Pekin chicken | Full Details

Behavior/Temperament

Pekin chicken is very gentle in nature. But the cocks can still be aggressive and defensive of their territory and mates once they reach sexual maturity. Pekin hens are not good layers. They lay small eggs, broody and are great mothers. It’s very easy to tame Pekin chicken and they make excellent pets for the children. As they are smaller in size, so they require little space and settle very well. If you don’t allow your birds on grass to forage, then they can look rather anaemic and pale. Pekin chickens are good bird for keeping in an urban garden. Because they tend not to scratch around in flower beds. They are very friendly, love company, long lived and are normally a robust bird.

Pekin Chicken | Breed Profile
Breed Name	Pekin
Other Name	Pekin Bantam, Cochin Bantam
Breed Purpose	Ornamental
Breed Temperament	Friendly, Docile, Easily Handled, Easily Tamed, Safe for Children
Breed Size	Small
Broodiness	Frequent
Comb	Single
Climate Tolerance	All Climates
Egg Color	White/ Cream
Egg Size	Small
Egg Productivity	Medium
Feathered Legs	Yes
Rarity	Common
Varieties	Barred, Birchen, Black, Blue, Buff, Cuckoo, Columbian, Lavender, Mottled, Partridge, Red Partridge, Silver Partridge, White, Wheaten

>>Enlarged view of Pekin chicken

The Good

• Beautiful
• Calm
• Gentle
• Friendly
• Easy to handle
• Easy to tame
• Very hardy
• Hens are good sitters and attentive mothers
• Many color varieties available
• Great as pets
• Love company
• Require little space
• Safe for children
• Very good for ornamental purpose

The Bad

• Sometimes the cocks can be aggressive
• Not good layers
• Sometimes they need extra care

Is Pekin Chicken Good for You?
Pekin chicken is good for you if you…….

• Want to raise beautiful chickens.
• Prefer smaller birds.
• Want to raise chickens for ornamental purpose rather than meat and eggs.
• Want to raise colorful chickens with many color varieties available.
• Want to have some chickens which are friendly and easy to handle.
• Are willing to have some chickens as pets and which are very easy to tame.
• Are looking for such chickens which are good sitters and attentive mothers.
• Have little space and want to raise miniature chicken breeds.