Pekin

Breed Details:
Average weight of mature bird: Male- 8-9 lb Female- 10-12 lb Features include: Pink or orange beak White or cream colored feathers Yellow or orange feet Temperament: They are very domestic, sweet birds. They will love a good cuddle, and love to be pet. They have a great temperament. Purpose: Egg, and meat production. Eggs: They are 90-100 grams. Pekin eggs are white, or off white in color. They have 89% Fertility When they are laying you should get about an egg per day. Meat: Meat ranges from a lighter to darker brown. Pekins were chose as meat birds, because of their heavy size, and thick chest. If fed high protein diets, the meat will become thicker. Climate: If kept in housing they can handle about 5+ degrees (Only if fully feathered). They are very hardy, but if the climate drops below 5 degrees you should provide more shelter. In hotter weather they can handle about 100-120 degrees, if provided a pool, and shade. Housing: They should be given a shaded house, with weather proofing additions. Chainlink dog kennels work well in any weather, as long as they are weatherproofed. There should be a roof, and well as a raised dog house, to keep warm. Difficulty: They are very easy to raise. Provided you have housing, feed, and proper accommodations for them. Parenting: They are very poor at parenting. Their mothering skills aren't that great, and the easier way to hatch their eggs would be in an incubator. They rarely go broody. Male & Female: The best way to own these ducks is in a 1:4 male to female ratio. You can own all hens, but they will never get the company of the opposite sex. Incubation period: The eggs will incubate for 28 days. On the 28th day the ducklings will hatch. Breeding: Breeding season lasts year round for pekins. Some slack off, and only mate when they feel like it which could be every few days, but typically is lasts year round. Growth Rate: They grow very fast! By week 2 they already start to sprout tiny feathers, and by week 5 they have most of them. They will be about the size of an average duck by week 6. Noise: Females are very loud. They quack at everything. Males are very quiet, and have more a raspy quack. Foraging: They have GREAT foraging abilities! They are great free ranging ducks, and if they do free range they will require less feed. Life Expectancy: Their average life expectancy for Pekins is about 10-15 years.