A majestic bird
Perhaps it's their apparent crown of feathers, their elegant strolling walk, or the immense display of vibrant color, but most think of peacocks and peafowl as quite elegant, even majestic birds.
Most of us have first saw a peacock at a zoo or animal park. But these birds also make great small acreage keepers (well, they can roam, but more on that later). If you are interested in peafowl, this lens will give you some basics about their care.
A bit about peafowl
The most common variety is the India blue peacock, with a telltale blue iridescent tail feather and neck. But peafowl can come in a much wider variety of colors from whites, greys, and browns. Each type of pea offers its own beauty - I'm partial to those with white and grey - and they are all entertaining to observe. Males, the peacocks, will display their tail in an elaborate dance to attract the attention of an often not so interested female, peahen. Peachicks or chicks also are amazing as they scurry around learning from the adults. The best part is keeping some peafowl can be done relatively simply, as they are hardy birds and will eat insects, grass, seeds, or other available foods. They can also safely live in a barn, basic shelter, or dedicated enclosure.
Most of us have first saw a peacock at a zoo or animal park. But these birds also make great small acreage keepers (well, they can roam, but more on that later). If you are interested in peafowl, this lens will give you some basics about their care.
A bit about peafowl
The most common variety is the India blue peacock, with a telltale blue iridescent tail feather and neck. But peafowl can come in a much wider variety of colors from whites, greys, and browns. Each type of pea offers its own beauty - I'm partial to those with white and grey - and they are all entertaining to observe. Males, the peacocks, will display their tail in an elaborate dance to attract the attention of an often not so interested female, peahen. Peachicks or chicks also are amazing as they scurry around learning from the adults. The best part is keeping some peafowl can be done relatively simply, as they are hardy birds and will eat insects, grass, seeds, or other available foods. They can also safely live in a barn, basic shelter, or dedicated enclosure.
Pea in a tree
One shelter solution
We have farm friends who have a peacock. Now, peacocks are able to range and are not generally enclosed. This guy came to live with them last summer, and I first met him as he was strutting around the yard. Theirs is a nice place with goats, alpacas, guinea hens, chickens, and a cat and dog. He looked to be quite at home, but he didn't have his own home. The barns belonged to the big animals, the coop to the chickens, the shed to the guineas. He had taken to roosting at night in a tree that overlooked the house and paddocks, but was completely exposed to the elements. We'll have to build something for him, they'd told me.
The next time I went back I noticed a platform in the tree. I asked what it was for.
"Oh, that? That'll be for the peacock."
I wasn't sure what they meant, but didn't ask questions. It looked complicated.
Each time I visited, the home was a little more complete, almost like a miniature treehouse for a kid. It had lexan panels for windows, a little platform where the bird could sit in nicer weather, and of course an enclosed area. But the snow fell before I could see the finished product, and I was too busy over the winter on my own farm to check on the pea's home.
I spent the day over there not long ago, and got to see how he had fared with his new home. Well, he was fine. In fact, while I visited, he was strutting in front of the hens (chickens) and rooster. He really likes the hens and is never far from them. They did not seem impressed.
Turns out the farmer had built most of the panels and superstructure on the ground, then brought up each piece to assemble on the platform. It didn't sound easy, but the pea overwintered (and we had somewhere around 80 inches of snow this year) fine. I was happy to hear their solution worked out well. I still have more to ask them about the logistics.
If you're not sure where to house your pea, maybe you need a pea in a tree!
The next time I went back I noticed a platform in the tree. I asked what it was for.
"Oh, that? That'll be for the peacock."
I wasn't sure what they meant, but didn't ask questions. It looked complicated.
Each time I visited, the home was a little more complete, almost like a miniature treehouse for a kid. It had lexan panels for windows, a little platform where the bird could sit in nicer weather, and of course an enclosed area. But the snow fell before I could see the finished product, and I was too busy over the winter on my own farm to check on the pea's home.
I spent the day over there not long ago, and got to see how he had fared with his new home. Well, he was fine. In fact, while I visited, he was strutting in front of the hens (chickens) and rooster. He really likes the hens and is never far from them. They did not seem impressed.
Turns out the farmer had built most of the panels and superstructure on the ground, then brought up each piece to assemble on the platform. It didn't sound easy, but the pea overwintered (and we had somewhere around 80 inches of snow this year) fine. I was happy to hear their solution worked out well. I still have more to ask them about the logistics.
If you're not sure where to house your pea, maybe you need a pea in a tree!
Reference guide for peafowl
These books will help you decide how best to care for your peafowl.
Peas online...
Find bloggers who have or know a lot about peafowl - these are just a few recent entries
- Should peacocks be removed from Boynton neighborhood?
- by Opinion Staff In the Boynton Beach community of Fox Hollow, the streets are being overrun by peafowl ? peacocks and peahens. By one estimate, as many as 400 roam the neighborhood. Some residents have had enough. The peafowl are noisy, ...
If the real animal isn't quite for you...
Not everyone wants to or can keep peas - but you can still have this little one anywhere you live or go as a reminder...
by PatriotAlpacas
PatriotAlpacas
Hi there, I'm Tasha. I live in northern Massachusetts, where we have a small farm with alpacas and chickens. I am particularly interested in topics on... more »
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