I have had three Pekins for about three months now and am not so much impressed. I WANT to be, but I am not. While they are absolutely gorgeous especially laying together under the grape vine trellis, they hate going into the pond (so they have no protection at all from predators, even what could be had on a pond). In fact, they will just stay thirsty in the hot sun instead of going to the water unless I have herded my other ducks (some half grown ducklings that I am getting used to the pond) down first. Then they will gulp water at the edge like they have not drunk in years.
Speaking of the ducklings, the Pekins prowl the edge of the pond when the ducklings swim and try to dominate them and break them up when they get on land. The two drakes will not mate with the female, who keeps trying to mate with anyone who wants to sit on the grass (really creepy to be stared down by the female, then have her run up your leg or arm), so I am not sure why the drakes (and the duck) keep trying to harass the ducklings. In order to let the ducklings swim in peace, one of us has to be the bouncer, keeping the Pekins from going to where the ducklings are.
Back to the going thirsty bit, I herd them from an outside run in the morning, which is perfectly fine. I don't mind that a bit. However, they will only spend a little bit at the pond (their feeder is there) before they want to go back into the run. This is what I mean by "barn sour"--like a horse who just keeps wanting to go back to the barn. So they hang out outside the run and get thirsty. If it rains, they will drink out of mud puddles when a very gentle slope to a spring fed, nothing creepy or predatory, pond is literally just a few feet away. One time they did go into the water and a bream touched one's foot and they lit out of there and avoid it (except to harass the ducklings).
Additionally, they do not seem great at foraging. The ducklings work the bank of the pond like miners digging for gold. The Pekins lounge in the grass, eat the food put out for them (or field strip my clematis and blueberries) and do not seem interested at all in eating bugs.
Now, to be honest, I wonder if it is because I got them at TSC during their chick days instead of through a breeder--bad genes, mass produced. I would be willing to perhaps try the breed again from a breeder. These, I believe, will be going away soon before they teach the ducklings bad habits.
I do have to say that they are beautiful and I mean GORGEOUS--big white pillows with sweet faces and dark eyes. They do seem relatively expedient in terms of feed--they do not eat a ton. I WANT to love them. Just can't see a use for them.
I have not tried the meat yet, and there are no eggs (too soon for them to breed, I guess). I am instead going to focus on a few other breeds I have.
Speaking of the ducklings, the Pekins prowl the edge of the pond when the ducklings swim and try to dominate them and break them up when they get on land. The two drakes will not mate with the female, who keeps trying to mate with anyone who wants to sit on the grass (really creepy to be stared down by the female, then have her run up your leg or arm), so I am not sure why the drakes (and the duck) keep trying to harass the ducklings. In order to let the ducklings swim in peace, one of us has to be the bouncer, keeping the Pekins from going to where the ducklings are.
Back to the going thirsty bit, I herd them from an outside run in the morning, which is perfectly fine. I don't mind that a bit. However, they will only spend a little bit at the pond (their feeder is there) before they want to go back into the run. This is what I mean by "barn sour"--like a horse who just keeps wanting to go back to the barn. So they hang out outside the run and get thirsty. If it rains, they will drink out of mud puddles when a very gentle slope to a spring fed, nothing creepy or predatory, pond is literally just a few feet away. One time they did go into the water and a bream touched one's foot and they lit out of there and avoid it (except to harass the ducklings).
Additionally, they do not seem great at foraging. The ducklings work the bank of the pond like miners digging for gold. The Pekins lounge in the grass, eat the food put out for them (or field strip my clematis and blueberries) and do not seem interested at all in eating bugs.
Now, to be honest, I wonder if it is because I got them at TSC during their chick days instead of through a breeder--bad genes, mass produced. I would be willing to perhaps try the breed again from a breeder. These, I believe, will be going away soon before they teach the ducklings bad habits.
I do have to say that they are beautiful and I mean GORGEOUS--big white pillows with sweet faces and dark eyes. They do seem relatively expedient in terms of feed--they do not eat a ton. I WANT to love them. Just can't see a use for them.
I have not tried the meat yet, and there are no eggs (too soon for them to breed, I guess). I am instead going to focus on a few other breeds I have.