Peafowl and wandering question.

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Hi,

Hubby confessed yesterday to liking the noise of peafowl, a big mistake on his part

now opens the door for me to have some if possible. My question is, will they likely need to be penned full time or can I slowly introduce them to pen and free range? We live near (right near) a busy road though and I don't want them skittled.

Spiderman · **Posted:** Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:06 am

How big is your farm?
They have a reasonable road sense but it is a possibility they will want to cross the road.
I wouldn't let that stop you as there are so many what ifs in the world

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Our farm is 7 acres. We are bordered on two sides by road, one major one minor. We have plenty of green grass around as we irrigate. The geese haven't wandered but we lost two ducks on the road.

Spiderman · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:59 am

The peas will wander it's their nature but 7 should be ok As I said I would give it a go they will soon learn

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Sebducks, we have sold many Peafowl to breeders that are on 7-10 acres and most have little problems. It is a concern you are close to a busy road but we know of people that have them living on the Warrego highway and they stay clear. It's a case of what if?

Good luck

Thanks
P.A :-D

Blondy · **Joined:** Fri Dec 25, 2009 8:12 pm **Posts:** 1

We have peas on 5 acres and they spend most of the day 500m down the road visiting all the neighbors on both side of the street, the good part is when they cross the road they run flat out from one side to the other whereas our silly guinea fowl stand in the middle of the road. We have never had any hit by cars.

Drew Smith · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 8:38 am

Maybe you should paint a guinea crossing sign on the road :lol:

Cheers Drew Smith

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

Thanks, we are on the Murgon to Gayndah road which is populated by mainly trucks, they do honk at things on the road (ie the galahs and the odd neighbours cows) but obviously they can't stop very fast should something not get out of the way or it crosses in front of the truck.

Lol at the sign Drew that certainly would raise some eyebrows around here. :lol:

bunyanuternie · **Joined:** Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:31 pm **Posts:** 2903

I think the sign is a great idea

One of my mates lost a big Blue Male to the road right at the Coolabunia Saleyards on the Kingaroy road . It was one he had got from us and we were all pretty sad .

But... none of their others ever go near the Highway , I think it's like dogs some will wander some won't , I have had males that will never stay at home and some males that won't leave the houseyard , Take ' Mr Proud ' for instance He'd rather be in my shed or watching mum hang out the washing or looking after the vege patch for grasshoppers ,than walking around (that takes energy ) I think where your P comes from and how it was treated as a young'n will effect it's behaviour in general , They still will have a large territory but will stay at home if they are a spoilt affectionate type

Quiet tamer Fowl that are more bonded to human company are less likely to roam than a feral 'Free' variety from a large colony ,always with the exception of course .Then their are other variables 'Where' are the females at mating time' if your neighbour or someone on the other side of the road close by has peahens , they'll be crossing that road , 'are their to many males on the one colony' to many males will almost always end in two males chasing each other at breeding time and no amount of roadsense can outway male hormones .
I think you just have to give it a try and take a sensible approach , I lost one of the best blue cattledogs to the road about 15 years ago , Still makes me sad . But their was absolutely nothing I could have done to save her other than chaining her up for her whole life , and who wants to live their life on a chain ? I reckon give it a go and good luck .

Bourke · **Posted:** Sun Dec 27, 2009 9:12 am

Yep give it a go, you'll never know until you do.

Good reply bunyanuternie

Bourke

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