' and something we don't now do based on previous experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Lewis - can I just ask about your set up? I have the option to put the cube inside or outside the WIR. Inside just seems a bit more secure, but I'm concerned it will make cleaning out tricky. Does yours work well on the outside? It works really well having the Cube on the outside as you can clean them out and collect eggs without having to go into the run. We never close them into the Cube at night, they come and go as they please and have never had problems with security - the Cube isn't attached as it's heavy enough but you could attach it if you wanted to. We also have a Classic and a Go on the floor of the run (now extended) but they're more awkward to clean being inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeeB Posted February 26, 2018 Author Share Posted February 26, 2018 Thanks for the advice, I'm coming round to the cube on the outside of the WIR. We went to a lovely breeder at the weekend who advised that pekins will be fine with some hybrids and they will help us select birds that they feel will go together well. Yay! So excited now, just need to get the run area sorted and we'll be ready to get them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 Thanks for the advice, I'm coming round to the cube on the outside of the WIR. My Cube is one of the older ones where the roof slides forwards so you can open up the rest of the Cube for cleaning. Some people have left gaps so the roof can slide forwards, effectively into the run space. I'm not sure how the newer Cube opens. I suppose people could move the Cube and do it that way I'm sure Lewis will know how it's done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 26, 2018 Share Posted February 26, 2018 I have a Mk 1 Cube that the run slides forward too, I just unbolt the roof and lift it up rather than sliding it forwards - can't remember if I had to take the metal runners off to allow that though. I think the new Cube just opens at the back like the Go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
