Surprise! Peacock chicks!

Well, Mrs Chicken (the peacock hen) had been laying eggs. But I had been faithfully taking them away from her because we really don't have any more room right now for more peacocks. And she kept laying eggs and I kept taking them away from her. Then she stopped laying eggs and I thought that was the end for this season. We went on vacation and my son called to say he thought something was wrong with Mrs Chicken as she was just sitting in the middle of the coop and not doing anything. He said she was allert and looking around. He put some feed in front of her and she ate some of it. As she didn't seem to be in any distress I told him to just leave her alone and check back later. And later he reported that she was now up and moving around. When we got home she was sitting down again, but latter I went back to check on her and she was up on her roost. Noticed her down on that one stop alot but I thought that she just must like sitting there. It was under the shade cloth and nice a cool. Well, she must have been there setting on two eggs and then covering them to hide them from me because look what she had about two weeks ago!

another pic.

And the last pic. Mrs Chicken sure is a sly one!

I WANT SOME!!!

how cute!

very cute. Amazing how a bird that small can grow so tall lol

So cute!!!

Those babies are just too cute!

They are getting a bit bigger now. Still so tiny compaired to mom and dad! One of them got out of the chicken run somehow and was frantic to get back in. He (or she) seemed so happy to be scooped up and carried back to mom! He started to coo at me while I was carrying him. Soooo cute! I'm trying not to get too attached until they get bigger just in case....

I've been wanting a peacock or two. Maybe one of those lovely all white ones. Tell me about their dispositions and personalities. Can they live amongst the chickens? What do they eat? Will they shred my garden to bits?

Well, I'm certainly no expert on peacocks, and yet I've managed to keep these going pretty well.

We have a real coyote problem in our area so mine live in the chicken run. They are about to get their own run. But they are doing fine with the chickens. The male will challenge our rooster (who is rather obnoxious and deserves it), no blood just feathers flying. I'm told that my male is unusually quiet, as is my female. I only really hear the male calling in the spring, and then not much. He will let out a warning signal if he sees a coyote of anything else he thinks the hens should know about but the doesn't call when cars pull into our drive as I've been told some peacocks will. I think their personalities vary. Both peacocks are very curious and like to examine whatever is new in the coop or run. They roost in the run as my coop is small and would not accomodate the male's tail. They roost on 2 x 6's with a roof overhead and I put up a wind block in the winter on the north and west side for shelter. I''ve read that the flat-type roost is a must in colder areas as they can get frostbite on their toes when the weather dips below zero and this way they can huddle down over their toes to keep them warm. If your coop is larger they will roost in with the chickens or if you have a barn they can roost in there. I also don't let mine run as they can fly away. I have read that some will and some won't--it just depends on the bird. You can buy game bird feed for them and they will eat scratch feed and whatever else you might throw to the chickens. Mine are particularly fond of blueberries. My male was in the coop and run before I got my chickens. He did not bother the grass in the run much so I don't think they would be that destructive in the yard but I think they would help themselves to any fruit or veg they might fancy. My male is quite comical and likes to swing on a swing I set up for him.

They do need to be wormed, and I wormed them idividually when I first got the male, but now I put the worming medicine in the water and this seems to work just as well. The male wouldn't mind if I wormed him the old way but the female doesn't like to be handled so I just stick with the water method for all. I've found them to be quite easy to care for (they are really kind of like great big pheasants) and both DH and I have found them to be quite entertaining.

There are several folks here who know so much about peacocks and I am so greatful for their help. I think Kenboy would be the first person I would contact about peacocks as I got mine from him. There are many other wonderful folks who will be willing to tell you much more than I. I have found this website to be quite helpful as well: http://www.peafowl.org/

What do you mean you don't let them run as they might fly away. How would you prevent that?

Do you worm your chickens with the same water then? I have never wormed my chickens. Should I be doing that?

My new shed coop will be 4x6x6. I have 7 chickens. The winter run will be basically free range over the property (2.5 acres) and if the chickens get annoying (poop on the porch too much), then I'll put up the poultry fencing, which will give them about an acre or a little less. But plenty of room.

You really can't prevent them from flying away to the best of my knowledge. Some just like to stay where they belong and some don't. Sometimes they fly away and then they come back. I bet Kenboy and others have better answers to that. I keep mine in the chicken run as it is fortified against coyotes, bobcats, hawks, owls, eagles, "free range" neighbor dogs, feral emu, feral hogs, and anything else that wanders by. I guess I don't have to explain my newfound love for electric fencing =D! We are building a much larger run for the peacocks. I don't know how others keep their free range peacocks on their property as I can't really let mine out due to the local wildlife.

All the locals worm their chickens once or twice a year. So I do too as I asked at the local farmer's co-op and they said that I should be worming the hens and pointed out what to use. I change their water daily and just follow the directions given. This is really my first complete year with the chickens so I'm trying to do what everyone recomends. I think that worming may be a regional thing.