Title says it all-whatever you have to say :) Stories, tips, advice, warnings, etc. I'm going around and around with my decision; I have the building, the birds available, now just to decide if I want to buy them. I've heard stories of them just dropping dead...:( I know any time I have any poultry/fowl I risk the chance of that, but for some reason, I just see myself dropping $40 for 3 birds, and just because they are exotic, I will lose them.
Right now I have an 8x10 coop that is sitting empty. I would use that for the three peafowl, but I'm worried with just 3, they won't stay warm enough. The guy didn't say anything about them not "being" with chickens, but he does have his seperated. The other problem is, I will be using that coop for the chicks, after they are ready to come out of my basement-end of March/into April. Now, we have a huge barn that nothing is in right now, and my husband said something about partitioning the stall section off, using chicken wire, etc and making new coops. But that's going to take time too-something I'd rather do when it starts warming up. So yeah, like I said, I keep running around in circles in my head. I can tell I'm getting older/ *maybe* a little wiser. Before, I would have rushed out, bought the birds, and then worried about who/what was going where. lol!
Oh yeah, and the fact that I have to buy *another* type of feed! Right now I'm sitting with just layer formula, and occasionally buying a bag of scratch grains. I throw a flake of alfalfa hay in a day, for the birds to have something to do. I'm really building up the material on the floor this way too, lol! But come spring, I will be buying chick starter, layer for the older birds, probably a turkey starter if I get a few poults in June/July....and then add on game bird feed. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it all adds up.
Peafowl Discussion
I love my peacock, Beep. He lives outside in the open and sleeps on the roof or the tree.I can't get him to go inside anything! I feed him scratch, corn and supliment it with dry catfood, sunflower seeds and whatever he raids from the bird feeders. I know many others that pen theirs up and they do fine, though I think the trains are pretier when they have lots and lots of room. I am looking to add a female this year.
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.
Thank you for the information jylgaskin and George! :) It does really help to get others experiences. The three I am looking at are young-4-5 months old now, I believe. The guy said they did not need heat lamps, but to keep them inside for the winter, which is what I planned anyway.
George / dayliydaddy, Your information is terrific. I have 2-3 neighbors with the MEOWING cat birds. I've seen them as I drive past their places. They are really beautiful to say the least. Do you ever find a spot where the hen repeatedly lays her eggs. If you collect them ..... chances are they're fertile. My bet is in the late spring your hen will lay eggs daily to every other day for about 45 days. You could sell here eggs. Let me know if you find any with a high probability of motility. I'd be interested in try to hatch them. I have chicken here that will set on anything.
Hey Photo
She tends to move the nest every time, but she hollars when she is coming in for a feed. I feed her then "try" to act like I could care less about her after the feeding and watch her direction she goes. This has been the only way I have found them. She did find a turkey nest once and borrowed it. I have also used chickens to hatch her eggs. So far the eggs have hatched at 100%. Maybe we can set up a trade in the spring, I have had my eye on some of your chickens you have??? I have had fairly good luck with shipping eggs and receiving eggs. I have a great bator, but no big stock hens at the moment to use as brooders. I have sold eggs on eggbid and bought both. I used to have red golden pheasants and in the spring plan to get some more. Talk at you soon.
Geo
George, What do you mean by "lose a lot of the young ones"? Are they being lost to predators or the environment? Are you getting the peachicks beyond the brooding stage? My dad, my 1st son, grfather and way back were/are named George .... a great name. My Welsumers, Game Fowl, blu Orpington & blu Ameraucanas are all very much worth having. The Pea Fowl eggs must be about the size of a turkey egg; correct ? Kelly
Hey Photo
They just seem normal one day then the next they are dead. It seems to happen at about 3-4 months. When I check them over, they have good weight, no signs of injury or any indication of why they died. The ones that make it strive and after what seems like the 3-4 month benchmark, they really start growing and I don't have any problems. I wait now to sell them after this period. I don't want people to lose there birds, due to most are just beginners with peafowl. The peafowl eggs are a little like the size of a goose egg and look a lot like them also. My friend who kept my pair while I was recovering from heart surgery had them in with geese and found an egg, thought it was a goose egg and when it hatched out popped a peachick. I am trying to find research or good ole breeders to see if they need some type of supplement or something. I also worry the lady I bought them from was not truthful about them being nonrelated also. I think George is a great name too. I was named after my grandfather and great grandfather. In fact I am named after both grandfather, George Preston. George my dads father, Preston from my moms father.
Geo
Goerge, The Turkey eggs I've seen are about the size of a wild Mallard duck. I imagine Pea Fowl eggs are even larger given what you've informed me. I am surprised a bit. I see a Pea cock roosting on cages about 150 ft off the hwy as I drive to or from town. The neighbor is about 1/2 mile to the west so I saw their Pea cock twice this afternoon going and coming home. My wife isn't too keen on more birds but I sorta like the Pea fowl. Heck how much do they eat in a week .... maybe a 1/2 bag of 50lb scratch?
I've always wanted to keep a pair of peafowl. I'm in Zone 5b, near Indianapolis. I have about 4 acres, mostly wooded, in the country, surrounded by open farmland and more woods, especially an adjoining pine woods of about 5 acres. Little traffic on the road. Is this a good location for peafowl? My main concern is how they do with vegetable and flower gardens as I have large areas of both. Would they tear them up or coexist peacefully? I would love to let them free-range as there are plenty of trees for roosting. Your opinion is valued!
HoosierGreen
It sounds like peacocks would love it. Mine roosts it the biggest tree so he can survey his property. He is absolutely no problem in my vegatable garden or flower beds either and he spends lots of time in both. (His tail may drag over stuff this summer though). He gets along well with all the other animals in the yard too. This morning he was displaying for a bunny that got loose, but he never picks on even the smallest banties. I do provide a shelter for him, but he only uses it on the very worst nights in the winter. The only problem I have had is that he will come to my bedroom window and "Beep" or peck at the glass if I sleep in without filling his dish the night before.
I contained mine in a pen till they were about three months old so they would know where they belonged. They used it at first at night, then took to the trees. He rarely leaves the yard since his brother was killed by the neighbors dog.
I'd say Go For It!