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PEA FOWL ADVICE PLEASE
http://australianpoultryforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=58762
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Author:  HereTookTookTook [ Sat Mar 22, 2014 9:39 am ]
Post subject:  PEA FOWL ADVICE PLEASE

Looking at buying a few pea fowl chicks, about 12 weeks of age.

I don't suppose there's any way of sexing them?

I know they need to be locked up for 3 months? minimum?

Is it the Green or Blues that are more prone to leaving their environment despite having been locked up for a good, long while (I seem to recall it was the Greens, but want to be sure)?

During their period of confinement, is it OK to put them in with teenage Guinea Fowl in a large indoor & outdoor (completely roofed) chicken house & run? I'm thinking the Guinea's may give them grief so may need to do some serious poultry juggling.

Author:  Tolmie Peafowl [ Sat Mar 22, 2014 5:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PEA FOWL ADVICE PLEASE

What colour peachicks?
At 12 weeks its possible to sex
Yes 3 months MINIMUM!
Greens CANNOT be free ranged under any circumstances
You can try them with the guineas but watch them closely

Author:  HereTookTookTook [ Sat Mar 22, 2014 9:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PEA FOWL ADVICE PLEASE

Thanks Tolmie .... Here's my new little family - collecting next Sunday. Would absolutely love to know what sex the "chicks" are. If there's extra hens I was thinking of swapping them with someone else to introduce some fresh blood, I've never been into "line-breeding" in any critters:

Image

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Author:  HereTookTookTook [ Sat Mar 22, 2014 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PEA FOWL ADVICE PLEASE

I'm actually buying all 6 birds, so the entire family.

Author:  Sparky [ Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PEA FOWL ADVICE PLEASE

I see two young peacocks AT LEAST hard to see the others

Author:  HereTookTookTook [ Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PEA FOWL ADVICE PLEASE

Woot, woot, that's exciting Sparky, thank you - here's hoping the other 2 are hens that I can swap for new blood, or, is it ok for siblings to be "doing the business"? It sure would save a lot of hassle if it is fine for bro & sis to mate.

Author:  Pam [ Sun Mar 23, 2014 2:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PEA FOWL ADVICE PLEASE

Well they do it naturally in the wild so must be ok

Your new family is so cute congt334

Author:  HereTookTookTook [ Sun Mar 23, 2014 3:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: PEA FOWL ADVICE PLEASE

Cheers Pam, love the avatar :)

Ummm, "He Who Must Never Be Obeyed" went out for a wee while this a.m. (he's still coming to terms with the fact I've committed to x 6 peacocks - as in he's heard all the horror stories of them attacking cars, roosting on cars, loud enough to wake the dead etc etc), when I got word from my "Partner in Crime" (our handyman) that our local fodder store had a lovely peacock < 12mo for a mere $50. I knew if I broke the speed limit I could have him home & in the coop before HWMNBO got home - I simply rang ahead like you do for a pizza, "Shove that peacock in a box NOW, I'm on my way". What was I thinking, that means I shall now have at least x 4 cocks, yikes!!! He's such a bootiful boy too, how could I not rescue him?

Can I just ask, what ratio of hens should I have to cocks please - I'll be in huge trouble if all young 'uns are boys!

Author:  Faverolles Kid [ Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: PEA FOWL ADVICE PLEASE

They are so cute congt334 on your peacocks and peahens

Author:  Pea-Goddess [ Thu Mar 27, 2014 8:43 pm ]
Post subject:  EXCITING!

I think the ratio 1 male with 2 females where possible is good one to work on…. it is much easier to do inside a aviary situation, free roaming is harder to control ratios.
In the wild there are usually young males in the mix with adults but nature always has a way of balancing the male female ratio out!
Mine mostly are free roaming, when it's breeding season all bets are off and the males all try their best to impress all the females sometimes fighting occurs between males but generally have a Alpha male and pecking order tested from week to week.

$50 that is a great deal! -Just be sure to worm them all up before introducing them onto your property long term you don't want your other feathered friends to suffer at all!

Keep them in a generously sized penned (homed) for at least 3 - 6 months with high perch so they know where home is and know that at 12 noon a bigger mummy arrives with goodies (whatever time you choose to feed them try that same time each day, it will be easier if you choose to free roam them later down the track)
They will appear at that feed time expecting goodies making them more likely to stick around! Also builds trust!

In the pictures I see 2 young males have a look to see if they have amber feathers, primary feathers which indicate male. The Mum is clear but the others are hard to tell from photos.

Im so excited for you !

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