Breed Profile: Pekin

Photo of Kassandra Smith

Kassandra Smith

Senior Editor • Backyard Chicken Coops

Last Updated: 16 July 2020

Pekin bantam backyard chicken

The Pekin chicken breed is known to be a true bantam chicken of Chinese origin. Pekins are short, mostly only every reaching 20-30cm tall. The feathers of the pekin a so profuse that they cover them from head to feet almost completely hiding their feet! The breed is quite popular and comes in some of the most elegant colourings.

HISTORY

  • Class: Chinese
  • Type: Original Bantam
  • Size: 0.5 – 0.7kg
  • Rarity: Rare
  • Purpose: Eggs
  • Recognized Varieties: Black, Blue, Buff, Cuckoo, Mottled, Barred, Columbian, Lavender, Partridge, White, Birchen, Silver Partridge.

EGG FACTS

  • Egg Laying: Slow – 50 – 100 Annually
  • Egg Colour: White or Cream
  • Egg Size: Small

FEATURES

  • Comb Type: Single Comb
  • Feathered Legs: Wealth of feathering on feet and legs
  • Appearance: Miniature Chicken; often only 20-30cm tall and very rounded.

BACKYARD BEHAVIOUR

  • Hardy in Winter: No
  • Especially Docile: Yes
  • Setter/Broody:
  • Personality: Docile and Gentle Natured. With careful and regular handling they make ideal pets for families with children. Peking Bantam cocks can be aggressive once matured as they become protective.

As well as the brilliant Pekins, there are so many other breeds that may be perfect for your flock. Becoming a chicken parent is the easy part. The hardest is deciding which breeds are most suitable for you. It can be eggtremely confusing and difficult to choose your feathered family – so where should you begin?

Cluckily, our friends over at Chickenpedia have created an amazing Chicken Breeds Course. This extensive online course shares useful advice on choosing the right chickens for you as well as size & frequency of eggs laid. You’ll even learn about their individual personalities, and be able to use their family-friendly compatibility scale through this well-structured program. It really is a great way to find your perfect backyard buddies which is why I highly recommend them to all of my readers! 

As chicken keepers, we want to do an eggcellent job when caring for our feathered friends. However, did you know 67% of chicken keepers surveyed experienced a chicken health or behaviour issue in the first 12 months that they didn’t know how to handle?

But don’t worry! Chickenpedia also have the Ultimate Guide to Chicken Health Course. It is a comprehensive online course that covers everything you need, including what to look for in an unhealthy chicken and how to support your egg-laying hens to optimal health. Like their other courses, it is beginner-friendly and filled with vital information that help you raise a happy, healthy flock.

Click here to check out Chickenpedia today. As a member, you will also get access to the ALL of their chicken courses! 

Sources and further reading