Hi Annie, Welcome to the Forum. The answers to most of your questions can be found in our Articles both on the Forum and our Web Site.
The following excerpts has been taken from Aricles by Peacocks Australia / Web Site
(1) WHEN SHOULD I BUY PEAFOWL?
Try to buy your Peafowl at the start of the Breeding season, as you will “Lock them up” for a Minimum of 3 Months (Young) or 6 Months (Adult) this will ensure when you do release them it won’t be the breeding season.
(5) I’VE BEEN TOLD IF I BUY PEACOCKS YOUNG THEY WILL STAY?
Buying Peacocks (Males) young will increase your odds of success but when the birds reach breeding age and there are no Peahens, their breeding urges will outweigh any loyalty in their mind they MUST breed.
Unfortunately many people who buy Peafowl for the first time will through either bad advice or Impatience make the mistake of letting them out to soon and with no Preparation. This Article is hoped to help people from having to go through the heart ace and the cost of replacing them.
This Article is for FREE ROAMING PEAFOWL
BRINGING HOME YOUR NEW PEAFOWL:
Before you go out and buy your Peafowl please make sure you have the RIGHT pen to house them. What is the right pen? We recommend a pen no smaller than 8 x 4 x 3 Meters but NO larger than 10 x 4 x3 Meters WHY? It is VERY important that your new Peacocks GET TO KNOW YOU and in smaller pens this will happen must faster. The pen MUST be roofed or your new birds will go on a ONE way holiday you also need to have High perches in the shelter area and low perches out of the shelter. You can house them with other birds, i.e.. Chooks, turkey’s ECT.. BUT check with the person you have brought them off FIRST as some Peafowl can be VERY aggressive, WHAT NEXT? Your pen is ready? (With Roof) Food and Water bowls Ready?
Your in the car and on your way home with your new Peafowl, WHAT'S THE TIME? NEVER release ANY birds in the late afternoon you should release them at FIRST light WHY? This gives them the whole day to formularize themselves with the new pen and to find their roost and will help limit stress. WHAT IF GET HOME AT 3 or 4 PM Leave them in the box or cage overnight and release them at first light.
WHAT TO FEED THEM?
Peafowl should be fed a Gain mix, you can mix you own or buy a pre mix from Pet shops Or Produce Stores ( Course Grain Mix) this should be offered at ALL times in a large bowl. They will also need Greens i.e.. Lettuce, Silverbeet, Cabbage, ECT.. Also Shell Grit should be offered, Bread and Cat Biscuits.
WHEN DO I FEED THEM?
You should spend as much time as possible with them or around them and food is a good way of helping the bonding process, Greens, Bread & Cat Biscuits should be fed daily
DO I JUST THROW IT IN A LEAVE?
NO go in the pen and sit on something low then starting with Bread brake of small pieces and throw it about 15 feet in front of you keep doing this until all the food is on the ground stay seated as long as possible, and when you do get up do this slowly and move away (opposite direction) from the birds and the food do this EVERY day.
HOW LONG DO THEY HAVE TO STAY “LOCKED UP”This will depend on the AGE of the Peafowl, if they are under 12 Months then a MINIMUM of 3 MONTHS if they are over 12 Months then a MINIMUM of 6 MONTHS remember the longer you pen them the greater the odds for success.
PREPARATION FOR RELEASE:3 WEEKS Prior the “BIG DAY” (the day of release) you will need the clip ONE wing of ALL the Peafowl you are going to release, clip only the Primary flight feathers and ONLY ONE WING. Also while you have each bird it is a good idea to ring them using Plastic Turkey leg rings make sure the ring is ABOVE the Spur? WHY CLIP THERE WING AND WHY 3 WEEKS BEFORE? Clipping there wing will stop them from flying but still allowing them some lift for roosting at night. Clipping there wing 3 weeks prior to release allows the birds to re settle and to forgive you for doing it.
TIME TO RELEASE THEM “THE BIG DAY”We recommend a Saturday and a weekend were you plan to be there the whole time WHY? If you own other animals in particular a Dog you will need to keep a close eye on he or she even if they showed no interest when the Peafowl were penned, it’s a different story when their out walking around. Other birds can be a problem like Roosters, Turkey’s ECT.. So just watch from a distance.
HOW SHOULD I GET THEM OUT OF THE PEN Simply open the pen door making sure it stays open and WALK OFF you should NOT under any circumstances chase the birds out of the pen, if they don’t want to come out that ok. Once the Peafowl are out leave them alone give them plenty of breathing space, let them explore. You may find as they leave the pen for the first time they brake into a Sprint and run to trees or bush area this is quite normal just keep an eye on them from a distance. Leave the pen door open at all times and continue to feed them in the pen this is VERY IMPORTANT as this is what they are used to and rely on, keep doing this for as long as possible or until you are successfully feeding them else ware. Initially they may return to their pen at night to roost you can close the door if Predators are an Issue and reopen in the Morning, usually this only happens for the first night or two then they find that BIG tree to roost.
TIPS: FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS
Never chase the birds or allow Children or Dogs to
Go about your business as usual i.e.. Mow lawns ECT…
Never corner the birds
Keep the Food & Water up, you should feed them the same as when they were penned.
WHICH PEAFOWL CAN FREE ROAM?
Any Indian Blue including White which is an Indian Blue Mutation.
WHICH PEAFOWL CANNOT FREE ROAM?
Java Green or Java Green Mutations.
The above Article is a Guide with the intention to help increase your odds for success but by no means a Guarantee
Health Care
Peafowl have very few health issues; however there are some you need to be aware of. The following health problems do accrue in Australia, albeit some are very rare.
Worms: like all ground dwelling birds, Peafowl need to be wormed on a regular basis (twice a year- minimum) there are many types of worms that can be contracted by Peafowl but special consideration should be paid to Cecal & Capillaria worms, select a wormer that treats most types of worms including Cecal & Capillary. For detailed worming information see our Article "Worming Peafowl"
Coccidiosis: This infection primarily a accurse in young Peachicks 3 – 12 weeks it is an Coccidia organism (Elmeria) Treatment and or Preventative treatment should be used such as Rofenaid or a good Sulfa treatment.
Histomoniasis: Commonly called “Blackheads” is an Intestinal disease caused by Protozoa. Primarily Peachicks aged 6 – 14 weeks are most susceptible. The symptoms are watery, yellow (bright) coloured droppings, weakness, stooped appearance, dropped wings, weight loss. Treatment and or Preventative should be used such as Emtryl Soluble, flagy1, Copper Sulfate. Chicks should be raised on Turkey Starter for the first 6 weeks as this has additives to help prevent Blackheads. Chicks should be kept away from all adults for the first 5 months.
C.R.D: Chronic Respiratory Disease, This is quite a common Disease in many species of Fowl, including Pheasants, Guinea Fowl, Turkeys, Ducks, Pigeons, Quail but most common in Chickens. With a great deal of keepers housing Peafowl with Chickens vets are now seeing more and more cases and this is likely to increase. C.R.D (Mycoplasmosis) is a Respirators disease that affects all ages symptoms include Nasal discharge, weeping eye & swollen, head flicking, sniffing or sneezing, poor condition, weight loss, loss of appetite, drop in egg laying. Treatment and or Preventative treatment should be used such as Batryl, Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride, Oxy B or a good sulfa treatment.
Mareks: Is a virus that causes internal lesions in birds. Mareks is spread through airborne feather dust and is extremely contagious but not through eggs. Primarily chicks aged 5 -25 weeks are most susceptible but can appear in older birds under stress. The symptoms are slight to severe paralysis in the wings, legs, and neck, weight loss, stooped appearance, poor condition. Treatment (contact vet) one prevention is by raising chicks on Turkey Starter for the first 6 weeks as this has additives to help prevent Mareks. Chicks should be kept away from all adults for the first 5 months.
Summary: Prevention is always better than cure so develop good prevention strategy. The follow steps may help is preventing any of the above.
* Always quarantine new birds
* Always assume any new birds you purchase may have the above and implement your prevention strategy
* Wash your hands after you touch the new birds or anything in their pen.
* Sanitize your Incubator and Brooder after every use.
* Keep all Chicks under 5 months away from Adult birds
* Worm your birds regularly
* Minimize stress
The above is a guide only; many Diseases have similar symptoms so you should always contact your local Vet for the correct Diagnosis.
We would not recommend pening Peafowl with Geese.
They can live up to 40 years.
Peafowl can to very friendly or become quite tame over time.
yes Peafowl are available for sale from time to time, please check the for sale section on this Forum & our Web Site.
Hope this information helps Annie?
Thanks
Peacocks Australia
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