[nerdle]

After setting my heart on a pair of Pekin bantams I find they have feathers on their feet. That puts me off a bit.  Isn't that a bit messy on muddy days?

[pepsi100]

it is, but they clean themselves up, mine never had a problem with mud, anyway, its never muddy for long, I mean its going to be a glorious summer, they will be having dust baths

[grinling]

Mud can stick to the feathers which might need to be washed off with warm water.

[nerdle]

Jungle fowl (from whence they all came) don't have feathers on their feet. They must have been bred that way for some reason.... a bit unnatural/impractical...?

[Willow_Warren]

I got 3 pekin bantams in the autumn so not an experience keeper.  I have them in a relativly small run, which I move ever week onto fresh grass (we fortunatly have a large garen to enable us to do this), their feathers have been ok all winter - although quite wet!  The run is fully covered to help and they have perches to enable them to get off the ground to a drier are.

They are really cute!!!

p.s. they do get free range time and some days they have one of the bunny runs added to the end of their run to give them more space.

Hannah

[pepsi100]

Pekin bantams were bred that way, I would assume for show purposes, I might be wrong, but I think that a lot of birds that are 'fancy' have been bred for showing, I cant seee any other reason or purpose

[helens-hens]

I am sure I have read somewhere that you also need to keep an eye out for leg mites with hens with feathered legs.

I wouldn't let the feathered legs put you off too much, as long as you are aware of any potential problems then you can keep an eye out for them.

Go with your heart  . I saw a picture of, I think, Pepsi 100's pekin bantam being pushed around by his granddaughter and they are lovely looking birds.

[nerdle]

Well - it was love at first sight at Romsey show 2 years ago and that's how I got here.

Looking for a breeder now... I hear they can be sexed at 8 weeks - OK to buy at that age or too soon? 

Just can't wait to be a mummy again and it will be April at least I should think......sigh....

[Willow_Warren]

I bought mine at roughly 8 weeks, very cute and it was lovely to see them grow

Good luck, hope you find something...

Hannah

[nerdle]

So can you recommend a breeder?

[Willow_Warren]

I sent you a link to where I got men from, but I read your location as Herts not Hants.... It's a bit far away    geography is not my strong point  :blink:

Hannah

[nerdle]

Thank you. 

Great to know when to get men from as well sokay I know it was a typing error!

Will seem like forever until I can get looking but 8 week chicky chicks will be like heaven!

[Willow_Warren]

Here's a little pic of two of mine shortly after I got them


AdobePhotoshopExpress_20130216181401 by Willow_Warren, on Flickr

Hannah 

[pepsi100]

I hatched mine fro eggs, that was fun, I got 4 1 block, 3 brown, I kept a blck and brown one, the other 2 I donated to a school (they dstil have them, but they are too old for eggs now (I think they are over 5 years old now)

I think I'd prefer them from eggs, than buy them older, more fun to see what colours you end up with (and of course what sex )

[nerdle]

Oh Hannah they are so beautiful!  Will go mad waiting for spring to arrive.  Hatching eggs would be great but don't have the gadgets and then what do I do with boys???  Best to have girls from 8 weeks (one lavender and the other another colour)??  Also - vulnerable to sparrowhawks being smaller hens?

Talked to someone today about Pekins - they lay eggs everywhere apparently!  Might make a box for laying for the garden (coop in back of shed and not so accessible).