How to get started with Pekin Bantams?

[Anonymous]

I would like to start showing Pekin Bantams. I don't have any at the moment... so I guess I need to hatch some soon this year.

If I were to hatch some, how long is it before I can show them?

How do I find out about shows where I can take them?

Are there any 'easier' beginners breeds of PB that I could start with?

Is there a club or society I could join that can provide help and advice?

Thanks!

Baz

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

The earliest age really to show them is about 6 months. The males need to have all of their hackle feathers.

Females can be shown a little earlier if they have matured well.

I highly recommend Margaret Gregson's book on Pekin Bantams.

You are probably better off starting with the blacks and whites as they breed pretty true to standard. Some of the other colours are somewhat harder because they will for example show some white, black feet, or you get involved with double breeding for patridges for example.

There is also the pekin bantam club contact Vicky Rogers 07854 952542. She can put you in touch with local breeders. Try and start off with the very best stock you can afford.

For blacks and whites you could contact Yorkshire Pekin on here. I got my first white cock birds from him and I have not looked back.

As far as finding out about your local shows try the Poultry Press or keep a watch for people publishing dates on here.

Good luck

Fran

 

[Anonymous]

Hello Fran,

Thank you for the information - that is a real help for me and is really appreciated.

As a newcomer to the hobby, I always have so many questions

6 months sounds good - I'm now thinking that I might start from scratch - from hatching eggs this year, then start selecting birds next year that might be suitable for a show. I guess that if I enter a show, I can get some idea on how good / bad my birds are.

I bought Margaret Gregson's book. Thank you for the recommendation. It is my next book to read after I have finished "Choosing and Keeping Chickens" by Chris Graham. To be honest this isn't a very good book, a little too basic and I'm looking forward to moving on!

To be honest, having got into keeping chickens fairly recently I have found most of what I need on poultrykeeper.com.I'm so pleased they put this forum online a couple of weeks ago and I hear (on the grapevine) they are going to be associated with the poultry journal and become the 'official PJ' forum shortly... :?:

Anyway, better go and lock my chooks up as it's dark and I don't want Mr Fox to drop by!

Barry.

 

[Anonymous]

yorkshire pekin is worth a pm off this site i know he as a few spare black males that are about as good as you will get to start off with--remember a male is more important to get quality with as you can use him with several females--a poor male to good females is a waste of time

 

[Anonymous]

I would like to start showing Pekin Bantams. I don't have any at the moment... so I guess I need to hatch some soon this year.

If I were to hatch some, how long is it before I can show them?

How do I find out about shows where I can take them?

Are there any 'easier' beginners breeds of PB that I could start with?

Is there a club or society I could join that can provide help and advice?

Thanks!

Baz

Hi Baz

Loads of good advice already, so not much more for me to add.
There is a pekin bantam breed club that you could join too.( C/OMr Sill ) I know the other breed clubs send out regular newsletters, year books etc on specific breeds which I find useful.

The Poultry CLub of Great Britain has a useful year book and newsletters too which I find informative.

In terms of shows, where are you located about and I will try to find a local show to you??

Hazel

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your help. I'm so keen to get started now!

Well, I have had a look at a few nice birds but all have so far been sold or not for sale. I haven't found any hatching eggs that I feel could be show worthy yet!

I am now living in Oxfordshire Hazel. I will look into the club you mention.

Thanks.
Baz

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your help. I'm so keen to get started now!

Well, I have had a look at a few nice birds but all have so far been sold or not for sale. I haven't found any hatching eggs that I feel could be show worthy yet!

I am now living in Oxfordshire Hazel. I will look into the club you mention.

Thanks.
Baz

The best of luck in finding some birds.. if we could find a poultry club local to you, they might be able to give you some contacts to buy some.

The Pekin bantam breed club secretary is Mr Sill on 01484 841 008 - sure he will be able to tell you about the pekin bantam club.

In terms of local shows to you -July there is Woodcote Steam Rally and in September - Henley on Thames.

Are you willing to travel to Reading & Newbury? If so, they have a good two day show in late February too.

 

[Anonymous]

hi am new to this forum and kep and hatch pekins but dont know much about coloring could someone explain the following to me please? thanks


or you get involved with double breeding for patridges for example.

 

[Lordcluck]

Double breeding in Partridge Pekins refers to the production of correctly marked show males from one breeding pen, and correctly marked show females from another.
In a nutshell, exhibition pullets with their crisp and precise concentric pencilling, on a soft golden brown base colour, can only be bred from the best marked Exhibition females mated to speckle breasted partridge males, with ticked hackles,of a solid orange colour, and if they also have a suggestion of female-like pencilling in their thigh feather, wing bows or tail, they will be particularly useful in producing well marked pullets, but they are not suitable for showing themselves.
Exhibition partridge males with their solid black breasts, and shaded orange to yellow hackles, can only be bred by mating the best show males to females that show thick or broken and fuzzy Pencilling, on a darker brown undercolour. Often these hens will lose their pencilling altogether around their saddles and tails and show dark stippling or ' mossy' markings instead. They will usually have paler, more yellow neck hackles with dense striping, and they look entirely different to show females.

 

[Anonymous]

hi all, ive recently started keeping pekins, and im not happy that i have breed worthy stock, does anybody know of any show quality birds for sale in the south wales area? thanks guys.

 

[foxy]

hi all, ive recently started keeping pekins, and im not happy that i have breed worthy stock, does anybody know of any show quality birds for sale in the south wales area? thanks guys.

If you are free tommorrow Josh, pop down to the Welsh Fed poultry show in Bluith Wells(sp) I am sure there will be some lovely pekins there, and maybe if you are lucky some for sale. The very least you will able to get some contacts

 

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