| Peafowl are also called Peacocks |
 |
| |
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| Peafowl are of the Pheasant Family |
Technically, "peacock" refers only to the male of the species. The entire species is referred to as
"peafowl." And technically, yes, they are cousins to pheasants and even the common chicken.
The males of the species are "peacocks," the females are "peahens," and the babies are
"peachicks".
Breeds and Description
Mating and Egg Production
Incubation and Brooding
Feeding and Rearing
Peafowl are difficult to confine continuously. They fly readily, and if confined, must have a tall,
open shed for a roosting place. They also must have a large, grass-covered run to be
comfortable. The runs need to be at least seven feet tall to prevent birds from jumping up and
injuring themselves on the top.
Peafowl are polygamous, so four or five peahens may be mated to one male. Most peahens do
not lay during their first year. During the second and third years they will lay a few eggs. By the
fourth year they can be expected to produce five to nine eggs each year.
If the eggs are removed from the nest as they are laid, the mature (four years or older) peahen
may lay a second and even a third clutch of eggs. This could result in more eggs than one peahen
can incubate. A peahen can incubate up to 10 eggs.
In the event of extra eggs it would be necessary to use artificial incubation, or a broody turkey
hen might be used as a foster mother. Both peahens and turkeys make good mothers.
Thick shrubbery makes a suitable place for nesting. Some growers, however, choose to confine
the peahens to a pen or yard during the egg laying period in the spring and early summer.
The incubation period for peahen eggs is from 28-30 days. The simplest method is to allow
peahens to incubate their own eggs. As mentioned earlier, a broody turkey hen also will do a
good job.
Many younger hens do not set well in confinement. Should this occur, eggs should be gathered
daily and held for future incubation. The eggs may be incubated artificially in much the same
manner as chicken eggs.
Artificially incubated peahen eggs that produce young peafowl can be brooded by turkey foster
mothers or reared in confinement similar to turkeys. Again, the simplest method of brooding is
by the peahen mother in the open, or confined to a large coop for about six or seven weeks.
This brooding period is the most critical time in rearing the young, and is a good reason to confine
the mother during the period. If the peahen is allowed to roam with the new chicks, many chicks
are lost due to environmental conditions such as wet grass, thunderstorms, animals, etc.
The coop should be located in a well-lighted and sheltered place. It should have a wire floor of
1/4-inch mesh hardware cloth, and should be kept on short grass and moved frequently.
Keep the young peafowl confined in the coop with the mother during the first week. The young
can be released to come and go during the second week, but they need to be able to return to
the confined mother. Keeping the peahen confined prevents the young from wandering off. After
the seventh week release the mother.
Young peafowl will live and grow much faster on a balanced ration than on grains alone. The
young need adequate vitamins, trace minerals and amino acids to do well. Their physiology is
similar to young turkeys, so turkey rations make excellent feed for peafowl.
Turkey rations include a starter (28 percent protein) and a series of grower rations that will last
about four months. The final grower ration is usually about 14 percent protein and can be used to
feed the growing peafowl until they are one year old. It also can be used to feed adults.
If turkey feeds are not available chicken starter can be used, but it usually is lower in protein than
is most desirable to start young peafowl. When turkey feed is available, a blackherd preventive
should be used in the water. Peafowl are very susceptible to this disease which may occur
especially if there are chickens on the same place.
Young peafowl can learn to eat grain and may be fed millet or mixed small grains. The problem is
that they will grow slower and are more prone to disease than if they are fed a turkey starter.
When grown they may be fed whole grains, but grains alone are inadequate and regularly must be
fed with chopped greenstuff and vegetables.
Keep grit, oyster shell and water available at all times. Peafowl are fond of insects and if plenty
are available the birds (after they're fairly well-grown) will consume enough to satisfy their protein
needs. The insect season only lasts about six months, however, so it is a good idea to supply
peafowl with a protein supplement (turkey feed) when insects are not available.
"peafowl." And technically, yes, they are cousins to pheasants and even the common chicken.
The males of the species are "peacocks," the females are "peahens," and the babies are
"peachicks".
Breeds and Description
Mating and Egg Production
Incubation and Brooding
Feeding and Rearing
Peafowl are difficult to confine continuously. They fly readily, and if confined, must have a tall,
open shed for a roosting place. They also must have a large, grass-covered run to be
comfortable. The runs need to be at least seven feet tall to prevent birds from jumping up and
injuring themselves on the top.
Peafowl are polygamous, so four or five peahens may be mated to one male. Most peahens do
not lay during their first year. During the second and third years they will lay a few eggs. By the
fourth year they can be expected to produce five to nine eggs each year.
If the eggs are removed from the nest as they are laid, the mature (four years or older) peahen
may lay a second and even a third clutch of eggs. This could result in more eggs than one peahen
can incubate. A peahen can incubate up to 10 eggs.
In the event of extra eggs it would be necessary to use artificial incubation, or a broody turkey
hen might be used as a foster mother. Both peahens and turkeys make good mothers.
Thick shrubbery makes a suitable place for nesting. Some growers, however, choose to confine
the peahens to a pen or yard during the egg laying period in the spring and early summer.
The incubation period for peahen eggs is from 28-30 days. The simplest method is to allow
peahens to incubate their own eggs. As mentioned earlier, a broody turkey hen also will do a
good job.
Many younger hens do not set well in confinement. Should this occur, eggs should be gathered
daily and held for future incubation. The eggs may be incubated artificially in much the same
manner as chicken eggs.
Artificially incubated peahen eggs that produce young peafowl can be brooded by turkey foster
mothers or reared in confinement similar to turkeys. Again, the simplest method of brooding is
by the peahen mother in the open, or confined to a large coop for about six or seven weeks.
This brooding period is the most critical time in rearing the young, and is a good reason to confine
the mother during the period. If the peahen is allowed to roam with the new chicks, many chicks
are lost due to environmental conditions such as wet grass, thunderstorms, animals, etc.
The coop should be located in a well-lighted and sheltered place. It should have a wire floor of
1/4-inch mesh hardware cloth, and should be kept on short grass and moved frequently.
Keep the young peafowl confined in the coop with the mother during the first week. The young
can be released to come and go during the second week, but they need to be able to return to
the confined mother. Keeping the peahen confined prevents the young from wandering off. After
the seventh week release the mother.
Young peafowl will live and grow much faster on a balanced ration than on grains alone. The
young need adequate vitamins, trace minerals and amino acids to do well. Their physiology is
similar to young turkeys, so turkey rations make excellent feed for peafowl.
Turkey rations include a starter (28 percent protein) and a series of grower rations that will last
about four months. The final grower ration is usually about 14 percent protein and can be used to
feed the growing peafowl until they are one year old. It also can be used to feed adults.
If turkey feeds are not available chicken starter can be used, but it usually is lower in protein than
is most desirable to start young peafowl. When turkey feed is available, a blackherd preventive
should be used in the water. Peafowl are very susceptible to this disease which may occur
especially if there are chickens on the same place.
Young peafowl can learn to eat grain and may be fed millet or mixed small grains. The problem is
that they will grow slower and are more prone to disease than if they are fed a turkey starter.
When grown they may be fed whole grains, but grains alone are inadequate and regularly must be
fed with chopped greenstuff and vegetables.
Keep grit, oyster shell and water available at all times. Peafowl are fond of insects and if plenty
are available the birds (after they're fairly well-grown) will consume enough to satisfy their protein
needs. The insect season only lasts about six months, however, so it is a good idea to supply
peafowl with a protein supplement (turkey feed) when insects are not available.
This handbook reveals the secrets of successful small acreage farming.
Sometimes called eco-farming, this book explains what you need to know to
sell produce from your own small farm business. It answers questions such
as What can be grown? How do farmers reach their markets? and What
production methods can be used?
Sometimes called eco-farming, this book explains what you need to know to
sell produce from your own small farm business. It answers questions such
as What can be grown? How do farmers reach their markets? and What
production methods can be used?
| Breeds and Description |
| Male |
| Female |
| Mating and Egg Production |
| Incubation and Brooding |
| Feeding and Rearing |
The peafowl is an ornamental bird which is often
grown to adorn farmsteads, private estates or
public parks and zoological gardens. They enjoy
living in the open and prefer to roost in trees. The
roosting place should be arranged some distance
from dwellings because peafowl are inclined to be
noisy, especially at night.
grown to adorn farmsteads, private estates or
public parks and zoological gardens. They enjoy
living in the open and prefer to roost in trees. The
roosting place should be arranged some distance
from dwellings because peafowl are inclined to be
noisy, especially at night.
Once established in a new home, they are not inclined to stray away. However, older birds
moved into a new location sometimes do not settle well and must be confined.
moved into a new location sometimes do not settle well and must be confined.
The head and neck are metallic green, and the back
is bronze. The upper tail coverts, which are small
feathers covering larger feathers which form a long
and beautiful train, are green with numerous eyelike
spots, each of which is ringed with blue and bronze.
When closed, the thighs and wings are buff, and the
flight and tail feathers are cinnamon brown.
Full plumage, including the train, is not attained until
the third year. The train is molted in the late summer
and is not fully replaced before the end of winter.
is bronze. The upper tail coverts, which are small
feathers covering larger feathers which form a long
and beautiful train, are green with numerous eyelike
spots, each of which is ringed with blue and bronze.
When closed, the thighs and wings are buff, and the
flight and tail feathers are cinnamon brown.
Full plumage, including the train, is not attained until
the third year. The train is molted in the late summer
and is not fully replaced before the end of winter.
There are two wild species of peafowl, the Indian and the Javan. The Indian species is most
common in this country. A brief description of the plumage of the Indian Peafowl follows:
common in this country. A brief description of the plumage of the Indian Peafowl follows:
The head is chestnut, the mantle green,
and the back is brown, indistinctly
mottled with buff. The throat and
forepart of the neck are white. The
breast is brownish black, fringed with
green; the wing coverts are coarsely
mottled with buff and black.
and the back is brown, indistinctly
mottled with buff. The throat and
forepart of the neck are white. The
breast is brownish black, fringed with
green; the wing coverts are coarsely
mottled with buff and black.
Close up peacock tail
feathers
feathers
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