Duck Breed Focus - Pekin

[sumi]

The Pekin is a dual purpose breed from China that was brought to the United States by James Palmer in 1873. It soon became a very popular, dual purpose breed of duck because of its great size, egg production and friendly nature. The Pekin breed today is the most popular commercial duck breed in the United states, with around 95% of duck meat consumed in the US being Pekin.

The Pekin is a very popular choice for meat production as it reaches 8-11 pounds in just 15-18 weeks. And is also a good layer and will rarely ever try brooding, which is good for someone who wants eggs and not ducklings. Pekin ducks are less prone to broodiness than other duck breeds and they are more likely to abandon their nest before their eggs hatch. Hens can be used to sit on the duck eggs, or they can be incubated artificially. On average a Pekin will lay 200-250 eggs per year.

Pekins make great pets as they are a very friendly and docile breed. They are very intelligent and are capable of forming lifelong strong and loyal bonds with humans, and often then prefer human company over the company of other ducks. Pekin ducklings start off a bright yellow color and get lighter as they start developing feathers at around 2-3 weeks of age.

Pekin’s usually mature and will start laying large white eggs around 25 weeks.

Details:
Origin: China
Purpose: Dual
Broodiness: Seldom
Average weight: Male - 8-9 lb, Female - 10-12 lb


















All pics by @holm25


BYC Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/pekin

Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/742668/pekin-duck-club/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/726109/post-your-pekin-duck-pics-here/0_30

Do you own Pekins? Are you a Pekin breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

 

[N F C]

How beautiful! Thanks for bringing this breed focus thread to us Sumi!

 

[IzziesChickies]

I have a trio of Pekins, I've had the male since he was a duckling and the two females for six months. Their original owner couldn't keep them any longer so I took them in. Now they lay me MASSIVE eggs. They are gaining on my muscovys eggs size. So happy to have them

 

[holm25]

Looks great!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Wonderful breed always look like they are smiling.

 

[Tevyes Dad]

Great Huge eggs!


Social


Outspoken


And sweet!

 

[Ren2014]

Great Huge eggs!

Social


Outspoken

LOVE my Pekins. Definitely vocal, they are the more aggressive birds in my flock. JEALOUS of the 'social'

 

[Teri313]

I had a pair of Pekins that were really in love with each other. The female laid fertilized eggs all the time, but always abandoned them. Had no interest at all. Just wanted to go play around with her man. I also have Sophie, a 21 year old African goose who had no males (and no interest in them), but laid eggs all the time. Once a year, she would lay a bunch and refuse to come off them. I would eventually have to intervene and get her off the nest and get rid of the eggs. Anyway, a few years ago, when she was sitting on her eggs and the Pekins were producing and abandoning, I started putting their eggs under Sophie and taking hers away. Sure enough, she hatched two of them. After all those years of no babies, she was finally a mom and so happy! She took great care of them. Here they are.





Their bio parents came to take a look, but she doesn't want them anywhere near her babies!

 

[Ren2014]

I had a pair of Pekins that were really in love with each other. The female laid fertilized eggs all the time, but always abandoned them. Had no interest at all. Just wanted to go play around with her man. I also have Sophie, a 21 year old African goose who had no males (and no interest in them), but laid eggs all the time. Once a year, she would lay a bunch and refuse to come off them. I would eventually have to intervene and get her off the nest and get rid of the eggs. Anyway, a few years ago, when she was sitting on her eggs and the Pekins were producing and abandoning, I started putting their eggs under Sophie and taking hers away. Sure enough, she hatched two of them. After all those years of no babies, she was finally a mom and so happy! She took great care of them. Here they are.





Their bio parents came to take a look, but she doesn't want them anywhere near her babies!

AWWWH so sweet!

 

[ShrekDawg]

That is so cute!! Glad you finally gave her some babies.

If they're not gonna care for them, may as well give them to someone who actually WANTS them

Must have made her day.

Did you ever let her hatch any more?

And I'd imagine having another waterfowl species raise them would be easier than having land fowl like chickens raise them. Both would dp great but chickens couldn't teach them to swim and all the water stuff.

Anyway, I didn't realize the.layed eggs too. Thought they were mostly a meat breed