Hello from Derby

[Tatty head]

Hello everyone

I'm a Newbie to the forum, so just saying hello (waves)

I started with 3 hybrid chooks 4 years ago, and they're much loved pets. 3 now down to 2 - Kimberley and Cornelia, who live together and both have implants to stop them laying and suffering Egg Yolk Peritonitis that they developed (and lost their buddy Fanny to).

Also have a white Silkie - Lilly, we sadly lost her two lovely pals recently (Marj a brahma and Flo a wyandotte) and she now lives happily with our latest additions 2 Pekins - Bumble and Betty, a young Brahma - Parsley and young Cochin - Olive.

I joined the forum for a bit of advice about one of the Pekins, but I spoke to the vets this morning so hopefully all sorted. She stopped laying a couple of weeks ago, has laid a couple of soft shelled eggs and is a bit rattly in the chest. We're giving them Tylan for 5 days for respiratory virus.

I do have a question for any pekin owners - how much do your birds weigh please? Our newbies are 10 months old approx and Betty has put on quite a bit of weight since she came to live with us, she's now 910g, was 735g 2 months ago! She not laid an egg since she came here and I don't know if she was laying before. Any advice welcome.

Thanks

 

[Marigold]

Hi Tattyhead, and welcome to the Forum.
You might get more answers about your Pekin if you post this question again in the General Chickens section, as more people are likely to read it in there.

 

[foxy]

Hello Tatty head and welcome to the forum! 99

Regarding your pekins, well on the whole they are not the most reliable layers, but saying that at 10 months old they should be in lay for a bit longer this year unless approaching a moult or broody.

It looks like you have acquired your pekins recently? This could have been enough stress to disrupt laying and/or bring on some latent underlying disease which appears to have happened in this case?

Regarding weight, I do have pekins, but have never weighed them. I have found them quite light birds despite their profuse feathering. As long as they have a little weight on, and their keel bone(breast bone) is not too sharp I wouldn't worry too much, especially if their behaviour is normal (bright and active) and they look healthy. Saying that if one has a respiratory problem she may not have a great appetite at the moment if she is a little under the weather.

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Tatty Head and welcome to the forum. I lived in and around Derby for many years (25?). I was there last month to see my Dentist.

Hope your chickens get better soon.