About the Pekin

Pekins are small, compact bantams known for their heavily feathered legs and feet, rounded appearance and generally friendly nature. Deb’s Mixed Colour Pekin pen contains birds in a range of soft cream-based colours, including off-white, cream, beige and buff tones.

Because these birds are maintained as a mixed-colour breeding group rather than separate established colour lines, chicks may hatch in a range of shades and patterns. Specific chick colours cannot be guaranteed.

History & Origin

The Pekin is a true bantam breed with a long history, believed to have originated in China. Small, heavily feathered bantams of this type were brought to Britain during the nineteenth century, where the breed was further developed and refined.

Over time, Pekins became popular as ornamental and exhibition birds because of their compact, rounded appearance, abundant feathering and generally friendly temperament. A wide range of recognised colour varieties has since been developed.

Houdans in Australia

Pekin bantams are well established and popular in Australia, where they are kept as exhibition birds, breeding stock and friendly backyard poultry. Their small size, generally calm temperament and wide range of colours have made them particularly popular with hobby keepers and families.

As a true bantam, the Pekin has no corresponding large-fowl form. In Australia, Pekins are bred in numerous established colour varieties as well as mixed-colour breeding groups such as Deb’s

Characteristics

Egg colour: Tinted – cream to light beige.

Egg size: Small.

Average egg production: Approximately 100–160 eggs per year, averaging around 2–3 eggs per week.

Weekly egg figures are annual averages. Actual laying varies with age, season, daylight, nutrition and individual bird.

Day-old sexing: Pekins are not an autosexing breed. Day-old chicks generally cannot be reliably sexed by colour or markings alone.

Temperament: Pekins are generally friendly, calm and easily handled. Their small size and often confident, sociable nature make them popular backyard birds, although individual temperament varies.

Broodiness: Pekin hens are well known for becoming broody and generally make attentive mothers. They may brood and raise chicks from their own eggs or those of other poultry.

Notable features: Pekins are true bantams with a compact, rounded body, abundant soft feathering and heavily feathered legs and feet. Their low, rounded carriage and profuse plumage give them their characteristic fluffy appearance.

Genetic Variation: Deb’s Pekins are bred as a mixed-colour group rather than as individual colour varieties. Different colour genes may therefore combine in the offspring, producing chicks that vary in shade and pattern from their parents and from one another. This variation is expected within the breeding group and individual chick colours cannot be guaranteed.

Hardiness: Pekins are generally hardy when provided with suitable shelter. Their heavy foot feathering requires particular attention in persistently wet or muddy conditions, where feathers can become soiled or damaged and feet may be more susceptible to problems.

Rare Breed Status

Pekin is not currently listed on the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia poultry rare breed list.

Current Availability

See what’s currently available from Deb’s Heritage Hens.