Rural Gardening: Peafowl Discussion , 1 by daylilydaddy

daylilydaddy wrote:
Hello!
I have had a pair of india blues for about 6 years now. I am lucky that I am able to free range mine. We live on a hundred wooded acres and they do great here. They were a 5 year old pair when I bought them and I paid 125.00 for them. The male is really mellow and calm and flies to the top of a forty foot tree to roost at night. The hen is just plain mean. She hates my other chickens and has even pecked 2 in the head and killed them. She stalks them when I let them loose and does not give up easy. She got her leg broken when we moved her here and I thought that was the end for her. I splinted the leg put her in my "ICU" pen gave her antibiotics and she did heal in about a month and now does just fine and roost in the tree beside her man. She even attack our dogs. I just feed them cracked corn and bread treats(we have a day old bread store and they give me bread for birds and goats). Once a week I give them dry catfood in the winter for added protein. They would never roost in the chicken house, always outside. The hen has brooded and raised about 2 clutches each year, with 3-5 eggs each time. The spring brood she does well with, but the late summer ones never make it. If I find her nest, which is not easy I steal the eggs and brood them myself and sell them right away. I also collect the males feathers and sell them on ebay. I get about 1.00 a feather. Knock on wood they have been very hardy, I have not seen or had to treat them for any illness except the broken leg. I have been told they can live to be 20 or longer. The lady I bought them from had always caged them and the hen had only laid eggs, but never went broody. They are loud and some people think they sound like a cat screaming. I just think they sound like a jungle bird. They are also great watch dogs at night. If they hollar at night somethings going on and I know to go check it out. I had always wanted them, but was nervous about them also, but they have been beautiful to have and very easy to raise. 40 bucks for 3 peafowl is very cheap, unless they are young. If they are young keep them warm and draft free. I do lose a lot of the young ones for no reason i can see. Also make sure they have india blue blood in them. These are the hardiest of the peafowl. The Java greens need winter protection here and are to high in price for me to take a chance with them. They are really pretty and there are mixes with the india blue blood I have thought about trying. Hopes this helps. I know its long post, but this has been just my experience with them which as a whole has been worth it.
George
I found most of my info on the net and of course raising them also.