Pekin

Our first experience with ducks came this summer when we got a Pekin and a Rouen from the local feed store. With help from BYC we got caught up on what was needed for them to grow healthy and happy. Our Pekin is now leader of the duck pack. She is still a bit timid but will defend her girls from the hens or anything else around. They do eat a lot more than ducks but she is also larger and weighs more. Since she has started laying about 2 months ago she has only missed maybe 1 day a week. We provide a kiddie pool to swim in and several large watering tubs for drinking. They get messy quickly because a duck has to have water to eat but only require changing about once a day. All the chickens and ducks share watering buckets. No heat is being provided for them this winter as they are fully feathered (located in NC). The down is thick on them and they are sturdy birds. I think they are great pets and egg providers. I would recommend them for anyone wanting pet ducks, just remember ducks are very social and will need a friend so get 2.

I have five pekins. They're adorable, But a pain. They splash their water everywhere and even the biggest waterer lasts them less than a day and automatic waterers have to be cleaned constantly. I had to build a bottomless movable coop for them because they were so messy and their poop so sloppy that I had to clean their pen every day. They arn't great foragers either so I spend a lot of money on feed. They eat triple of the amount my 16 chickens eat in a day. There only real pros are that they dont require much heat as long as they're not sick and they grow fast. If you do decide to use a heat lamp anyway make sure it's white instead of red. They like to break the red ones.

I got them because I read they are good layers. Of course, I ended up with 2 drakes. They would make a good meat bird with quick growth and lots of meat. However, they seem to eat a lot and put on too much weight for their legs which got as bad as crippling one and making the other very immobile.

My pekins are great. I ordered pekins from Metzer's and have not been disappointed. They reached butchering size in 7 weeks! I ordered straight run and ended up with 2 drakes and 6 ducks. One drake became a meat bird, one duck died when neighbors took care of them for a week. My five ducks lay very well. I get 4-5 eggs a day and occasionally 3. They are great for someone who wants ducks.

They are large white , pretty ducks with bright orange legs and bill. They are often mistaked for the Aylesbury , aylesbury's have flesh coloured bill however , and are generally smaller. They are friendly , and cheerful , but will overeat if allowed , and can get seriously obese , very fast.

Pekins are the best all purpose duck. If you require eggs and meat, they will suit you. They are good layers (200-250 eggs per year) of large white eggs. Should you wish to have fine eating fare, the Pekin duck is ready to dress at 2 months. These ducks mature in size rapidly, but are in no hurry to lay their first eggs, often taking 6-7 months (or more for Giant Pekin ducks) for the first egg to arrive.

I enjoy a large egg, and my Pekins are happy to provide me the largest eggs of any of my ducks so far. They are a larger bird, which accounts for egg size, and decrease in frequency of eggs. Indian Runners and Khaki Campbells will outlay them all year, but they are much smaller dressed ducks and lay smaller eggs. I like that my Pekins will give me 3-4 eggs a week for the mature ladies, and do this for 3 years or longer, unlike a chicken hen. Ducks have a long layer life, and these ducks will provide for you for years.

Pekins dress out to be larger table birds. They have tasty rich meat, and reach dressing weight rapidly. They are heavy feeders as youngsters, so provide constant food for maximum weight gain for youngsters. As a bonus, Pekins have white skin and down, which make for a more attractive table bird. Pekins are perhaps the best choice for eating ducks.

The gentle, and in fact curious fun-loving nature of the Pekin duck, makes it a multi purpose duck: meat, eggs, and entertainment! They are a very attriacive bright white duck. If you keep a flock, you will derive many hours of pleasure from watching their antics in the city backyard. They are happy in a small rigid kiddie pool, or short and wide storage container of water. They do quack, but the sound does not carry nearly so far as the chickens vocalizations. With Pekins (and other ducks) you can easily keep 3 or 4 ladies and 1 gent for fertile eggs for hatching. However, most Pekins are poor sitters, so plan to use your incubator.

All in all, I recommend Pekins to anyone who truly needs a multi purpose duck for their backyard or farm.

Pekins are the epitomy of what you think of when you think duck. They are cute fuzzy yellow peeps when little and grow into a waddling, chattering, funny, beautifully white feathered ducks with bright orange bills/feet. Because they are mostly bred for food, they get enormous in a short time which makes it difficult for them to get around and apparently from what i just read, they have a much shorter life span becuase of it I have mine for the fun of it, but have recently discovered the wonderfully delicious duck egg! Who knew?! Pekins' eggs make even jumbo sized chicken eggs look miniscule.

I LOVE MY PEKIN!!!! I have an 8 month old pekin duck named Caesar! He is a wonderful bird and i couldnt ask for anything else

I raised my drake "Twitter" from egg and whenever he sees me, he runs towards daddy! He won't even let me walk. Overall, I am very happy that I got him

I have 1 drake and he is friendly and gets along with every one and is a sweet boy

It is good for meat if you want that, Also good for selling.

two weeks ago I rescued a pekin duck with severe bumblefoot !! I soaked her feet , removed black scabs and the feet look better but one leg has a wound on the upper leg with a black scab i soaked it removed the scab and black smelly stuff came out , does anyone know if bumblefoot can come out the upper leg area ? I gave her pen g procaine for four days and keep her very clean and isolated and put neosporin on her feet and the leg wound , but her ankle is still swollen but not hot anymore . .she cannot stand but tries to , she eats well and drinks well. I have meloxicam 15 mg and tramadol 50 mg but dont know what to give her ?? does anyone have any advice for the swelling ?? Does it normally take so long for the swelling in the ankles to go down ?? wallysmom

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I purchased two from Gone to the birds and let them mix in with my runner ducks and now they react just like my runners not has curios has my runners but they do follow the runners lead, Over Easter we have gotten 5 more from a photographer who purchased them just for Easter pics, I think we paid $12 for all five babies

I love my pekin ducklings! They are so sweet and gentle. They make great pets. They love water but do fine without it. They are a great breed for beginners.

I bought a couple ducks a few weeks before easter and they were so cute. They followed us everywhere. I could tell them apart and still can. One has a mohawk and a bright orange beak. The other has a beige beak and no mohawk. I just loved them and snuggled with them and got them a pool that they love so much. But now they will not have anything to do with us at all. They quack for food but as soon as you walk over to feed them they run away. They would break their own neck to try to get away. They are cute to watch but that is about as good as they get. I have owned them before and the same results. I like them but will not ever buy anymore, cause they grow to fast and then they have nothing to do with you. It isn't like we eat duck eggs. And we don't kill and eat our pets. Very cute, but purposeless in our case.

I love them! Good birds to have if you want eggs/meat.

love them

We picked up our first 2 Pekins in March 2012 from Tractor Supply. Unfortunetly one didn't make but that is to be expected sometimes. Po our surviving Pekin is one of the coolest ducks I have had the pleasure of being around. She has always been a bit timid but if you have any kind of fruit she will be your best friend. She is the flocks guard duck also, she has this super loud "Quack" and if she sees any threat she quacks like crazy and everyone runs for the coop. She is now alomost 6 weeks old and just gorgeous. I love to watch her swim in her little pool and splash in the mud. Luckily we live in the country, because she is deffinitly loud and when she wants something she'll let you know.